Today, the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) released the 2019 Community Solar Policy Decision Matrix – designed to lead policymakers through important questions and answers that are associated with passing community solar legislation, developing new programs, and expanding existing programs across the country. The policy matrix provides a menu of options, focusing on areas that will spur market development while providing policymakers with options to customize community solar programs to meet each state’s unique energy needs and policy goals.
The policy matrix has been updated to reflect lessons learned since its last version, including new recommendations on interconnection reforms and land use policy. The policy matrix also provides rationale for each recommendation and sample language to aid in drafting policies, drawing on the experience of CCSA staff, member companies, and non-profit partners in developing successful programs.
Community solar has become the fastest growing segment within solar over that last five years, going from just a handful of projects installed before 2010, to a gigawatt (GW) by the end of 2018. This growth is becoming increasingly evident as more and more community solar legislation is introduced across the country. As policymakers begin to address the intricacies of implementing community solar policy and designing subsequent programs, the policy matrix can be used as a valuable guide to assist them.
Nineteen states and Washington, D.C. have enacted policies that enable community solar arrangements between subscribing organizations and participating subscribers. These states that have enabled community solar are seeing significant growth in jobs, economic investment, tax revenues to local communities, and upgrades to grid infrastructure as a result of the construction of community solar projects in their communities.
###
Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) is a national Coalition of businesses and non-profits working to expand customer choice and access to solar to all American households and businesses through community solar. 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. For more information, visit our website at www.communitysolaraccess.org, follow us on Twitter at @solaraccess and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/communitysolaraccess.