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How Community Solar Spreads the Savings

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Maryland

Maryland’s 7-year Pilot Community Solar Program began in 2015 and was extended in 2019, resulting in enough solar capacity to support ~90,000 local households. In April 2023, Maryland’s state legislature passed HB 908 , making the pilot program permanent. The bill also allows for unlimited solar capacity and requires 40% of a project’s output to serve Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) subscribers.  

New York

New York’s Community Solar Program began in 2015 as part of the Shared Renewables Program, an initiative to help make clean, affordable energy accessible for all types of New Yorkers. It’s a state-supported program, and New York is leading the country in community solar, with more than two gigawatts (GW) of community solar installed in New York as of December 2023 – enough to power nearly 400,000 homes.

 

New Jersey

New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) launched the pilot Community Solar Program in January 2019. With more than 19,000 subscribers in the Pilot Program who enjoyed $3 million in net bill savings, New Jersey celebrated the success of its pilot program, making its community solar program permanent on August 16, 2023. In January 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed A4782/S3123  bill, which simplifies the community solar application and billing processes while making more capacity available and requiring that at least 51 percent of the power generated goes to low- and moderate-income subscribers.

Colorado

Colorado was the first state in the nation to pass community solar legislation in 2010. Since Colorado’s Community Solar Program began, 183 megawatts of solar have been installed. The inclusive community solar capacity ordered by 2024’s Access to Distributed Generation bill (SB24-207) is the latest step in Colorado’s efforts to increase access to solar. Under the new legislation, 51 percent of a solar farm’s generation capacity must be reserved for income-qualified subscribers. In 2026, subscribers will be able to self-attest their income, improving equity and accessibility. 

Maine

Community solar has been developing in Maine since 2009, when the state passed the Community-based Renewable Energy Pilot Program. Community solar, also known as Net Energy Billing (NEB) in Maine, is designed to promote the expansion of local solar production. Eligible solar farms receive credit for each kWh of electricity they generate. Utility customers can sign up with the owner of a solar project to receive a share of these credits generated by the solar farm. As of July 2024, Maine has 453 community solar farms totaling 630 megawatts of operational solar energy. 

Massachusetts

The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program is DOER’s incentive program established to support the development of solar in Massachusetts. As of early 2024, Massachusetts has 569 MWh of installed energy storage and 8,806 MWh under development. The state’s goal is to reach 1,000 MWh by December 31, 2025. 

Washington D.C.

The legislation to create D.C.’s Community Solar Program was passed unanimously by the D.C. Council in 2013. The Solar for All program was implemented to electricity bills by about 50% for 100,000 low- to moderate (LMI) income households in D.C. by 2032. The program currently includes over 160 community renewable energy facilities that serve more than 6,000 LMI households. 

Minnesota

Minnesota’s Community Solar Gardens program began in 2013 with unlimited capacity. In 2023, HF 2310 was passed by legislation to expand the program while enforcing new rules and limitations. Currently, community solar is only available to households that get their electricity from Xcel, and it is administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. A total of 55 percent of each garden’s capacity is reserved for Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) households, affordable housing, and ‘public interest’ groups (such as nonprofits and libraries).

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