General Information and Overview
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.
General Information and Overview
How Does SunShare Community Solar Work?
Does Community Solar Lessen My Carbon Footprint?
Yes. By choosing to support a local community solar program you are contributing to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and creating fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
What Happens to the Land You Build Solar Gardens On?
All of SunShare’s community solar gardens participate in Agrivoltaics, which means the pairing of agriculture and photovoltaic solar. The Agrivotaics is designed for the native environment at the community solar garden, and ranges from hosting honey bee apiaries to sheep grazing to the planting of native pollinators to full-scale farming including leafy greens and apple orchards. SunShare is committed to leaving the land better than we found it, and working directly within the native landscape and environment.
How Many Solar Gardens are Operational Now?
SunShare owns and operates more than 27 megawatts of community solar gardens in Colorado and Minnesota, and continues to expand our portfolio all the time. Enrolling now means you will reserve a spot in one of our solar gardens and begin seeing credits on your bill as soon as we have available capacity in one of our new or operating solar gardens.
What if I Rent?
No problem! The beauty of community solar is that EVERYONE who pays an electric bill can benefit from solar electricity – without having to put anything on your roof. And you can even take your subscription with you if you move within your utility’s service territory!
How do I qualify for SunShare Community Solar?
SunShare has community solar subscriptions available for a range of subscribers. Simply visit mysunshare.com/check-availability to see if you qualify!
How Will I Know When My Garden is Active?
SunShare will send you a garden activation alert via email about 1 – 2 months prior to your solar garden going live. This email will inform you when your solar garden will be active, and when you will start receiving the benefits of your community solar subscription.