The Truth About Community Solar

Thursday, April 18th: 3:15-4:45 PM

Moderator: Anya Schoolman, Mid-Atlantic Community Solar

Panelists: 

• Erica Schroeder — Interstate Renewable Energy Council –*Community Solar Policy and Reality*
• Linda Irvine–North West Sustainable Energy for Economic Development — “Incentives without implementation in the Pacific Northwest”
• Tom Sweeney– COO, Clean Energy Collective

Community solar is beginning to take off in the US, with new laws in a number of states, and legislation for “virtual net metering proposals” introduced in Virginia, MD, DC and passed in Delaware. This effort builds on recent developments in California, Washington State and Colorado and Mass.  Community solar extends renewable energy options to a broader group of energy consumers, including those with unsuitable sites or residents of multi-unit housing, and frequently targets systems in the 10K-2MW size, which are difficult to finance. This panel will provide an update on the growth of community solar programs nationally and examine barriers to growth, along with exemplary state incentives.