Community Solar
What is community solar?
Community solar projects involve locally produced solar energy from large arrays (also known as farms, gardens, or fields). These arrays are often hosted by utility companies, allowing their customers or members to purchase a share and receive a credit on their bill for the clean energy it produces.
Community solar projects make incorporating solar energy much more accessible, especially for those who rent their homes or would otherwise not have a feasible location on their own property. Economies of scale also help make it more affordable than if you were to install a solar system on your own property; often half the cost. The host takes care of all maintenance and it can be viewed as a tax-free investment!
Community solar projects involve locally produced solar energy from large arrays (also known as farms, gardens, or fields). These arrays are often hosted by utility companies, allowing their customers or members to purchase a share and receive a credit on their bill for the clean energy it produces.
Community solar projects make incorporating solar energy much more accessible, especially for those who rent their homes or would otherwise not have a feasible location on their own property. Economies of scale also help make it more affordable than if you were to install a solar system on your own property; often half the cost. The host takes care of all maintenance and it can be viewed as a tax-free investment!
BEC's community solar array in Iron River, WI
Bayfield Electric's Community Solar Array
Cheq Bay Renewables advocated for Bayfield Electric Cooperative (BEC) to consider a community solar offering for its members. Once they agreed to offer it, we helped educate the members about the opportunity and encouraged enrollment. The 300kW AC array is live in Iron River! Each share is $500 and provides 205 watts of solar capacity. You may purchase up to 90% of your energy usage even if you rent. The federal tax credit (30%) can apply with this offering* and with it there is an estimated 10 year payback - it's a great investment!
BEC's community solar shares are now sold out, but if you are interested in a future installation, contact BEC's Larry Roecker at 715-372-4287 to get your name on the waiting list. Many members of BEC must express interest in a second installation for it to happen. CBR is working with BEC and their electric supplier, Dairyland Power Cooperative, to make sure when the time is right, a second project will move forward.
Watch the energy production here!
Download BEC information sheet
* Find more information about the federal tax credit eligibility on Page 10, Q26 of this recent IRS ruling. Additional clarification can also be found in this IRS document. Consult your accountant and BEC for more information.
Xcel Energy and Community Solar
On February 24, 2016, Xcel Energy announced the locations for its first two community solar gardens in Wisconsin: 1mW each in La Crosse and Eau Claire counties. The project is called Solar*Connect Community and all Wisconsin customers could participate. Xcel offered subscriptions at a cost of $1,780 per kilowatt. The minimum subscription size was 200 watts ($356), which would produce enough energy to offset about 3 percent of an average residential customer’s usage. Subscriptions can be sized up to 100 percent of a customer’s average annual usage, not to exceed 400 kilowatts. Subscriptions are valid for 25 years and the estimated payback is 16-20 years. The federal tax credit does not apply with this offering.
On May 1, 2018, Xcel announced its third 1mW community solar garden in Ashland which was completed in the summer of 2019. The installation was developed by OneEnergy Renewables. The community solar share price was been reduced to $1,600 per kilowatt while production estimates increased. The solar garden is now sold out but Xcel has other renewables energy programs available. For example Xcel's Renewable Connect program can be found here:
Cheq Bay Renewables advocated for Bayfield Electric Cooperative (BEC) to consider a community solar offering for its members. Once they agreed to offer it, we helped educate the members about the opportunity and encouraged enrollment. The 300kW AC array is live in Iron River! Each share is $500 and provides 205 watts of solar capacity. You may purchase up to 90% of your energy usage even if you rent. The federal tax credit (30%) can apply with this offering* and with it there is an estimated 10 year payback - it's a great investment!
BEC's community solar shares are now sold out, but if you are interested in a future installation, contact BEC's Larry Roecker at 715-372-4287 to get your name on the waiting list. Many members of BEC must express interest in a second installation for it to happen. CBR is working with BEC and their electric supplier, Dairyland Power Cooperative, to make sure when the time is right, a second project will move forward.
Watch the energy production here!
Download BEC information sheet
* Find more information about the federal tax credit eligibility on Page 10, Q26 of this recent IRS ruling. Additional clarification can also be found in this IRS document. Consult your accountant and BEC for more information.
Xcel Energy and Community Solar
On February 24, 2016, Xcel Energy announced the locations for its first two community solar gardens in Wisconsin: 1mW each in La Crosse and Eau Claire counties. The project is called Solar*Connect Community and all Wisconsin customers could participate. Xcel offered subscriptions at a cost of $1,780 per kilowatt. The minimum subscription size was 200 watts ($356), which would produce enough energy to offset about 3 percent of an average residential customer’s usage. Subscriptions can be sized up to 100 percent of a customer’s average annual usage, not to exceed 400 kilowatts. Subscriptions are valid for 25 years and the estimated payback is 16-20 years. The federal tax credit does not apply with this offering.
On May 1, 2018, Xcel announced its third 1mW community solar garden in Ashland which was completed in the summer of 2019. The installation was developed by OneEnergy Renewables. The community solar share price was been reduced to $1,600 per kilowatt while production estimates increased. The solar garden is now sold out but Xcel has other renewables energy programs available. For example Xcel's Renewable Connect program can be found here:
Xcel Energy's 1mW community solar garden at it's Ashland field office