WASHINGTON — Today, the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) announced it has hired talented attorney and energy policy expert Molly Knoll as its Vice President of Policy. Molly will lead and manage CCSA’s policy team and priority state initiatives, federal policy initiatives, and serve as a nationwide spokesperson on key issues to advance distributed solar energy.
“Molly’s extensive policy, legal, and technical expertise in one of community solar’s most successful programs will help us realize our potential throughout the country,” said CCSA’s CEO Jeff Cramer. “With the Inflation Reduction Act in place and a clear path forward to expand community solar, Molly’s state work will inform other state commissions and energy offices on how best to create and grow programs.”
Knoll most recently served as Senior Commission Advisor to the Maryland Public Service Commission. There, she provided expert guidance on all distribution system dockets, retail supplier issues, and public conferences, as well as acting as a policy expert supporting the Commission’s legislative director.
In the Old Line State, she also served for five years as Assistant People’s Counsel in the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, where she was lead attorney on the EmPOWER energy efficiency program and litigated multiple rate cases and retail supplier enforcement actions.
“Putting the right policies in place in new and existing community solar markets will pay major dividends for states, customers, and the country in the long run,” said Molly Knoll. “I look forward to helping stakeholders realize the full potential of community solar as an economic and sustainable way to address our clean energy needs.”
Knoll joins CCSA with growth potential in the community solar sector at an all-time high. Tax credits and other incentives in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act provide unprecedented certainty for solar development that will spur private investment to build out public infrastructure.
Community solar refers to local solar facilities shared by multiple community subscribers who receive credits on their electricity bills for their share of the power produced. Community solar provides homeowners, renters, and businesses equal access to the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy generation regardless of the physical attributes or ownership of their home or business. Community solar expands access to solar for all, including low-to-moderate income customers, all while building a stronger, distributed, and more resilient electric grid.