Solar energy is one of the most reliable renewable energy sources. Add to that the savings of Community Solar Farming credits and you have a win-win alternative to rooftop solar panels.
Many residents of upstate New York think the only way to support solar energy production is by installing rooftop solar panels on their homes. With this comes installation costs and upkeep.
There are many reasons why rooftop solar panels might not make sense. Some roofs have too much shade from trees. At other times serious work on roofs can lead to water leaks. Ones which can take months to rectify. For others, the aesthetics of having solar panels is not appealing.
Then there is the whole subsegment of renters. Renters are not at liberty to put solar panels on their roof. Yet with aggressive campaigns to reduce carbon footprints, renters have to be part of the solution.
Enter Community Solar Farms.
Many residents of upstate New York are not aware that Community Solar Farms are an alternative to rooftop solar panels.
Solar Farms are professionally managed. That means when a panel needs replacing or snow covers the panels, someone takes care of it.
Better yet is the “community” aspect of Community Solar Farms. These farms are supported by local residents. They support these solar farms through subscriptions. This is the basis for them to participate in the benefits of the solar credits generated by these farms.
The concept is quite simple. The solar energy produced by Community Solar Farms goes into the power grid maintained by the local utility. In return, local subscribers receive solar credits on their utility bill.
In fact, the Community Solar Farms we work with actually provide a 10% discount to the solar credits provided.
Getty Images
Solar Credits Reduce the Volatility of Utility Bills
The primary reason subscribers to our Community Solar Farm programs sign on is stewardship of the environment. They want to be part of the solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
In addition to the cost savings, what makes Community Solar powerful (if you excuse the pun !) is that in addition to doing something good for your air quality you also protect yourself from energy cost increases.
Utility rates have historically increased by 3% every year (source). According to the referenced report the rise in utility rates are in large part due to increased demand from data centers.
If you expect utility rates to go up – as has historically been the case – then one way to offset these increases is to participate in solar energy. This is particularly true with Community Solar Farms.
With Community Solar Farms the cost of producing the solar energy won’t increase. Therefore, the greater the proportion of your utility bill which comes from solar, the more predictable your energy costs will be.
How Do Solar Energy Credits Work?
Having said that, it is important to understand that the number of solar credits will vary by season. For example, the summer in upstate New York will create more solar credits than the winter months.
This leads us to an important question: how many solar credits do you qualify for? How is this qualification determined?
Your home or apartment is subscribed to a portion of the energy produced by the Community Solar Farm you are assigned. The size of this subscription is based on historical annual energy usage.
When you provide your utility bill during application for a solar farm, careful analysis goes into understanding the ups and downs of your energy usage patterns. Based on this analysis you will be assigned an amount of kilowatt hours (kwh) which you can use for solar energy.
Because solar credits are cumulative any unused credits get rolled over into future months. They do not expire. Therefore, the rollover credits can add to the solar credits produced during lower solar production.
Nevertheless, it is important to understand that a 10% discount on the value of your solar credits does not mean a 10% discount on your entire utility bill every month. This is because in some months in the winter you will not receive very many solar credits.
In contrast, summer months might allow you to offset nearly all your utility costs with solar credits. In the latter case the 10% discount on solar credits can really add up.
There is little risk with the Community Solar program because it is cancelable at any time (with a 90-day notice). Furthermore, you will only pay for the solar energy generated from your portion of the solar farm (governed by your subscription).
Transparency of Community Solar Farming
Unlike rooftop solar panels and their complex mix of installation risks and tax rules, Community Solar Farming is simple and transparent.
Your solar credits are reflected on the monthly utility bill you receive from your existing utility. On this bill the solar credits will be subtracted from the cost of the total bill.
The next month – after you have received the credits the month before – you will be billed by and pay your Community Solar Farm for the previously received credits. You will get a 10% discount on these credits if you work with our network of solar farms.
Community Solar has seen amazing success all over upstate New York, as well as in Massachusetts and Minnesota. Supporting a cause you believe in, like sustainability, saving on your utility bill, while ensuring your utility costs are more stable – it just makes a lot of sense. Why wouldn’t you do it?
If you have been hesitating about, or don’t have the option for, rooftop solar panels you now have a choice. One which is practical and easily accessible.
Select the button below and see if your zip code qualifies for a Community Solar Farm near you.
Leave a Reply