Leslie Myers is a Clean Energy Product Manager at Puget Sound Energy. Leslie’s role with PSE is to oversee a suite of voluntary clean energy programs that allow customers to reduce their carbon footprints. She also has many years of experience as a marketing and communications strategist. Leslie has bachelor's degrees in history and women's studies from Portland State University and a Master of Communications from the University of Washington.

Through this article, Myers highlights the potential of community solar as a viable green energy option for individuals who cannot or do not want to install their own solar panels. She also emphasizes the accessibility, low cost, and environmental benefits of community solar.

It’s a common misconception that people need to install renewable energy generators or special infrastructure to benefit from green energy options. That line of thinking means renewable energy is only an option for customers that own the property where the generator is located, have the money available to make an investment in new technology, and that the property is perfectly situated to harvest green energy resources.

However, it is very possible for individual energy users to get the benefit of solar panels away from their property too. In this case, just like with larger “utility scale” projects, the energy is transmitted through to end users, or subscribers, utilizing the power grid.

This opens the door to a bright area of opportunity: Community Solar. However, to maximize the promise of community solar, we must invest in the infrastructure that allows us to move the energy from generator to consumer.

“Community solar already has traction to allow groups of people to benefit from larger, centrally located solar projects—without individuals needing to install and maintain an array on their own property”

What is community solar?

Community solar already has traction to allow groups of people to benefit from larger, centrally located solar projects—without individuals needing to install and maintain an array on their own property. This is especially attractive for multifamily property dwellers who have limited roof space and lower-income energy users who cannot afford the upfront capital investment to install their own. But it also makes sense for single-family residents living in heavily forested neighborhoods like those in the Pacific Northwest.

Essentially, solar is installed on underutilized ground or rooftop space. The array is virtually portioned out by size or percentage for subscribers. Then the energy generated is added to the grid. The actual electrons may not make it to the subscriber’s location, but the financial value of the generated energy is distributed through their utility bill.

There are a few benefits for subscribers to community solar:

• Accessibility: solar, no roof required!

• Low cost: economies of scale due to larger projects + bill credits for subscribers

• No carbon—solar energy is clean and green.

• Energy orchestration: subscribers shift from consumer to energy producer However, to realize the full potential of community solar, a reliable energy distribution system is as important as ever.

How did we get here?

Our energy system has historically relied on large, centralized generation sources, with energy transmitted over long distances. This meant large generators were sited in locations best adapted to make the electrons—whether that is due to access to fuel resources, skilled talent pools, or both. With community solar, we can do the same and also yield a geographic diversity benefit from sitting solar projects closer to the end user.

One challenge to this transformation is that distribution grid infrastructure is often at capacity or even overtaxed due to population growth and/or increased load demand from technological advances like AI. It’s important not to overlook this potentially expensive detail when imagining a clean energy future. Upgrading infrastructure can:

• Reduce risk: expanded capacity of distribution lines reduces the chance of overload.

• Enable more projects; more available capacity makes it less expensive for projects to come online, including energy storage batteries.

• Ensure safety: the two-way flow of energy created by solar projects must be safely interconnected.

The path forward

The clean energy transformation is upon us but needs more investment than many are talking about. The fact is, when a customer can see a project, it becomes more real. In turn, this helps customers feel more connected to where they get their energy—and how they use it.

Utilities are looking for ways to diversify supply with clean energy to meet customer demand and sustainability goals. A successful transition hinges on the safe interconnection of renewable projects like community solar arrays.

With careful planning and strategic infrastructure investments over time, we can enhance energy resilience and cut carbon emissions affordably and equitably. Together we can bring more renewable energy online and put the clean energy future within reach. But will we pay to unlock the door?