Indiana is full of wide-open, flat rooftops—on big-box stores, distribution centers, and warehouses—just waiting to be put to use. According to a recent Indiana Public Media story, these commercial rooftops represent an underutilized opportunity for solar development in our state. With high visibility, proximity to population centers and existing grid connections, they’re a natural fit for helping Indiana build a more resilient, reliable and local clean energy supply.

But if Indiana doesn’t get serious about fixing our outdated solar policies, that potential could go to waste—and Hoosiers will miss out on the savings and sustainability benefits solar power offers.

Net Metering Was the Foundation for Solar Growth

For years, net metering was one of the most effective tools for encouraging solar adoption. It allowed homeowners and businesses with rooftop solar to earn full retail credit for the excess energy they sent back to the grid. This made investing in solar financially viable for more people and helped Indiana build a more diverse and distributed energy system.

But in 2017, Indiana began phasing out net metering. The policy was replaced with the Excess Distributed Generation (EDG) rate, which compensates solar customers at a much lower rate than the value of the electricity they produce. For many, this made rooftop solar a far less attractive investment.

Restoring net metering, or at least creating a more equitable replacement, is essential if we want to see solar take off again, especially on those massive commercial rooftops that dot our landscape. When businesses know they’ll be fairly compensated for the clean energy they generate, they’re more likely to invest. That means more local power, more jobs and more savings on electricity bills.

Community Solar Brings Clean Energy to Everyone

Even with stronger net metering, rooftop solar won’t work for everyone. Many Hoosiers—especially renters, those with shaded roofs or households with limited income—simply can’t install solar panels at home. That’s where community solar comes in.

Community solar projects allow individuals and small businesses to subscribe to a shared solar installation—often located on landfills, open fields or even those big-box rooftops—and receive a credit on their monthly electric bill for the energy it produces. It’s a simple, scalable way to expand access to clean energy to people who have been left out of the rooftop solar boom.

Unfortunately, Indiana still lacks a statewide framework for independent community solar. That means utilities can block these projects,or make participation so complicated that they never get off the ground. A strong community solar policy—like the ones proposed earlier this year in the General Assembly—would change that by requiring utilities to connect community solar installations to the grid and to provide fair compensation to participants.

Big Rooftops, Bigger Opportunity—If We Take Action to Improve Our Energy Policy

From an economic standpoint, enabling solar installations on commercial rooftops just makes sense. These large, sunny surfaces are typically close to where the electricity is needed, reducing transmission costs and improving grid reliability. Solar also creates good-paying jobs and helps protect Indiana families and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices.

But without policy changes—like restoring net metering and enabling independent community solar—we risk squandering this opportunity.

Now is the time to act. With utility bills rising and public health worsening, Indiana can’t afford to wait. By making smart policy choices today, we can unlock a clean energy future that works for everyone—not just those with the right roof.

Tell Indiana lawmakers to support fair solar compensation and pass community solar legislation in the next legislative session so we can power a brighter, more affordable energy future for all Hoosiers.