Community Solar Advocacy
GLREA's goal:
enact community solar in Michigan
What is Community Solar?
Community Solar refers to a solar array located within a community where residents and businesses can subscribe to a portion of the solar array and receive a credit on their utility bill for their share of the energy that’s produced. Residents and Businesses sign up to receive energy from a certain number of panels, which can be purchased or subscribed to. Currently, 23 states have enacted Community Solar laws to enable the creation and financing of these facilities. But Michigan is not one of them. We need a law to support these kinds of solar energy projects so everyone can have the option to obtain solar electricity.
Renewable energy should be accessible and available to everyone. Currently, over half of Michigan households can’t access solar energy due to living in shared housing, have a roof that is unable to host a solar system, or can’t afford to pay the full cost of installing a solar energy system at their home or business. Community solar is a vital step towards achieving energy justice.
The Solution:
Enact a new state policy into law that allows for the development of Community Solar projects in Michigan. Community Solar connects people who want to purchase solar energy but can’t install it where they live to a local solar installation, providing everyone with equal access to the financial and environmental benefits of solar energy.
What Are the Benefits of Community Solar?
● Community Solar allows residents who are unable to install solar panels on their households or
businesses to have access to solar energy.
● Being able to access solar energy through a Community Solar project will save individuals and
businesses money on their energy expenditures (which continue to grow with increasing utility
rates). The credits that Community Solar subscribers receive save them an average of 5-20% on
their annual electric bill.
● Community Solar promotes customer choice by giving individuals and businesses a viable
alternative to buying electricity from a utility. Michigan has the highest utility rates of all the upper
Midwest states.
● According to a recent study from Michigan State University, the installation and maintenance of
Community Solar projects would create over 18,000 well-paying jobs and support $1.47 billion in
economic impact.
● Farmers that allow a portion of their land to be used for Community Solar projects will receive a
new source of income that will help support family farms.
● Community Solar projects will make the electric grid stronger and more resilient. A distributive
grid of solar facilities can help even out the electrical load, reduce outages, and support more
energy stability for all ratepayers.
What the Michigan Legislature Needs to Do
The Legislature needs to enact Community Solar legislation that supports the development of community solar projects. This will allow all people in Michigan to purchase solar energy to save money, promote a clean environment, and create jobs.
What You Can Do to Help
1. The first thing you can do is to Contact your State Legislators to support Community Solar. Then ask your friends and colleges to also contact their legislators to urge their support!
2. Another way you can build support for Community Solar in your community is by submitting a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper(s).
Letters to the Editor have four parts:
● An opening paragraph where you summarize your issue in a way that captures attention.
● Then explain why people should care about it.
● Then encourage people to contact their legislator to urge support.
● And finally, restate your support for Community Solar.
Below is a sample Letter to the Editor that you can follow:
[Publication Name]
[Editor’s Address]
[Date]
Dear Editor,
I am writing to urge support for Community Solar, a policy that would ensure that all
residents and business would have the option to obtain lower costing solar electricity.
More than 50% of Michiganders are not able to install solar where they live because they
may be renters, have an unsuitable roof, or can’t afford the cost.
Community solar addresses these issues by allowing residents and businesses to
subscribe to a portion of a solar array located nearby in their community. They would
receive a credit on their monthly utility bill for their share of the power that’s produced
just as if the solar panels were on their roof.
Michigan does not have a Community Solar law, but 23 other states have. We need a
Community Solar law so everybody can have the option of getting solar electricity to save
money on their electric bill. Please contact your legislator urging support.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association has been advocating for Community Solar legislation for over a decade, by lobbying at the state legislature, providing input on bills, and building coalitions of other clean energy supporters. We will continue to fight for Community Solar in Michigan to provide renewable, affordable, safe, and equitable energy for all. Join us as a member to support this work!