Community solar
Solar savings without panels on your roof
Rent, live in a condo, or have a shady roof? Subscribe to a local solar farm and earn credits on your electric bill.
How it works
Clean power, delivered to your bill
Find a local project
A solar farm in your utility area sells subscriptions to nearby households.
Subscribe to a share
Your share of the power earns credits on your regular electric bill.
Save every month
Credits are worth more than the subscription cost, often saving 5-15%.
The upside
- No rooftop panels, installation or maintenance
- Works for renters, condos and shady roofs
- Usually no upfront cost or credit check
- Many contracts let you cancel or move
Trade-offs
- Savings are smaller than owning rooftop solar
- Only available where state programs exist
- Projects can have waitlists
- Two bills each month in some programs
Where it's available
Is community solar in my state?
Availability depends on state law. Programs are well established in states including New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Colorado and Maine, and more states are adding them. Enter your ZIP on our quotes page and we'll show what's open near you.
Before you sign, ask:
- Is the discount fixed or tied to your utility rate?
- Is there a cancellation fee, and how much notice is needed?
- What happens if you move within the same utility area?
- How long is the contract term?
- Is there any sign-up cost or credit check?
Community solar questions
How much can I save with community solar?
Most subscriptions offer 5% to 15% off the value of the credits you receive. Some income-qualified programs offer more.
Does community solar affect my power reliability?
No. Your utility still delivers your electricity exactly as before. Only your billing changes.
Can businesses subscribe?
Often yes. Many projects reserve shares for small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities.
See projects near you
Tell us your ZIP code and we'll check for open community solar subscriptions.