“The violence we’re having, shootings, killings, COVID-19,” Howell said wearily. “You’re trying to save families, and right now no one’s really talking about global warming.”
Yet his
Larger than home rooftop systems but smaller than utility-scale complexes, they're located atop buildings, or on abandoned factory grounds and farms. Individuals or companies subscribe to portions of energy sent to the grid and get credits that reduce their electricity bills.
The model attracts people who can't afford rooftop installations or live where solar is not accessible, such as renters and owners of dwellings without direct sunlight.
“We're helping fight this climate war and blessing families with lower costs,” Howell said.
Nearly 1.600 community solar projects, or “gardens,” are operating nationwide, according to the
Together they generate roughly 3.4 gigawatts — enough for about 650,000 homes — or roughly 3% of the nation's solar output. But more than 4.3 gigawatts are expected to go online within five years, says the
“We can have a cheaper, cleaner and more equitable system for everyone if we build smaller, local resources,” said
Yet it's unclear how big a role community solar will play in the
The Biden administration is continuing a
But power regulation happens at the state level, where interest groups are fighting over what defines community solar and who should generate it.
The
Utilities say having too many players could unravel regulatory structures that assure reliable electric service. They warn of disasters such as last winter's deadly blackout in
“You've got lots of individual profit-motivated actors trying to make a buck,” said
Others say utilities are simply ducking competition.
“What's really driving the rise of community solar is the free market," said
GROWING PAINS
Community solar took off in
“You’re generating your own power and saving a little money,” said Dent, who helped install several complexes built by Cooperative Energy Futures, a local nonprofit.
Xcel, which is required to buy the gardens’ electricity, says the state formula for valuing solar energy makes it too expensive. The costs, spread among all the utility’s customers, essentially force non-subscribers to subsidize community solar, spokesman
Community solar backers say Xcel's claim ignores savings from local gardens' lower distribution costs.
Among Cooperative Energy Futures gardens are 3,760 panels on a parking deck overlooking the Twins' baseball stadium and a collection on a farm near
Although conflicted about taking six acres out of production, farmer
“Farming doesn't even come close to the revenue that the solar generates,” he said, walking through rows of panels framed by fields of corn.
A cooperative project for a municipal roof in nearby
”There are people in the community who want to support clean energy any way they can," said
But community solar developers are hitting a roadblock: Under state law, residents and businesses can subscribe to facilities only in their county or an adjacent one.
That means the heavily populated Twin Cites have many potential subscribers but are short of space for gardens. Rural areas have plenty of room but fewer buyers for the energy.
“Instead of spreading across the state, we're going to concentrate on those counties that are adjacent to the subscription demand,” said
A bill by State Rep.
But Xcel says that contradicts a basic community solar principle: producing energy close to where it's used.
Community solar is billed as making renewable energy more available to households, especially needy ones. Yet businesses and public entities with sustainability goals, such as schools and city halls, subscribe to most of the power.
Some states are trying to change that.
“There’s still a lot to be done to open community solar market access to marginalized folks,” said
LOOKING AHEAD
Community solar is struggling in states without established systems.
Conservative Republican
Hoitenga says it would boost freedom and the economy without raising taxes. Hood emphasizes climate benefits and equal access to renewable energy.
But their bills are opposed by
Prospects are brighter in states friendly to non-utility developers such as
She forecasts a 140% nationwide jump in production capacity by 2026, although growth could hinge on lifting barriers such as project size limits.
Community solar likely won’t rival home rooftop installations soon if ever, Goldstein said, much less approach utility-scale operations.
“It’s not realistic to say we’re going to solve the climate crisis with this and everyone’s going to be a millionaire,” said
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