Perspectives on community solar policy adoption across the United States

Abstract

This paper focuses on community shared solar photovoltaics (PV), an innovative solar energy program design that allows multiple consumers to share the costs and benefits of ownership in an off-site solar PV facility, opening market access to a wider variety of individuals. Community shared solar has been shown in prior literature to achieve cost reductions through economies of scale, as well as ideal project locations, collaborative emissions goals, and enhanced community cohesion, among other positive attributes. However, only 16 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia currently allow community shared solar implementation via formal legislation. Using a punctuated equilibrium framework and semi-structured telephone interviews with policy experts across the U.S. from the solar industry, environmental groups, government, and electric utilities, this research discovers that electric utility lobbying and an overall lack of attention have hindered community solar enabling legislation. However, opportunities exist for future development via increased participation, collaboration, and key events that may alter the policy equilibrium. Such research is useful in understanding how historically laggard energy policy states may adopt community shared solar legislation in the future.