In a new study recently released by Wood Mackenzie and the Community Solar Access Alliance (CCSA), a total of 4.9 gigawatts (GW) of electricity was generated by U.S. communities that have installed solar in the second quarter of 2022, and it is estimated that U.S. community solar will exceed 7 GW in the next five years.
For U.S. homes and businesses unable to erect solar on their rooftops, they can subscribe to power shared by local solar facilities and receive credit on their electric bills. As the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) explains
Community solar enables people to have equal access to the economic and environmental benefits of solar power, regardless of the physical attributes or ownership of an individual home or business. In other words, if you can’t install solar directly on your property, community solar can be a great option for reaping the savings and other benefits that solar can bring.
Currently with Washington, D.C., there are at least 41 states with at least one community-run solar project. The Biden administration hopes that community solar will reach 5 million homes by 2025, saving $1 billion on energy bills.
SEIA forecasts total U.S. community solar capacity to increase to 4.3 GW as of June 7, but Wood Mackenzie has increased its 2022-2026 forecast by 477 MW, an 11 percent increase from its previous forecast, and extended its outlook to 2027.
Wood Mackenzie’s perceived growth comes primarily from new community solar markets, such as New Mexico and Delaware, and adjustments to existing state forecasts as state programs expand and rules are updated. Illinois and New York are the biggest changes to state-level forecasts. New York, with 1.3GW of projects expected to come online between now and 2027, is expected to continue to lead among U.S. states in community solar.
