Author: indiana community solar
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Solar Power World: “Community solar can help affordable housing residents fight inflation”
Don’t miss this great column from Bruce Stewart, President and CEO of Perch Energy, on how community solar can help low-income residents lower their energy bills: Tens of thousands of households and businesses are already subscribed to community solar projects, and they’re saving money on their electricity bills and contributing to a less fossil fuel-dependent…
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Empowering Advocates: How to Talk about Independent Community Solar to Counter Anti-Consumer Monopoly Messaging
As momentum for clean energy grows, community solar programs have emerged as a powerful tool for reducing energy costs and promoting sustainable practices. However, monopoly utility companies often present significant challenges, using their influence to block access to these beneficial programs. It is crucial for advocates to help policymakers understand the value and mechanics of…
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Where can solar panels be placed? Lots of places you might not think about.
This is not a community solar story, per se, but it’s a story about how solar energy and panels can be deployed in places you might not imagine and bring unexpected benefits to neighborhoods, all the while lowering energy costs for a community itself. The Associated Press reports: Detroit is using something it has plenty…
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New Report Shows Community Solar is a Pathway to Energy Equity
A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL) illustrates the transformative potential community solar projects have to advance energy equity. The report highlights how these projects not only democratize access to clean energy but also foster significant social and economic benefits for underserved communities. For the first time, the researchers combine household-level data from…
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What Do Artificial Intelligence and Community Solar Have in Common? Consistency and Equity.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries, and the solar energy sector is no exception. As solar companies strive to optimize their operations and enhance customer satisfaction, AI offers innovative solutions to predict and plan for customer needs more effectively. This technological advancement is particularly significant for community solar projects, where managing subscriber bases and…
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This Upper Peninsula Community Solar Project Is All About Community
We often hear about community solar projects located in large, urban areas—think apartment and condo buildings—but community solar can be deployed pretty much anywhere, as this recent Inside Climate News story illustrates: The solar array near the village of L’Anse has 340 panels and a generating capacity of about 110 kilowatts. It produces power for…
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Could community solar help fund local public schools?
Public school enrollment is predicted to decline in most states, including Indiana, over the next decade. Many school districts also are facing a fiscal cliff caused by the coming end of pandemic-related federal funding. Long story short: Public schools may need more money. Could small, localized community solar projects be a potential budget solution? Check…
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What do dairy cows and community solar have in common?
Community solar is going to power six locally run dairy farms in Vermont thanks to two recently completed projects developed on underutilized land. The Vermont dairy industry itself generates over $2.2 billion annually, but increasingly thin margins are leading local farmers to seek out new ways to compete without losing use of any of their…
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A familiar refrain? States are getting funding for community solar—but they might not be able to use it.
Indiana isn’t alone facing hurdles potentially deploying millions of dollars in new federal funding aimed at helping low- and middle-income households access the benefits of solar energy. Wisconsin leaders are celebrating a $62 million grant from the Biden administration to help install solar power in homes and in community projects. But there’s a catch: Those…
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Stateline.org: “Can’t install your own solar panels? Some areas let you join a community project.”
Recent news article makes the clear case why Indiana needs independent community solar here.