Community solar is poised to become much more common thanks to a new $7 billion fund tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. Community solar is meant to be an option for folks who can’t put solar on their own roofs, whether they don’t own a home or have the financial ability to put solar up there or have a lot of shady trees. When people, like SDCEA members, have to pay a premium for power from Trout Creek Solar Project, that’s not community solar.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act and solar-power momentum in states, community-solar installations have potential to soar in the U.S., coalition says. The climate law provides investment and production tax credits, as well as a bonus tax credit for serving low- to moderate-income customers, through 2032 that apply to community-solar projects.