A First Step to Community Solar for All

Portfolios of projects larger than 1 megawatt benefit from commercial experience and economies of scale that communities may not be able to access on their own, and they can deliver real savings at no upfront cost to community members.

Community-supported development can tap into these benefits by seeking inclusive access, where the intention to make community solar available to all customers at reduced cost can drive local authorities to support projects in their community as a means of social support.

RMI’s groundbreaking partners in New York are doing just that. In Rochester, ROCSPOT has partnered with the City of Rochester and Monroe County to identify underutilized urban sites, aggregate local customers, and drive supportive local policy. According to Susan Spencer, ROCSPOT founder and president, “Equitable access to solar power is one of the core missions of ROCSPOT. In our city, where over 50 percent of children live in poverty, shared solar offers a unique opportunity to customers of all socioeconomic backgrounds to participate in our renewable energy transition, in a way that stabilizes neighborhoods, engages communities in energy education, and demonstrates that everyone can and should have reasonably priced access to renewables.”

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