Senate Bills 518 and 519 would enable local solar projects that lower bills, create jobs, and expand clean energy access to all Michiganians.
LANSING, MI — Today, a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers introduced legislation to establish a community solar program, giving families, businesses, schools, and local organizations new ways to lower their electricity bills through locally built solar projects.
The legislation, SB 518 and SB 519, each co-sponsored by Senators Ed McBroom (R–Vulcan) and Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor), would establish a clear framework for community solar projects of up to 5 megawatts to be built on rooftops, parking lots, brownfields, and other underutilized sites across Michigan.
Community solar allows any resident or business — including renters, households without rooftop access, and organizations without the up-front capital for solar panels — to subscribe to a local project and receive automatic credits on their utility bills for the clean energy produced. More than half of Michigan households rent or lack suitable roof space, making community solar one of the most practical and affordable ways to expand renewable energy access statewide.
“In the Upper Peninsula, families and businesses face some of the highest electricity costs in the nation, with limited options for relief,” said Sen. McBroom. “Community solar gives our communities a way to lower bills, keep more dollars local, and use land and rooftops that would otherwise sit idle. By opening the door to community solar, we can strengthen the grid while creating new economic opportunities right here at home.”
“In Ann Arbor and across southeast Michigan, many families and renters want to participate in clean energy but simply don’t have the option to put solar on their own roof,” said Sen. Irwin. “Community solar makes it possible for everyone — whether you rent an apartment or own a small business — to access affordable, local renewable energy. It’s a practical way to cut costs, meet rising demand, and create good jobs in our communities.”
The bills explicitly direct the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to ensure low-income subscribers have meaningful access to the program, broadening the reach of solar savings and building equity into the state’s energy transition.
“Passing this legislation would be a turning point for Michigan,” said Carlo Cavallaro, Midwest Regional Director for the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). “The state is already grappling with some of the highest industrial electricity rates in the Midwest and reliability concerns during peak demand. Community solar gives Michigan a tool to meet rising energy needs quickly and affordably — putting underused land and rooftops to work, creating jobs in every corner of the state, and delivering predictable savings for families and businesses. Instead of waiting five-plus years for large power plants and transmission lines, these projects can be built quickly and start delivering value right away.”
By enabling small-scale solar arrays across the state, the legislation will attract private investment, support local economic development, and help Michigan meet growing electricity demand with affordable, homegrown energy. Similar programs in other states have delivered bill savings of 10–20 percent for subscribers, all while strengthening local resilience and putting consumers at the center of the energy system.
Across the nation, 19 states and the District of Columbia have already adopted policies enabling third-party community solar programs. Additionally, Microsoft, Google, Walmart, Starbucks, Rivian, Wendy’s, and T-Mobile are just a few of the Fortune 500 companies that have signed agreements with community solar developers to invest in projects across the country. Companies and states across the nation recognize that, as they look to meet rising energy needs, ambitious clean energy goals, community solar, and distributed energy resources are answering the call.
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About CCSA
CCSA is a national trade association representing over 125 community solar developers, businesses, and nonprofits. Together, we are building the electric grid of the future where every customer has the freedom to support the generation of clean, local solar energy to power their lives. Through legislative and regulatory advocacy, and the support of a diverse coalition — including advocates for competition, clean energy, ratepayers, landowners, farmers, and environmental justice — we enable policies that unlock the potential of distributed energy resources, starting with community solar. For more information, visit https://www.communitysolaraccess.org and follow the group on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Youtube.