Community Solar Gardens
Community solar gardens are centrally located solar photovoltaic pv systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers.
Community solar gardens. Community solar gardens are an option for people like arnoldy who want to go green and take advantage of the declining solar costs. Brewster community solar garden. 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 gardens are for people that want to go solar but are unable to do so on their own.
The energy is fed back to the grid. It is common and even required in some states for community solar projects to be jointly owned by participants. Through virtual net metering credits for the power generated are transferred to the accounts of the community s residents. In others you purchase kw capacity or kwh of production.
Many people want to support renewable energy as a way to help the environment. 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. State policy makes it relatively easy for projects to be developed. Pay cash or finance with a solar loan.
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. Community solar vs rooftop solar. Perhaps you live in an apartment have a shaded roof at home or don t have space at your organization. Increasing the maximum size of a csg from 2 megawatts to 5 megawatts with the option for the public utilities commission puc to authorize construction of a csg up to 10 megawatts beginning july 1 2023.
In some systems you buy individual solar panels which are installed in the farm after your purchase. Ownership of the solar garden. 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. Additional community solar resources.
The act amends the current statute authorizing the creation of community solar gardens csgs by. A recent national renewable energy laboratory report finds that 49 of households and 48 of businesses are. Community solar also referred to as a solar garden is a form of distributed generation that involves a solar array with multiple subscribers who may purchase a portion of the power produced and receive a credit on their electric bill. The coalition for community solar access.