By allowing customers to subscribe to our solar energy, people who wouldn't otherwise be able to benefit can participate in and support the advancement of solar.
The community solar subscription model is effective in expanding access to solar energy as it overcomes a few key obstacles in solar adoption:
- $0 Cost for Subscribers: While in the long-term installing solar on your home will reduce your electricity costs, it requires consumers to make a significant upfront investment that many people can't afford. With community solar, that upfront capital is either shared amongst a large group or shouldered by a company with the expertise to build solar.
- Expands Access to Everyone: Many people are not able to put solar on their roof even if they could afford to do so - either they rent, or their roof is not suitable for solar. Community solar makes solar energy a shared resource and expands the number of people who can participate and benefit from solar.
- Lower Cost of Electricity: Building solar on a large scale makes installation and operation far less expensive when measured by cost per kilowatt. Solar panels, racking to hold the panels, and the many other components that go into solar cost less when purchased in bulk. The same goes for installation when done at scale.
Solar companies also have the expertise and experience to navigate permitting and environmental regulations that would be more difficult or time consuming for individuals or other organizations.