About
What is Community Solar?
Community solar is for people who want to go solar but can’t or don’t want to put panels on their roof. We build large solar projects called community solar gardens with thousands of panels. You subscribe to a portion of the energy produced in the community solar garden along with many other residents who share your commitment to renewable energy, replacing the need to invest in solar panels for home use. Your utility continues delivering your energy, and you become part of the solar community, receiving solar credits on your electricity bill. The solar gardens add clean energy to the grid. You subscribe to a portion of that energy, and your utility buys your portion from you. No roof. No equipment. No upfront costs. No hassle.
What is a Solar Garden?
Community Solar Gardens are centrally-located solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers. Due to their large size, they are able to serve sometimes thousands of subscribers.
How It Started
When it comes to renewable energy targets, states know that in order to meet their goals, one of the most effective things they can do is ensure the greatest possible access to solar technologies. However, only a small portion of people can get rooftop panels. Renters; those in apartments, townhouses, or condos; those with unsuitable roofs; and those who simply don’t want to invest $30,000-$40,000 in rooftop panels are all excluded from the option of rooftop solar.
In 2010, the State of Colorado passed the nationally first-of-its kind Community Solar Gardens Act (HB 1342) to encourage the development of solar gardens so more people can choose solar energy where they previously couldn’t. Now, community solar has spread to 34 states, including Minnesota, and counting!
At the same time, consumers who may not qualify for rooftop solar still want a say in the source of electricity they are buying. And more and more, they want clean, green local energy. Yet electricity users in Colorado, Minnesota, and many other states can’t choose their electric utility. But finally, with community solar, everyone has the option to stop buying the standard brown energy utilities serve and CHOOSE what type of electricity they want. Many community solar programs are either no-cost or can even save you money. You can see the SunShare Community Solar subscriptions available in your area in just seconds here.
Percentage of American Households That Can Participate in Rooftop Solar
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, ‘Supply Curves for Rooftop Solar Generated for United States,’ 2008.
Who Can Participate?
Solar of any kind is an imperative contributor to a cleaner, brighter future. But not everyone is eligible for rooftop solar.
See how your situation compares to find a solar solution that works for you.
Rooftop Solar
Own your home
Can afford $30,000-$40,000 upfront cost plus $150/year in cleaning and maintenance
Will be in your home long term
Renters
Apartments & Condos
Shaded or unsuitable roofs
Community Solar
Renters or Homeowners
Apartments, Condos, or Houses
Have a utility bill with an eligible utility
Subscriptions can either be low/no-cost or even save you money in certain states
how It Works
1. Check Availability
1. Check Availability
2. Join A Garden
3. Track Your Impact
3. Track Your Impact
What makes it ‘community’?
Each solar garden is its own community, comprised of subscribers who share a vision of a cleaner, brighter future through clean energy. Subscriptions are divided up to match each subscriber’s energy use until the solar garden is at capacity.
But that’s not all. SunShare is committed to putting the ‘community’ in community solar with our innovative approach:
Subscribers
Our subscribers are the backbone of our business. They are our own employees, neighbors, friends, and family so we consistently strive for friendly, local service.
Local Businesses
As a small business ourselves, supporting the local business community is important to us. We’ve invested more than $100,000 in local businesses through our subscriber incentives.
Landowners
We help farmers preserve their land and their legacy, and even grow crops alongside solar through innovative agrivoltaic developments.
The Planet
When possible, we design our gardens to serve as habitats for bees and butterflies that pollinate local farms. Our solar gardens are homes to sheep-grazing, honeybee apiaries, and native wildflowers and grasses.