Publications and Resources
Learn more about LMI community solar
Learn more about LMI community solar
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org
A map of community solar project examples located in Minnesota under the CERTs seed grant awards. The map could be useful for states with similar regulations.
www.lowincomesolar.org
A guide created by GRID in partnership with Vote Solar. GRID maintains best practices in community solar policy through the Low-Income Solar Policy Guide.
ilsr.org
A paper that suggests solutions to make LMI community solar projects equitable and accessible to all. It covers policy and development designs that can achieve these goals.
NREL
www.nrel.gov
A fact sheet that summarizes exsisting LMI community solar programs. It also highlights strategies to reach potential customers in the market.
pubs.naruc.org
An info sheet defining what equity means and offers examples and other resources for references.
National Association of State Energy Officials
www.naseo.org
A high-level step-by-step guide for State Energy Offices and State Agencies implementing the LIHEAP program to support LMI community solar projects.
Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA)
communitysolarnews.org
A featured news article on a development project that puts LMI community solar at its center.
www.osti.gov
A basic rundown of what community solar is, how to develop it with LMI customer inclusion and access in mind, and the broader solar market.
World Resources Institute
www.wri.org
An overview of community solar and how growing the community solar market can benefit under-resourced communities.
www.energy.gov
A webpage that reviews the basics of community solar, defines terms, and offers a starting point for those looking to learn more about community solar.
National Community Solar Partnership
www.energy.gov
Home page of the National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) providing an overview of community solar, and how the Justice40 Initiative complements the industry. Links to learn more about the NCSP and to identify technical assistance opportunities.
Solar United Neighbors
www.solarunitedneighbors.org
An overview of community solar resources from Solar United Neighbors including a three-part introductory webinar.
www.lowincomesolar.org
An article that emphasizes the importance of consumer protection through educating the consumer and providing them with a clear understanding of the agreements. It provides examples of how different developers in different states have managed to do this.
Energy Sage
news.energysage.com
An article that shares key factors to compare when choosing a community solar program to participate in as a subscriber.
Utility Dive
www.utilitydive.com
An opinion article on five points to consider as a consumer interested in subscribing to community solar.
DOE
www.energy.gov
A guide to assist local government officials and stakeholders in boosting solar deployment. It contains case studies with approaches to reduce market barriers that have been field tested in cities and counties around the country.
www.mdpi.com
A paper that reflects on two rural community case studies in Michigan. It helps to highlight the difficulties found in these case studies and ways to improve. These improvements discuss including the community in the decisionmaking process, sustaining that participation, and avoiding exploitation.
Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA)
www.cesa.org
A guidebook for developers on consumer protection for community solar measures.
www.nrel.gov
A report that examines new policies and practices for interconnecting residential and commercial PV systems that are being implemented by states and utilities. The previous experiences of these developers are used as learning tool for future developers looking to interconnect residential and commercial PV systems.
NREL
www.nrel.gov
A slide deck presenting the Community Solar Business Case tool developed by Elevate Energy to attempt modeling the cost of LMI community solar in six states - CT, DC, MN, NM, OR, RI).
NREL
sam.nrel.gov
A software tool designed for clean energy project managers, engineers, policy analysts, developers, and researchers, to facilitate planning and decision making.
NREL
www.nrel.gov
An overview of LMI community solar project structures that are most cost-effective, replicable, and scalable for cooperative and municipal utilities.
www.nationalenergyscreeningproject.org
Access to the National Standard Practice Manual for DERs report. The report provides a framework for cost-effectiveness assesments of DERs. It then offers a policy-neutral, non-biased framework for single- and multi-DER.
www.nrel.gov
A webpage that offers links for Utilities, Policymakers, and PV developers to Hosting Capacity Analysis reports catered to their needs. It allows them to understand the impact of adding new DPV systems to the electrical distribution system.
Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA)
www.osti.gov
A collaborative reserach effort addressing varying degrees of applicability, utility regulatory, and solar market types in program designs. This study looks to creates a greater standardization of community solar models.
NREL
www.nrel.gov
A report drawing from existing literature and interviews from LMI solar developers to help guide other community solar projects looking to target LMI customers. Provides recommendations for ideal community solar project design, financing mechanisms, and customer outreach strategies.
Elevate Energy
www.elevatenp.org
A tool to assess financial performance and customer management structures of your community solar project for ideal long-term performance.
DSIRE
www.dsireusa.org
A database on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States.
NREL
www.osti.gov
A dataset of community solar projects identified through various sources as of December 2021. NREL publishes updated datasets anually.
NREL
www.nrel.gov
A slide deck reviewing development of community solar projects, the growth of the sector in recent years, and highlighting specific states that have been successful in implementing projects. The slide deck also reviews how most subscribers save money in community solar projects.
Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
ilsr.org
An extensive data sheet of community solar programs from around the country. This tracker is updated quarterly.
NREL
www.nrel.gov
A report that summarizes outcomes from the NCSP State Best Practices working group by indentifying key differences in state policies that enable community solar and illustrating how various policy design approaches may impact the market.
NREL
www.nrel.gov
A Request for Proposals (RFP) template for local governments seeking to develop solar energy resources on their facilities (buildings and land) through utility-interactive PV systems.
New York University
deliverypdf.ssrn.com
A study that finds there is a substantial information problem faced by Distributed Energy Resources (DER) owners and developers that creates barriers for DER roll-out. It addresses survey design, relevant information, and policy best suited for smooth DER roll-out.
Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy
deliverypdf.ssrn.com
A study that looks at the expansive growth of community solar in New York, California, and Massachusetts, and the operation of Community Clean Energy authorities in these states. It relays the structures and solutions of developments in these states to provide equitable energy to the local communities.
doi.org
A paper that emphasizes the importance and benefits of community shared solar and where regulations around the U.S. fail to support these projects. The research involved contacting legislators, environmental groups, professionals in the solar industry, and other government entities to learn how energy policy could be improved.
Low Income Solar Policy Guide
www.lowincomesolar.org
An overview of successful policies that priortize LMI inclusion in community solar projects, and sample bill language for policymakers to support community solar development.
Michelle Moore
islandpress.org
In this accessible guide, Moore provides an overview of the current energy landscape, including the federal, state, and local policies that will shape each community’s unique approach. Next, she describes five pathways to clean power in rural America and strategies for achieving them, including energy efficiency, renewable power, resilience (including microgrids and battery storage), the electrification of transportation, and finally, broadband internet. Throughout this journey, Moore shares stories of challenges and successes and encourages readers to design programs that address inequality.