Community solar financing mechanisms

This is a placeholder for a new Community solar financing mechanisms page.

People will index here essential information about different models, and links to case studies.

There is a link to this page from the main Community solar page.

References to case study reports

Cooperatively Owned Projects

(not cooperative, member-owned utility companies, but member-owned community solar facilities)

Developer Owned

Employer-based community solar program (for serving employees)

  • Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) developed SunShares, which is a community solar mechanism that works through employers. A solar array installed on their facilities, and then solar energy share subscriptions are offered to employees. Solar energy delivered to the employer’s facilities is metered, and the local utility company assigns monthly utility bill credits to the participating employees.

Investor-owned community solar programs

(not investor-owned utility companies, but investor-owned community solar projects)

Using Pay-As-You-SaveTM utility tariff on-bill financing

  • LIFT Solar Collaborative is exploring opportunities for using utility tariff on-bill financing to expand opportunities for on-site solar systems to benefit low-income customers and renters. See: LIFT Solar Collaborative, 2020, Applying the PAYS® System to On-Site Solar to Expand Access for All, https://groundswell.org/liftsolar/.

Utility-owned community solar

Investor Owned Utilities:

  • Arizona Public Service Solar Communities program installs utility-owned solar for low-income customers and low-income services providers, providing bill credits.

Other Links and References

  • Stanton, Tom, Solar Energy that Pays for Low-Income Customers and Communities, NRRI Insights paper, December 2020.
  • Stanton, Tom, and Scott Sklar, Utility Tariff On-Bill Financing: Provisions and Precautions for Equitable Programs, NRRI Insights paper, January 2020.
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