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Community solar initiatives involve solar farms supplying electricity to multiple properties. These projects enable community members to access solar benefits without individual panel installations. Participants enjoy discounted electricity from the shared solar farm, often at rates lower than their utility bills.
To begin saving, choose a community solar subscription plan that suits your needs. You’ll maintain your current electric utility service while receiving monthly bill credits based on the energy generated by your community solar project.
How Much Can You Save?
The savings potential of joining a community solar farm varies across programs and fluctuates monthly. On average, participants typically enjoy a 5-20% discount on traditional electricity costs throughout the year.
Discover the benefits of community solar!
Local energy support
Contribution to sustainability
Electric bills reduction
Simple access to solar
No property ownership needed
Energy autonomy for homeowners
Community solar offers a myriad of benefits, aligning with traditional solar perks such as environmental sustainability and financial savings. Beyond these advantages, community solar initiatives play a pivotal role in supporting local renewable energy endeavors and bolstering project development. By participating in community solar programs, individuals directly contribute to the growth of renewable energy in their area, fostering local employment opportunities and strengthening ties to clean energy initiatives.
Moreover, community solar presents a tangible opportunity to reduce electric bills, with participants typically enjoying savings of 5-10% on their annual electricity expenses. Unlike rooftop solar, community solar participation doesn’t hinge on property ownership, making it accessible to a broader demographic. Many community farms don’t have subscription fees and straightforward opt-out options, enrolling in community solar is hassle-free, eliminating the need for equipment installation and maintenance on individual properties.
What Exactly Is Community Solar?
Community solar, often termed as solar farms or shared solar, represents a collective approach to accessing solar energy.
Rather than individual installations on rooftops, community solar projects are centralized arrays of solar panels generating electricity for the grid. Unlike utility-scale solar projects, these initiatives are typically owned by private developers or even the subscribers themselves, offering a unique opportunity for community involvement in renewable energy.
Understanding the mechanics of community solar can initially seem complex. When subscribing to a community solar farm, the electricity generated doesn’t directly power individual homes or businesses. Instead, a mechanism called virtual net metering (VNM) comes into play, allowing subscribers to receive credits on their electric bills for the energy produced by the solar farm. This enables individuals to benefit from solar energy without the need for on-site installations, making it accessible to a wider range of people and contributing to cleaner energy consumption.
Receive credits on your electric bills via VNM
Benefit from solar energy without on-site installations
Share solar with multiple households
Protect your electricity bill from utility rate hikes
Understanding Virtual Net Metering
Virtual net metering (VNM) is a billing arrangement that allows electricity consumers to receive credits on their utility bills for the electricity generated by a renewable energy system located offsite, such as a community solar farm. This system enables individuals or businesses to benefit financially from renewable energy generation without having the renewable energy system installed on their own property. The credits received through virtual net metering effectively offset a portion of the consumer’s electricity costs, providing financial savings and incentivising the adoption of renewable energy.
Why Should I Join Community Solar?
Save 5-20% on annual electricity costs
Electricity costs rising? Community solar offers relief. Purchase bill credits at a 5-20% discount from your provider. For example, with a 10% discount, you’ll pay 90 cents for every dollar in credits, translating to notable savings annually.
You can cancel anytime
Joining a community solar program is hassle-free. With most options, there’s no upfront cost—you pay only after receiving bill credits on your monthly utility bill. Plus, many programs offer flexibility with no long-term commitment. You can cancel anytime without penalty, typically with a notice period of 90 or 180 days to ensure a smooth process.
It contributes to the resilience of the utility grid
In regions where the utility grid lacks ample generators to meet peak demand, the risk of blackouts looms. To mitigate this, utilities and developers collaborate to strategically position community solar farms in these underserved areas. This approach not only alleviates strain on the grid but also reduces the necessity for expensive maintenance and repairs, yielding cost and time savings.
