What Is A Community Solar Garden

Through virtual net metering credits for the power generated are transferred to the accounts of the community s residents.

What is a community solar garden.

Community solar gardens are centrally located solar photovoltaic pv systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers. It is common and even required in some states for community solar projects to be jointly owned by participants. In others you purchase kw capacity or kwh of production. State policy makes it relatively easy for projects to be developed.

The minnesota legislature established an option for customers of xcel energy to support community solar also referred to as solar gardens or solar farms while only xcel was required to develop a community solar program other. The birthplace of community solar advocates the solar gardens institute and the rapidly expanding community solar project developer clean energy collective colorado is home to more community solar farms than any other state with at least 19 in operation at the time of writing. Community solar is an array of panels installed in a sunny location. Many people want to support renewable energy as a way to help the environment.

Community solar gardens are for people that want to go solar but are unable to do so on their own. Anyone in the area can access the clean energy produced by these solar panels and get credits toward their electricity bills. The primary purpose of community solar is to allow members of a community the opportunity to share the benefits of solar power even if they cannot or prefer not to install solar panels on their property. The coalition for community solar access.

Brewster community solar garden. A community solar garden is typically a large scale solar installation that allows individuals or businesses subscribers to obtain their energy from solar even if they are not able to utilize their home roof the solar gardens output is fed directly into the utility via an interconnection to the grid. To be a part of a community solar project you just need to have an account with an electric utility then you. Additional community solar resources.

Ownership of the solar garden. If you own a share in a community solar farm you will pay a set price for it which you can either pay for up front with cash or finance with a solar loan. The energy is fed back to the grid. In some systems you buy individual solar panels which are installed in the farm after your purchase.

Perhaps you live in an apartment have a shaded roof at home or don t have space at your organization. This solar garden in massachusetts generates electricity through 1 440 pv solar panels. Community solar vs rooftop solar. Based upon the output of the system the subscribers portion of the gardens production will.

A community solar farm or garden is a solar power installation that accepts capital from and provides output credit and tax benefits to individual and other investors.