Introduction to Community Solar
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This document provides an introduction to community solar projects. It discusses various community solar models including solar gardens where a large solar array is installed and multiple subscribers purchase portions of the energy generated. It outlines the benefits of community solar such as making solar accessible to renters or those with shaded rooftops. The document also discusses legislation supporting community solar and the role of solar gardeners in organizing these projects. It provides examples of potential host sites for large solar arrays and how community solar can make solar energy affordable and accessible to low-income communities.
Introduction to Community Solar
- 1. Introduction to Community Solar Joy Hughes Solar Gardens Institute
- 2. Why Local Solar? Make it a community decision
- 3. Sprouting up Everywhere Maps showing community solar interest
- 4. Rooftop Bulk Purchase Neighborhood residents band together ! Installers bid for a large number of roofs ! Economy or scale saves money ! ! Example: Solarize Portland
- 5. Community Supported Energy University Park, Maryland Good for houses of worship, municipal buildings, nonprofits ! ! A group of small investors owns the array and sells power to the church ! Sample Legal documents available FREE
- 6. Subscription model - Suitable for HOAs, renters, affordable housing, shaded locations, and historic districts Distributed Generation Rooftop or ground mount system connects to local power lines or substation Virtual Net Metering Credit directly on the subscribers bill for subscribers portion of the array
- 7. Legislation
- 8. Legislation New York A.9931 / S.7737 Shared Clean Energy
- 9. Can we do it here? SO LAR
- 10. Cooperatives Small investors together provide capital for community solar arrays ! Sponsorship for subscribers in any solar garden
- 11. Solar Gardeners Program A solar gardener is both a community organizer and project manager ! Find host sites and subscribers for solar gardens and community supported energy ! Form a local initiative through Grand Aspirations Ellensburg Community Renewable Park
- 12. Solar Gardener Training Weekly conference calls and webinars ! Training videos on YouTube: TheSGInstitute ! Registration form training@solargardens.org
- 13. SGIs Mission To educate the public about community solar energy. ! To promote community solar energy legislation at the federal level and in each state ! To assist local organizations in organizing, developing, and managing community-owned solar energy projects everywhere. ! To make affordable solar energy available for all humanity
- 14. Host Sites Near 3-Phase distribution line, transformer, or substation ! About 120-150 kilowatts per acre ! Industrial sites Retired farmland Reclaimed landfills and mines ! Parking lots, storage ! Large roofs ! Water treatment plants ! Airports
- 15. Subscribers Anyone on the grid Must be within same county (CO) same utility (WA) Residential affluent and moderate income Local Businesses and Industry Farmers Nonprofits, libraries, schools, hospitals, churches Municipal and county buildings
- 16. Affordable Community Solar For low income and middle middle class ! Challenges income, credit, cash up front ! Sponsors make micro loans to subscribers
- 17. Can we make solar beautiful?
- 18. Contact Us ! solargardens.org ! Joy Hughes founder 719-207-3097 joy@solargardens.org ! Please sign up for the mailing list