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Community Solar
The first step in considering the development of a clean energy project for a particular community involves finding the right resource. For the majority of Northwest communities, solar energy is the most available renewable energy resource. While there are certainly exceptions, solar energy’s ubiquity often makes it the most appropriate technology for project development. Solar technology’s modularity and compatibility with the built environment broadens opportunities even further, particularly for urban and suburban communities. For these reasons and more, solar-electricity is often the preferred mechanism for regional community energy projects.
For the purpose of this website, Community Solar is defined as a solar-electric system that, through a voluntary program, provides power and/or financial benefit to, or is owned by, multiple community members.
The term “Community Solar” focuses on projects designed to increase access to solar energy and to reduce upfront costs for participants. The secondary goals met by many of the Community Solar projects explored in this guide include the following:
- Reduction in costs through economies of scale
- Optimal project-siting opportunities
- Increased public knowledge about solar energy
- Participation beyond core solar supporters
- Removal of home ownerships as barrier to participation in solar
- Generation of local jobs
- Opportunity to test new models of marketing, project financing, and service delivery
Examples of Community Solar projects include:
