Community Solar, an Alternative Energy Win-Win

Across the country, community solar is taking off and making the financial and environmental benefits of solar energy more accessible.

2 minute read

May 3, 2019, 10:00 AM PDT

By Camille Fink


img_7314

Steve Rainwater / Flickr

Patrick Sisson reports that New York City is seeing a crop of new community solar projects providing cheaper energy to more people. He describes how the Altus Bronx Community Solar Farm works:

Power generation is centralized on the rooftop of this self-storage company, which gets paid for hosting the panels. But 150 New Yorkers who subscribe to the program benefit from the power generated here—all without upfront costs or equipment installation—and see a 5 to 10 percent discount on their electricity bills.

Residents, particularly renters, and small business owners can take advantage of lower energy costs, and the programs offer building owners an additional income stream. Cities, notes Sisson, are good locations for community solar because they have lots of rooftops and many potential customers.

State legislation in 2015 brought community solar to New York, but recent state regulatory changes have made the process much less onerous. The projects are more feasible now that larger installations are allowed, small businesses can become subscribers, and developers have more incentives to put in solar infrastructure.

"In addition, combined with the state’s push to develop energy storage capacity, new community solar can provide an economic benefit by leveraging private capital, creating jobs, and lowering rates, according to David Sandbank, Director of Distributed Energy Resources at [the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority], all while creating a smarter, more resilient grid," writes Sisson.

Sunday, May 26, 2019 in Curbed New York

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.