Introduction To Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy that is generated by natural processes and is renewed on a regular basis. Sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water, and various forms of biomass are all examples. This energy is never depleted and is constantly replenished.
Why Renewable Energy?
In the United States, electricity generation is the main source of industrial air pollution. Coal, nuclear, and other non-renewable power facilities provide the majority of our electricity. Energy production from these resources has a significant negative impact on our environment, damaging our air, land, and water.
Renewable energy sources can be used to generate electricity with fewer negative effects on the environment. It is possible to generate electricity from renewable energy sources without emitting CO2, the primary contributor to global warming.
But, first and foremost, what exactly is renewable energy? Renewable energy comes from natural resources that regenerate themselves over time without depleting the planet’s resources. These resources also have the advantage of being plentiful, accessible in some form almost everywhere, and causing little, if any, environmental harm. Examples include solar energy, wind, and thermal energy stored in the Earth’s crust. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas, on the other hand, are not renewable since their quantity is finite—once they have been mined, they will no longer be available as an economically viable energy source. Natural processes provide these fuels, but they are too slow to replace them as quickly as humans utilize them, thus these sources will run out sooner or later.
People, businesses, and the environment all gain from renewable energy.
What community solar is not
- Group Purchasing: Through discussions with a solar installation provider, such as Philadelphia’s Solarize program, a large number of households or businesses are able to acquire their own individual solar systems at bulk rates. Unlike a community solar project, where everyone benefits from a single central system, under a group purchasing program, everyone buys their own solar project.
- Green Power Rates: Green power rates allow a utility’s customers to buy electricity generated by renewable energy sources, such as large-scale hydro, wind, and solar. Those that enroll in green power programs do so mostly to ‘do the right thing,’ rather than to save money on their electricity bills, as these solutions are often more expensive. Importantly, participation in a green power plan does not always imply the construction of new renewable power plants, as the electricity might come from current sources. The majority of community solar projects, on the other hand, are designed with the primary goal of lowering participants’ electricity bills.
- Crowdfunding / Online Solar Investment Platforms: Some businesses have made renewable energy investment available via online platforms that allow you to invest in new solar projects. These kinds of initiatives are entirely financial investments: you don’t get any electricity from them, so they don’t help you save money. Note that while the profits from these initiatives are usually taxable (as investments), the savings from a community solar project are not.
How does community solar work?
- Ownership: Participants can buy a specific number of panels or a piece of the community solar project under this arrangement. You’ll get energy bill credits/savings from all of the power produced by the solar panels you own if you invest in a community solar project.
- Subscription: With this concept, members can become subscribers and pay a cheaper monthly utility payment. Rather than owning panels or a stake in the project, you simply buy electricity at a cheaper cost than you would pay if you bought it from your utility.
While program details vary every project, most do not involve any upfront payments and provide immediate bill savings. In this situation, joining a community solar project is similar to joining a green power program, except that instead of paying a higher price for clean electricity, community solar members often pay a cheaper price.
While program details vary every project, most do not involve any upfront payments and provide immediate bill savings. In this situation, joining a community solar project is similar to joining a green power program, except that instead of paying a higher price for clean electricity, community solar members often pay a cheaper price.
To participate in the community solar program, you may need to live a specific distance from the community solar project (i.e., inside your utility’s service area) depending on your state or utility provider. Many community solar projects also impose a limit on the amount of electricity you can obtain (i.e., no more than 120 percent of your average monthly usage).
The majority of subscription-based programs are simple to sign up for and discontinue.
Where is community solar available?
To open projects, legislative legislation on community solar is required. Although the vast majority of states in the United States have passed legislation permitting community solar projects, capacity remains concentrated in a few states. Based on Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Research Database, states where community solar option is available are mentioned below:
