In this guide, we’ll explain how Community Solar works, its benefits, and how you can join a community solar project with Syncarpha.
What Is Community Solar?
Approximately 77% of U.S. households are ineligible for rooftop solar due to factors such as shading, structural issues, or financial barriers. Community Solar bridges that gap for those unable to install rooftop panels by offering them a share in a larger solar array, delivering both monetary savings and environmental benefits.
Community Solar is a state-backed program that emerged in 2006 across the U.S., as part of efforts to increase renewable energy adoption and reduce harmful carbon emissions. According to NREL, 23 states in the U.S. (plus the District of Columbia) have community solar policies in place as of June 2024, and the market is growing exponentially.
How Community Solar Differs from Rooftop Solar
- Community solar doesn’t require panel installation on your property
- It’s accessible for renters, apartment dwellers, or homeowners with shaded roofs
- Many subscribers share the benefits of clean energy and savings from one project
Key Benefits of Community Solar
- Cost Savings: Save on your electricity bill with the monthly solar credits you receive
- Environmental Impact: Directly support the production of local, renewable energy
- Flexibility: Easily enroll in minutes at no upfront cost
How Community Solar Works
At its core, community solar involves large-scale solar projects (a.k.a “solar gardens” or “solar farms”) that produce electricity sent directly to the power grid. Residents connected to that same power grid can enroll or “subscribe” to that solar project and earn benefits offered by the project owner, typically the solar developer itself. This model allows multiple people to collectively access a share of renewable energy without the hassle asscoaited with rooftop solar.
- Development of a Community Solar Garden: A solar developer (like Syncarpha Capital) builds a large-scale solar project, often on unused land, rooftops, or brownfield sites. These projects are connected to the local utility grid.
- Subscription or Ownership: Local community members can participate in one of two ways:
- Subscription Model: Most common; participants sign up for a share of the solar garden at no upfront cost and pay for the solar credits they receive on their electric bills at a guaranteed discount (often resulting in 10-15% savings).
- Ownership Model: Less common; participants purchase panels or a portion of the solar farm directly.
- Energy Generation: The solar garden produces electricity that feeds into the utility grid. The energy generated by each participant’s share is tracked. The electricity is then distributed to homes and businesses via the utility.
- Bill Credits: Subscribers receive solar credits on their utility bills for the energy produced by their portion of the project, reducing what they pay to their utility. Then the subscriber pays the solar developer for their solar credits at the agreed, guaranteed discount.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Solar developers handle all the maintenance and operations of the solar garden, ensuring consistent energy production and a hassle-free experience for subscribers.
How to Join a Community Solar Program with Syncarpha
Joining a community solar program with Syncarpha is quick and simple. Here’s how it works:
- Find a solar garden near you by visiting our community solar website.
- Enter your Zip Code to see if a project is available in your area (currently available in Massachusetts, Maine, and Minnesota).
- You’ll be redirected to a web page that steps you through the enrollment process.
- Within minutes and at no upfront cost, you’ll be signed up, saving money on electricity, and making an impact in your community!
Community Solar FAQ’s
How much can I save?
Savings depend on your subscription size and energy usage as well as your project’s specific discount offering. Most subscribers save up to 10-15% on their electricity costs.
Who is community solar for?
Community Solar is for homeowners, renters, and businesses who want to support local clean energy and save significant, long-term energy costs, but can’t (or don’t want to) install solar panels on their roofs.
What Happens If I Move?
If you’re moving within the same utility service area, you can transfer your subscription to your new address. If you’re moving outside the area, let us know in advance, and we’ll help you unsubscribe.
Does it cost me anything upfront?
Not with Syncarpha! Simply complete the online enrollment form and sign our agreement. If your project is already operating, you’ll start to see savings on your utility bills within 2-3 months. From there, you simply pay for the credits you receive each month at a guaranteed discount.
How can that work? That sounds too good to be true!
Think of it as buying a gift card to use on your utility bill, but you buy the gift card at a discount, saving you money every month!
Simply put, your commitment to buy the credits – at a discount – makes the project possible, as we can build with confidence that we have enough customers and revenues committed to support our project for the long-term.
We’re able to offer the credits at a discount because having everyone participating together allows for economies of scale that we pass along to you.
