(OLYMPIA, WA) – Today, Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, and Rep. Adam Bernbaum, D-Port Townsend, announce the introduction of SB 5515/HB 1598, the Fair Access to Community Solar Act, a bill enabling the establishment of a comprehensive community solar program in Washington State. The legislation would provide equitable access to affordable, reliable, locally sited clean energy for electric utility ratepayers, particularly income-qualified households, renters, and others who are not able to install solar panels on their homes. Senator Shewmake chairs the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.
“The Fair Access to Community Solar Act will not only help Washington state meet its clean energy goals, but it will also create family-sustaining jobs and grow the economy,” said Derek Chernow, Western Director at the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). “CCSA looks forward to adding Washington to the growing roster of states embracing community solar. We urge lawmakers to support and pass this bill without delay.”
Across the nation, 22 states and the District of Columbia have already adopted policies enabling community solar programs. Community solar allows anyone with an electric bill to benefit from affordable, locally generated solar power. Residents, businesses, and other subscribers can tap into the energy generated from a nearby community solar installation and receive credits on their utility bills.
A recent study by the University of Washington found expanding community solar access in Washington State could deliver substantial economic benefits, including nearly $2 billion in economic output and thousands of new jobs. Currently, Washington ranks 35th in the nation for total installed solar capacity.
Key Provisions of the Fair Access to Community Solar Act:
- Establishes a competitive, statewide community solar program, allowing the development of projects up to 5 megawatts (MW)
- Offers incentives for community solar projects that incorporate energy storage or are located on preferred sites, such as rooftops, parking structures, and landfills
- Requires at least 50% of community solar project capacity be provided to residential subscribers, with 30% reserved for low-income households or low-income service providers.
- Creates a community solar bill crediting program to ensure subscribers receive proportionate credits on their monthly utility bills
- Includes a mechanism to partially reimburse utilities for the cost of billing system upgrades
- Allows community solar developers to leverage federal and state incentives to maximize energy savings for Washingtonians
- Requires regular reporting on program performance metrics to the legislature
“This important legislation will help reduce high energy bills and ensure Washingtonians have access to affordable, clean energy,” said Mason Rolph, Executive Director of Olympia Community Solar. “An equitable transition to clean energy must allow regular people to directly benefit – community solar does that.”
One in five households in Washington spends more than 10% of their income on energy-related expenses, a burden disproportionately affecting lower-income residents.
“Passing the Fair Access to Community Solar Act would be a win-win: for the state’s economy, our grid, our environment, and ratepayers. By diversifying our energy sources and relying more on locally sited solar power, we can increase access to the clean energy people are demanding, create good jobs, bolster the grid’s reliability, and save customers money,” said Sara Birmingham, Vice President of State Affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
“The Fair Access to Community Solar Act is a big step. It will make clean, affordable energy accessible to all in Washington State, regardless of income or homeownership,” said Erin Hellkamp, National Solar Activist Network, Associate Director at Solar United Neighbors (SUN). “SUN is supportive of this legislation because it gives communities access to locally sourced solar power and helps families save money.”
The University of Washington study concluded the economic impact of developing 500 MW of community solar projects over 10 years would generate $1.7 billion in contributions to Washington’s Gross State Product, create the equivalent of 1,652 full-time jobs annually, and produce $76 million in state tax revenue.
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About CCSA: The Coalition for Community Solar Access (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 Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and YouTube.