SunShare Community Solar’s story – how it all began

In 2011, SunShare was founded by David Amster-Olszewski, an ambitious young man with a simple mission: to make solar energy affordable and accessible to everyone. David had been working for SunPower in California when he had an interesting conversation with his mother. She felt that rooftop solar was impractical and uneconomical, and did not understand why anyone should be required to put solar panels on their roof to get solar energy. It isn't as though everyone puts a coal plant in their backyard to get fossil fuel electricity. David listened. The problem was obvious. Most people live and work in facilities that are ill-equipped for rooftop solar, and they have no way to access the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy. When David heard about the Colorado Community Solar Gardens Act and the concept of shared solar, he put wheels in motion and decided to start his business concept in Colorado Springs, where he had previously attended Colorado College. His idea was to build large solar arrays on underutilized land and enable community members to buy a share of solar energy. SunShare was born. He worked tirelessly with community members, including the local utility, city council members, schools, businesses, and residents to build and subscribe the first Community Solar Gardens in the nation. His hard work paid off and SunShare's first 500kW Solar Garden sold out in a record 10 weeks.

SunShare today

Today, SunShare remains committed to the idea of sharing solar benefits with everyone. As one of the first companies to successfully build and subscribe community solar farms, we are transforming the energy industry. In 2013, we moved our headquarters to Denver and opened an office in Minneapolis less than a year later. In the past two years, we have grown our team from 5 employees to more than 40 – and we continue to expand.

Community solar today

Colorado was the first state in the country to allow a Shared Solar program, but Community Solar is growing. Now, 22 states and 57 utilities across the nation are developing Community Solar programs. Our team is proud to be at the forefront of the shared solar revolution and we are excited to give our customers the power to choose clean, locally generated solar energy.

Detailed plan summary

Billing: Once your community solar garden is active, you'll receive two (2) bills every month ─
one from SunShare and one from Xcel Energy. The net difference of the two bills will always be
$0!
Eligibility: Your participation requires either Autopay Enrollment or a Credit Check. If you have
elected Credit Check, the check will be performed upon receipt of your signed documents. If you
have elected Autopay, you will be automatically enrolled in Autopay for your first SunShare bill
after you have been placed into a community solar garden.
Agreement Term: The length of your SunShare agreement is simply the length of the
agreement between SunShare and Xcel Energy to deliver solar energy onto the power grid.
This is also the length of time for which you are guaranteed to receive Bill Credits from Xcel
Energy on your utility bill.
SunShare Community Solar Rate and Bill Credit Rate: These two rates are the same, but
you will receive two separate bills. The SunShare Community Solar Rate is the rate you will pay
to SunShare for each kilowatt hour of electricity the community solar garden generates on your
behalf. The Bill Credit Rate is the rate you will receive on your Xcel Energy utility bill for each
kilowatt hour of electricity the community solar garden generates on your behalf. Typically, the
bill credit rate changes every year, and your community solar rate will be adjusted to match it.
Regardless of the Bill Credit rate, your total out-of-pocket net cost will always be $0!
Cancellation Options: You can cancel with 90 days’ prior written notice with no penalty.