Understanding Community Solar Projects

Community Solar 101: Clean Energy Without Rooftop Panels What if you could support clean energy and save on your electric bill without installing solar panels or even owning a home? That’s exactly what community solar offers — and it’s one of the most overlooked tools in the clean energy transition. Community solar allows you to subscribe to a nearby solar farm. You don’t need to install anything, change your utility, or pay any upfront costs. You simply receive credits on your electric bill each month based on your share of the solar energy produced — typically saving 5 to 20 percent. Still sounds too good to be true? That’s a common reaction. But most community solar programs are backed by state policies or federal funding to make solar more accessible. Many states are actively promoting this model as a way to expand clean energy access, especially for renters and households that can’t install rooftop systems. Here are a few common myths — and the truth behind them: • Community solar is only for homeowners — Not true. Renters and apartment-dwellers can join too. • You have to install something or switch your utility — You don’t. The solar farm is off-site, and you stay with your current provider. • It’s some kind of scam or marketing trick — These are real, state-supported programs designed to make solar more accessible. So how does it actually work? • You subscribe to a share of a solar farm • The farm sends power into the grid • Your share earns credits, which show up as savings on your utility bill Why does this matter? • It makes clean energy accessible to more people — especially those who can’t install panels • It doesn’t require upfront capital or major decisions • It helps reduce emissions and build a more resilient energy system • And most importantly — it works. It’s real. And it’s growing. Clean energy should be for everyone. Community solar is one way to make that happen. . . . #CommunitySolar #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyEquity #ClimateAction #Sustainability #SolarPower #SolarSavings #GreenLiving #Decarbonization

At Arcadia, our passion for community solar runs deep. It’s a solution that adds cheaper, cleaner, more equitable energy to our existing power grid — and a product that customers, farmers, politicians, and even utilities can get behind. It’s simply one of the best options to decarbonize the grid. Let us count the ways: 1) Savings. Thanks to well-designed community solar programs, customers can receive anywhere from 5% to 20% annual savings on their bill credits when enrolled on a local solar project. 2) Equity and Access. About two-thirds of Americans will never get rooftop solar. Not because they don’t want to, but because they can’t — for instance, if they’re not a homeowner, don’t have a credit score over 700, or don’t have a flat, sunny roof. Community solar, on the other hand, is for everyone who pays a power bill — especially historically marginalized communities that have been left out of the transition. About 22% of our current customer base qualifies as low- or moderate-income, and with new incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act we expect that to grow significantly. 3) Scale and Speed. When it comes to the energy transition, we’re facing a national crisis. A utility-scale project that begins development today might be lucky to get energized by 2030. That’s just not good enough. Community solar is at the “distribution” level — with the utility you pay your bill with — allowing for faster approval, permitting, and deployment. 4) Resilience. A single solar roof can back up a home, while a community solar project can back up the entire neighborhood. If the transmission wires go down, these projects can still create power locally. Plus, many of our projects are adding battery storage to ensure power flows even when the sun doesn’t shine. 5) Simplicity. Our tech lets customers sign up with ease online and get a simple bill that tells them exactly what they're saving. And we pioneered an approach that requires no FICO checks or long-term contracts. Read more about this milestone here -->

'Community solar enables people who can’t install panels on their roof to buy or lease part of a large-scale solar system somewhere in the region where they live. Participants, also called subscribers, sign up for a portion of the electricity produced by the large array and usually pay a discounted price. They receive credit on their utility bill for the electricity generated by their share of the solar production. Community solar directly supports the development of local solar farms and ensures that participants’ electricity comes from renewable energy. Community solar projects are typically owned by utilities or private parties (sometimes non-profits) and may be located on buildings or open land that is publicly or privately owned. They allow any area resident to access solar and provide stable, and typically less expensive, electric rates for participants. They also increase renewable energy in the area, which is good for everyone. Community solar is growing steadily. According to the National Renewable Energy Lab, capacity has grown by 121% year-over-year since 2010, a trend that is expected to continue. This is due to more projects coming online and projects getting larger, and thus producing more energy. While there are community solar projects in 40 states, three-quarters of those are concentrated in just four: Florida, Minnesota, New York, and Massachusetts. Experts say that buying into local projects through community solar makes the biggest environmental impact, because subscribers support the build-out of renewable electricity infrastructure in their area.' Courtesy CleanTechnica #communitysolar #nxtgen #cleanenergyrevolution Rick Bolton Allyson Finch Wilson Clinton Prophecy Ankutakpuie Sergio Arnaud Galguera Suling Lam Lara Wallace, PhD NXTGEN Clean Energy Solutions