Garden Construction and Management
Q: Does Community Solar Lessen My Carbon Footprint?
A: Yes. By choosing to support a local community solar program you are contributing to reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and creating fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Q: What Happens to the Land You Build Solar Gardens On?
A: One of our pledges as a company is to leave the land better than we found it. For example, in Minnesota, we are part of Fresh Energy’s “Pollinator Pledge.” This means, when possible, we design our gardens to serve as a habitat for bees and butterflies that pollinate local farms. We also try to build on brownfield sites, which include land with limited use such as old landfills or chemical spill sites.
Q: How Many Solar Gardens are Operational Now?
A:We have 30 fully subscribed and operational solar gardens in Colorado and Minnesota and will continue to build new solar gardens in Colorado and Minnesota in the future.
A subscription now means you will reserve a spot in one of our new solar gardens and begin seeing credits on your bill as soon as the gardens are built and active.
Q: How Does Billing Work?A:
A: In order to subscribe to a SunShare Community Solar Garden, you must be an Xcel Energy customer, live in the same county as, or adjacent to, the garden, and have a credit score of at least 680.
Q: What if I Rent?
A: The beauty of community solar is that EVERYONE, who pays an electric bill, can benefit from solar electricity – regardless of homeownership or roof quality.
Q: How Do I Subscribe?
A: If you are interested but need more information, contact one of our team members by email at info@mysunshare.com or by dialing 800.793.0786. If you are ready to subscribe now, simply fill out the short form on to receive the subscription documents.
Q: What Happens After I Submit My Subscription Documents?
A:
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SunShare will do a credit check to ensure your credit score is above 680. This will take about 2 – 4 weeks complete.
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Simultaneously, SunShare will reach out to Xcel Energy for your usage information in order to accurately calculate your subscription. This will take about 3-5 weeks to complete.
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Once SunShare has calculated your subscription, and your credit has been approved, you will officially become a SunShare subscriber, and you will be put on a wait list for a to-be-constructed solar garden. Subscribers are placed into solar gardens on a first-come-first-served basis.
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Once you have been assigned to a to-be-built solar garden, there is typically a 6 – 12 month construction time frame. While your solar garden is being built, SunShare will provide helpful information regarding your SunShare subscription, including important information about billing, how to set up automatic payments, and the expected date for when your garden will become live.
A: In order to subscribe to a SunShare Community Solar Garden, you must be an Xcel Energy customer, live in the same county as, or adjacent to, the garden, and have a credit score of at least 680.
Q: What if I Rent?
A: The beauty of community solar is that EVERYONE, who pays an electric bill, can benefit from solar electricity – regardless of homeownership or roof quality.
A: In order to subscribe to a SunShare Community Solar Garden, you must be an Xcel Energy customer, live in the same county as, or adjacent to, the garden, and have a credit score of at least 680.
Q: What if I Rent?
A: The beauty of community solar is that EVERYONE, who pays an electric bill, can benefit from solar electricity – regardless of homeownership or roof quality.
Garden Construction and Management
How is a SunShare Solar Garden Built?
How Long Does it Take to Build a Solar Garden?
It takes SunShare about 9 – 12 months to acquire land, obtain zoning approvals, receive utility approvals, construct a solar garden and connect and activate the solar garden.
Can I Visit My Solar Garden?
The solar gardens are usually located on private property, so cannot be visited. However, we occasionally conduct community solar garden tours, so please look out for an opportunity to join one of those!
How Will I Know When I Have Been Assigned to a Solar Garden?
SunShare will send you confirmation via email once you have been assigned to a community solar garden. You’ll also receive seasonal newsletters from us updating you on your status and the expected wait time while you’re waiting to be assigned.