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Community Solar

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Community Solar

Community Solar Could Serve More Than 53 Million U.S. Households, Researchers Say

While Community Solar is already making an impact (with Altus avoiding 265 million pounds of CO² emissions in 2024 alone), its potential is huge. So huge, in fact, that Community Solar could power tens of millions of households in the United States.

The Altus Power Team

April 3, 2025

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Community Solar

New Jersey Hits 5 GW of Installed Solar, With Help From Altus Power’s Community Solar

New Jersey has reached a significant milestone by achieving 5 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity, which is enough to power 700,000 households. This achievement, supported by Altus Power's Community Solar program, reflects the state's commitment to renewable energy and job creation, with nearly 400 megawatts added in 2024 alone.

The Garden State is blossoming with solar energy. On January 23, 2025, the office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state had reached 5 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity, more than doubling its capacity over seven years.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) said that 5 GW of installed solar energy is enough to power 700,000 households, as NJ Spotlight News reports.

“With this milestone achievement in solar energy, we are building a strong foundation for renewable energy while combating the imminent threat of climate change and propelling our state forward on 100% clean electricity,” Gov. Murphy said. “By expanding solar programs and resources for homes and businesses, we are taking a whole-of-government approach to making solar energy more affordable and accessible than ever before.”

New Jersey added nearly 400 megawatts of installed solar capacity in 2024, and there are now more than 209,000 solar installations throughout the state, encompassing net-metered, grid-supply, and community solar, according to the announcement. The state’s solar energy sector also supports approximately 7,000 jobs.

NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy said the 5 GW milestone “reflects the hard work and commitment of the NJBPU to bolstering our solar sector and the thousands of good, local jobs it employs while transitioning New Jersey to a clean energy future.”

Altus Power, the United States’ largest commercial-scale provider of clean electric power, has worked toward this big moment for New Jersey. In October 2023, Altus and Brightcore Energy announced the completion of 19 solar arrays on rooftops from Brennan Investment Group’s portfolio of logistics buildings across the state, repressing 7.4 megawatts (MW) of solar energy.

In June 2024, Altus announced the acquisition of an 8.5 MW ground-mounted solar array in New Jersey, and in December of that year, the company announced a partnership with Trammell Crow Company (TCC) and CBRE Investment Management to construct a 10.5-megawatt solar project on three modern logistics buildings in the state.

“With the addition of these assets, we are not only expanding our footprint in the Garden State but also delivering meaningful benefits to the communities we serve,” Brett Phillips, Director, Investment and Structured Finance, Altus Power, said at the time of the TCC & CBRE partnership launch.

New Jersey’s 5 GW achievement comes less than three months after neighboring New York proclaimed that that state had installed 6 GW of distributed solar, hitting that goal a year ahead of schedule. Altus participated in that victory, too, through solar projects like a 4.8 MW ground-mounted solar array in Cayuga County, New York.

In New Jersey, residents in Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren counties can benefit from Altus Power’s Community Solar program. Homeowners and renters alike can sign up for the program to subscribe to the benefits of clean electricity generated by Altus Power’s owned-and-operated solar arrays.

It’s a win-win for Community Solar subscribers, since they help their community go green while saving 5% to 20% on their monthly electricity costs, depending on location. Better yet, there’s no cost to subscribe, no equipment to install, and subscribers can cancel at any time. And now that New Jersey has transitioned to Utility Consolidated Billing, it’s easier than ever for NJ residents to join Community Solar and enjoy the benefits!

To check your eligibility and apply for Community solar, head to join.altuspower.com, and reach out to the Customer Experience Team with any questions by emailing hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

March 10, 2025

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Community Solar

What’s the Difference Between Community Solar and an Energy Supplier?

Community Solar and energy suppliers serve different roles in providing power. Community Solar connects residents to shared solar projects, allowing them to receive solar credits on their bills, while energy suppliers provide the actual electricity that powers homes, which may include various sources like coal or wind.

It's a common misconception that Community Solar allows subscribers to power their homes with solar energy. But Community Solar is not a retail energy supplier. Instead of powering individual home directly, clean energy generated by shared solar farms goes into local electricity grids, and that energy is used in combination with energy derived from other sources (wind, coal, nuclear, etc.) to power households and businesses throughout that community.

Want to know more about the difference between Community Solar and energy suppliers? We’ll break it down for you.

Community Solar

Community Solar is a state-supported clean energy program that connects a geographical area and its residents, businesses, and institutions to a nearby solar project through a virtual subscription. As Community Solar provides clean electric power to that area’s energy grid, customers receive solar credits on their electricity bill for their share of the energy output.

Altus Power’s Community Solar program works that same way. Homeowners and renters alike can subscribe to Community Solar and start saving, since subscribers are guaranteed to receive solar savings of 5 to 20%, depending on their location. There’s no equipment to install, meaning anyone can access the benefits of solar power, even if they don’t own their property, don’t have the resources to install solar panels, or don’t have suitable space for panels. Even better, a Community Solar subscription through Altus Power is free, and subscribers can cancel at any time.

Energy Supplier

Meanwhile, “energy supply” refers to the energy source that powers your home.

In regulated states, vertically-integrated utilities are responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. That means you don’t get a say in what kind of energy is being used to power up your lights and household appliances. Deregulated states, on the other hand, allow market competition for retail energy supply, while utilities maintain the distribution of electricity, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports. This means you can shop around for an energy supplier of your choice, bypassing the standard supply provided by your utility company.

Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington D.C. are fully deregulated, according to the EPA. California, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, and Virginia are partially deregulated.

The U.S. retail energy suppliers with the most customers include Constellation, Energy Harbor, and Direct Energy Business, according to data shared by Diversegy.

If you use a retail energy supplier, you’ll pay both the supplier for the electricity generation and your utility for the delivery — perhaps even on the same bill, if consolidated billing is available to you.

Can I have both?

Absolutely! If you live in a deregulated state, you are free to shop around for the best retail energy rate, or if you’re passionate about sourcing your power from renewable sources like wind and solar, you can do that and benefit from a Community Solar subscription simultaneously.

If you live in a regulated state, you won’t be able to select your energy provider — but if Community Solar is available in your zip code and utility zone, you can apply to join a nearby project and once enrolled, you will start saving on your electricity costs.

To check your eligibility and apply for Community Solar, head to join.altuspower.com, and email any questions to Altus Power’s Customer Experience Team at hello@altuspower.com.

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The Altus Power Team

March 7, 2025

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Community Solar

I Subscribed to Community Solar — Is My House Now Running on Solar Energy?

If you’re one of Altus Power’s 30,000-plus Community Solar subscribers across the country, you might be ready to boast that your household is running on solar power. But actually, the solar projects you’re supporting are providing electricity to your local utility’s grid. So when you subscribe to Community Solar, you’re supporting solar energy that may or may not end up turning on your lights but is certainly helping to power your community.

Here’s how it works: Sunlight hits the panels at one of Altus Power’s solar projects, which are supported by subscribers who have a share of the energy output. Photovoltaic technology in the panels converts light into electricity. That solar project then supplies that electricity into a utility’s grid, where it is pooled in an energy mix that might include other sources — wind, hydro, nuclear, coal, et cetera — to power households, offices, businesses, and everything else connected to the grid.

As a subscriber, you’ll receive solar credits for the clean energy produced by the size of your subscription (which is determined by your historical energy usage), and these credits reduce the amount you owe on your monthly utility bill. You pay Altus for the solar credits at a discount of 5 to 20%, depending on your location. That’s how you save money with Community Solar.

“As a Community Solar customer, you wouldn’t get the exact electrons that are being produced by the system,” Ben Delman, senior director of communications at the nonprofit organization Solar United Neighbors, explained to CNET. “What you do get is a credit on your bill relative to the share of the community solar array that you either own part of, rent part of, or have a stake in.”

Furthermore, not only does the clean electricity of Community Solar reduce your community’s reliance on fossil fuel-based energy, but it also provides numerous benefits to the community — making grids more efficient, for example, by distributing energy production and more reliable by increasing resilience ahead of weather events or other potential disruptions.

And in many cases, Community Solar is shortening the transmission distance between energy producer and energy consumer. For example, Altus has a 2.7 megawatt solar project located on the parking canopies at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s campus in Purchase, New York. That solar project is expected to save the carbon equivalent of burning more than 2.9 million pounds of coal or more than 4,700 barrels of oil as compared to utility power. And while Morgan Stanley is benefiting from 40% of that project’s clean electric power, the rest is made available to the surrounding community.

In another example, an Altus Power Community Solar Partnership Program with Blackstone and CBRE offered employees of both companies a chance to subscribe to the benefits of clean energy generated from Altus Power’s solar project on the rooftop of a large self-storage facility in the Bronx, New York.

“Community Solar is a perfect example of how commercial scale solar can deliver clean energy right where it’s needed,” Altus CEO Gregg Felton explained in a recent blog post. “With Community Solar, we can install solar on facilities like industrial buildings, municipal rooftops or even brownfields without an attractive alternative use. The power our systems generate can then be redirected to serve surrounding communities with the benefits of clean and discounted power.”

Plus, by supporting Community Solar, you’re supporting a system that brings clean energy benefits to households that otherwise couldn’t access those benefits. Perhaps the residents of those households don’t own their building, perhaps because they don’t have a suitable roof, or perhaps because they can’t afford the panels. A 2016 analysis reported that 77% of U.S. residential households are likely ineligible for rooftop solar installations. So, Community Solar helps make the transition to clean energy more equitable.

“This model is powerful because it not only brings renewable energy to local households at lower rates, but it also creates a sustainable business model that benefits everyone involved — the landlord, the community, and the grid itself,” Felton added in the blog post.

If you aren’t already an Altus Power Community Solar subscriber, getting started is easy, especially because there are no fees or upfront costs, there’s nothing to install, and you can cancel any time. Go to join.altuspower.com to check your eligibility and begin the application process. If you have any questions or want to know more about Community Solar, contact our Customer Experience Team any time at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

February 6, 2025

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Community Solar

Energy Generated by Altus Power’s Community Solar Avoided 265 Million Pounds of CO² Emissions in 2024

Are you a Community Solar subscriber? Your subscription is a part of something a whole lot bigger than just cost savings. It might start with lower energy costs, but collectively we are making a significant impact on CO² reduction.

In 2024, energy generated by Altus Power’s Community Solar projects equaled 322,067,187 kilowatt-hours of energy, serving more than 30,000 subscribers nationwide. But just take a look at all the carbon dioxide emissions we avoided!

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the average carbon intensity of the U.S. grid is 823.1 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per megawatt-hour, meaning the energy generated by our Community Solar projects avoided emissions of 265 million pounds of carbon dioxide.

And the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator delivers impressive statistics about what avoiding 265 million pounds of carbon dioxide looks like:

‍That’s equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of more than 28,000 gas-powered cars over one year

‍To be more exact, 265 million tons of carbon dioxide is equivalent to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 28,038 gasoline-powered passenger cars (or 106,157 electric-powered passenger vehicles) driven in a year. That amount is also the equivalent of the GHG emissions of an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle driving more than 306 million miles. That’d be like driving around the Earth more than 12,000 times — or driving to the Moon and back more than 600 times.

‍Or more than 13 million gallons of gasoline consumed…

‍265 million tons of carbon dioxide is equivalent to the GHG emissions of 13,525,597 gallons — or 1,591 tanker trucks’ worth — of gasoline consumed. That amount is also equivalent to the GHG emissions of 133,522,148 pounds of coal burned, 11,807,660 gallons of diesel consumed, and 278,293 barrels of oil consumed.

‍Or more than 16,000 homes’ energy use.

The energy use of 16,143 homes and the electricity use of 25,050 homes over one year would release GHG emissions equivalent to 265 million pounds of carbon dioxide. That amount of carbon dioxide is also equivalent to the GHG emissions of 9,717,942,085 smartphones getting charged — yes, that’s close to 10 billion phones.

‍It’s equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling more than 42,000 tons of waste.

‍Recycling 42,474 tons — or 6,068 garbage trucks’ worth or 10,217,944 trash bags’ worth —of waste instead of sending that waste to the landfill avoids the same amount of GHG emissions.

‍And it’s equivalent to the carbon sequestered by nearly 2 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

‍1,987,550 tree seedlings grown for a decade would sequester 265 million pounds of carbon. 120,570 acres of U.S. forests — an area larger than, say, Nebraska’s Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest — would do the same sequestering in one year.

Of course, Community Solar provides many other benefits apart from carbon-dioxide emission avoidance. For starters, Community Solar increases access to the clean energy transition, especially for renters, homeowners without suitable rooftops or sunlight, and households that can’t afford solar panels.

And for Altus Power Community Solar subscribers, the virtual program provides a way of supporting clean energy without installed equipment, upfront costs, or long-term commitments. To check your eligibility and start your application, go to join.altuspower.com and reach out to our Customer Experience Team at hello@altuspower.com with any questions.

Skylar Werde, Head of Community Solar

January 16, 2025

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Community Solar

Altus Power's Community Solar Is Part of Minnesota's Clean Energy Success Story

Minnesota's power sector is getting cleaner, and Altus Power and its Community Solar subscribers are part of the solution. At Altus Power, we’re excited to help Minnesotans access our Community Solar program. Already, Altus has approximately 30,000 customers enrolled in Community Solar in the United States, and we are proud to be bringing Community Solar to residents of the North Star State.

Minnesota's power sector is getting cleaner, and Altus Power and its Community Solar subscribers are part of the solution.

On its climate website, Minnesota calls its clean energy transition a success story, noting that the amount of energy the state produces from renewable sources has risen 60% over the course of a decade and now accounts for 28% of the state’s electricity generation. Greenhouse gas emissions from Minnesota’s power sector, on the other hand, have dropped by 40 percent.

Minnesota attributes that energy transition success to legislation like the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act, which set renewable goals for the state. Now the state is aiming to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity and 55% renewable electricity by 2040.

To reach those goals, Minnesota is focused on addressing the energy burdens of low-income households, fixing grid inadequacies, and making access to clean energy more equitable, according to its climate website. A $62 million Solar for All grant that Minnesota recently received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will help, supporting solar programs that serve low-income families.

“We can tackle climate change while saving families money,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said, in part, this April, as Minnesota announced the grant. “Minnesota’s health, wellbeing, and economic future depend on us taking climate seriously.”

Community solar, meanwhile, helps to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy and save families money. Minnesota was one of the first states to enable community solar, doing so in 2013, according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). And since 2017, ILSR’s data shows the existing operating capacity of Minnesota’s Community Solar has quadrupled.

At Altus Power, we’re excited to help Minnesotans access our Community Solar program. Already, Altus has approximately 30,000 customers enrolled in Community Solar in the United States, and we are proud to be bringing Community Solar to residents of the North Star State.

Altus’ Community Solar subscribers support the clean energy transition, reducing the reliance on energy derived from fossil fuels, and access the benefits of clean electricity, all while saving money on their monthly utility bills. Subscribers support a local solar farm and get solar credits from their utility company in the form of discounts to their monthly electricity costs. Subscribers then pay Altus Power for those credits at a discount with guaranteed solar savings of between 5 and 20%, depending on location. Even better, there’s no equipment to install, no fees or upfront costs to pay, and no issues with canceling at any time.

To check your eligibility and begin the application process, head to join.altuspower.com. If you have any questions at any point along the way, we’d love to hear from you — contact our Customer Experience Team any time at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

January 2, 2025

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Community Solar

I Have Rooftop Solar — Am I Eligible for Community Solar?

If you have rooftop solar installed on your home, you’re already tapping into the world’s most abundant energy resource and working toward a cleaner, greener energy future. So can you also subscribe to Community Solar?

Generally, people who have rooftop solar or subscriptions to other Community Solar programs aren’t eligible for Altus Power’s Community Solar. But the regulations vary from state to state, so we recommend reaching out to Altus to check in on your eligibility.

The Solar Energy Industries Association reported in May 2024 that 7% of homes in the United States have solar, a proportion expected to grow to over 15% in 2030.

But research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that while 81% of residential buildings in the United States have rooftop space suitable for a 1.5-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system, only 51% of households could install such PV system due to factors including building ownership, number of stories per building, and roof space suitability.

Furthermore, because of factors including roof shading, low credit scores, and property ownership, 77% of U.S. residential households are likely ineligible for rooftop solar installations, according to Greentech Media.

And while rooftop solar systems typically save homeowners more money than community solar programs, according to The Washington Post, the purchase, installation, and maintenance of rooftop solar can also be too expensive for some. The median cost of buying and installing rooftop solar panels is around $30,000 before government incentives, according to NPR.

For these reasons, Community Solar can be a game-changer for households that don’t or can’t have rooftop solar. Altus Power’s Community Solar subscribers pay no fees or upfront costs for the program, nor do they have to install any equipment at home. They also don’t pay a dime for the maintenance of the panels at the solar farm they’re supporting.

And while homeowners with rooftop solar often leave their solar panels behind when they move, Altus Power can transfer a subscriber’s plan to a new home serviced by the same utility company or, in some cases, a new home in the service area of a different Community Solar project. And, of course, Community Solar subscribers can cancel their subscription at any time for free.

In short, Community Solar offers the opportunity to access the benefits of solar power to those who don’t own a rooftop with suitable space for a PV system, those who can’t afford or don’t have the credit rating for panels, or anyone else.

As NREL notes, Community Solar projects “provide greater access for local historically excluded populations.” And in a peer-reviewed study published in Nature Energy in June 2024, researchers from NREL and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that across Community Solar adopters from the 11 states surveyed are about 6.1 times more likely to live in multifamily buildings than rooftop solar adopters, 4.4 times more likely to rent their home, and earn 23% less annual income. Eric O’Shaughnessy, lead author of the study, told Canary Media that community solar is “delivering on its promise.”

And as Matt Hargarten, vice president of campaigns for the national organization Coalition for Community Solar Access, explained to CNET, Community Solar “is one of the best ways to get equity in our energy system and more renewables onto the grid quicker.”

To check your eligibility and start your application, head to join.altuspower.com, and if you have questions about Community Solar, reach out to our Customer Experience Team at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

December 11, 2024

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Community Solar

New York Hits 6 GW Solar Milestone 1 Year Early

Start spreading the news — New York is celebrating a sunny achievement! The Empire State has installed 6 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar so far, hitting its Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act statutory goal one year ahead of schedule.

In a press release about the achievement, Governor Kathy Hochul said hitting that goal brings the state “one step closer to a reliable and resilient zero-emission grid,” adding that distributed solar is “at the heart of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the availability of renewable energy, and delivering substantial benefits for our health, our environment, and our economy.”

By hitting that 6-GW target — with support from the state’s $3.3 billion NY Sun initiative — New York now has enough distributed solar to power more than a million homes and businesses. That goal has also generated approximately $9.2 billion in private investment across New York, and the state’s solar projects have created more than 14,000 solar jobs.

And we’re proud to say Altus Power has been a part of that achievement. In July 2023, Altus completed the construction of a 4.8 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted solar array in Cayuga County, New York. And that September, Altus announced a new 2.7 megawatt solar array project located on the parking canopies at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s campus in Purchase, New York. That project is projected to save the carbon equivalent of burning more than 2.9 million pounds of coal or more than 4,700 barrels of oil as compared to utility power.

Solar projects like these support Altus Power’s Community Solar program, through which subscribers access the benefits of solar energy and support the transition to greener energy — all while saving money on their utility bills — with no equipment installed, no upfront fees, and no cancellation hassles.

“New Yorkers are known for their hustle, and Community Solar fits right into our fast-paced lives. This program lets you tap into local solar farms without installing panels on your roof,” explains Nichole Clennon, Vice President of Community Solar, Altus Power. “It’s a win-win: you save money on your electricity costs and reduce your community’s carbon footprint, all through a simple sign-up process, because every moment — and every kilowatt-hour — counts.”

(New Yorkers and everyone else, if you’d like to learn more about Community Solar or to see if you’re eligible for the program, head to join.altuspower.com.)

So what’s next for New York? Gov. Hochul gave the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Department of Public Service a new goal three years ago, moving the goalpost to 10 GW by 2030. And with almost 3.4 GW in development already, the state is once again ahead of schedule.

The Altus Power Team

November 5, 2024

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Community Solar

Will Community Solar Impact My Electricity Service?

If you're curious about Community Solar but hesitant to sign up because you’re nervous about the impact on your electricity service, you aren’t alone — we get this question a lot here at Altus Power.

But here's the good news: Community Solar has no impact on your household electricity service.

‍This is because Community Solar does not replace your existing energy supplier. The clean energy generated by our Community Solar farms goes into your local electricity grid — not your individual residence or business. Your utility company will continue sending electricity to your home as they always have — day and night, rain or shine. Your lights and household appliances will continue to operate exactly as they did before you joined Community Solar.

The only difference you’ll see as a Community Solar subscriber is the presence of solar credits on your monthly utility bill, which reduces the amount you pay for your electricity. That said, you may experience normal fluctuations in solar credits throughout the year. This is because solar production can be impacted by the weather. These fluctuations often follow a seasonal pattern, as our panels tend to produce more clean energy during the summer months when there’s more daylight hours.

But don’t worry — photovoltaic technology can convert sunlight into electricity during all hours and all-weather conditions — and even at night. So if you’re subscribed to a Community Solar project, you’ll receive solar credits all year-round.

“The panel is always working,” James Fenton, director of the Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida, explained to CNET. “The question is how much electricity comes out of it based on the amount of light. You will get close to zero electricity at night, but if there is a little bit of ambient light, sometimes even the reflected moonlight can do it.” And solar panels also work under overcast skies. “Even on a very cloudy or rainy day, you’ll get some electricity,” Fenton said. (Plus, CNET reports, rain can actually help a solar panel by washing away any dirt that has accumulated on the panel’s surface.)

Plus, solar technology also relies on energy storage to save up electricity to use during hours of little or no sunlight, and Altus Power originates, develops, owns, and operates a network of solar generation, energy storage, and charging infrastructure across the United States.

Now, as with other energy sources, solar energy can be impacted by severe weather and natural disasters, like hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and wildfires. Hailstorms can be especially damaging, too, though the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) reports that photovoltaic modules survive most hailstorms. Plus, FEMP adds, solar operators can use “hail stow” mode to adjust the angle of solar panels to reduce damage during hailstorms.

On the flip side, the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) reports solar power also makes communities more resilient against natural disasters, thanks to two key attributes — one, solar energy is distributed instead of centralized, and two, solar energy can be discharged without the need for fuel deliveries. “In a long [power] outage, solar and its associated energy storage can continue delivering power, even at night, to homes and businesses,” the EERE adds.

In these ways, Community Solar and solar in general can help keep the lights on, day and night, rain or shine — and even when the weather gets extreme. If you’d like to sign up for or learn more about Community Solar, head to join.altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

October 31, 2024

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Community Solar

Everything You Need to Know About Community Solar Billing

When you join a Community Solar project, you'll either be on Dual Standard Billing or Utility-Consolidated Billing. While most Community Solar projects today operate with the standard dual billing model, more and more states and utilities are moving towards a consolidated billing model.

What can you expect after signing up for Altus Power’s Community Solar? Well, for starters, you’ll be helping to make positive environmental changes, since Community Solar helps reduce your community’s reliance on power derived from fossil fuels. You’ll also be getting a solar discount on your annual electricity costs of 5 to 20%, depending on your location.

You can expect to see discounts on your bill within two or three billing cycles after you sign up — or two or three billing cycles after your local solar project is powered on, if it’s still under construction. What the billing process looks like, however, depends on whether your account is on Standard Dual Billing or Consolidated Billing.

‍Standard Dual Billing

‍The vast majority of Community Solar subscribers are on a billing structure called Standard Dual Billing. These customers receive two bills each month — one from their existing electric utility company and one from Altus Power — but they’re still saving money over the course of the year.

If you’re on Standard Dual Billing, you’ll notice that your monthly utility bill balance is typically lower, thanks to the solar credits you’re earning from the Community Solar project you’re subscribed to. (You might see those credits labeled as a “transfer” or an “adjustment” — the wording varies by state and by utility company.)

Your Altus Power bill, meanwhile, will charge you for those credits at a discount. Therefore, even though you’re paying two bills, the total charges for the two bills combined is less annually than what you would have paid before subscribing to Community Solar.

For example, if your utility bill for a given month is $200 but you got $100 off through solar credits, then you’ll pay your utility company the remaining $100. Altus will bill you for the solar credits minus the discount in your contract. Continuing this example, if your discount is set at 20%, then you’ll only have to pay Altus $80 for $100 worth of solar credits. That means your total electricity cost for that month would be $180 across both bills, compared to the $200 you would have had to pay without Community Solar.

‍Utility-Consolidated Billing

‍If your account is on Utility-Consolidated Billing, the process is pretty simple. You’ll get a bill from your existing electric utility provider which shows your usual charges, but you’ll also see your adjusted solar discount on that same bill. That means you will not get a separate bill from Altus Power. Instead, the utility has already handled the adjustment to reflect the discount on the solar credits listed in your Altus contract.

For example, let’s say your electricity charges this month are $200 and you receive $10 in solar discounts after the adjustment. Your new total on your electric bill would be $190, which means you saved a total of $10 this month.

While most Community Solar projects today operate with the Standard Dual Billing model, more and more states and utilities are moving towards a Consolidated Billing model. So if you’re receiving two bills now, that doesn’t mean you will necessarily continue receiving two bills indefinitely.

As always, if you have any questions about billing — or anything else related to our Community Solar program — send us a message at hello@altuspower.com. And if you’d like to sign up for or learn more about Community Solar, head to join.altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

October 28, 2024

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Community Solar

Altus Power’s Groundbreaking Hawaii Array Hits Its 1-Year “Solarversary”

Hawaii is committed to getting 100% of its electricity from clean energy by 2045, and Altus Power’s Community Solar subscribers in the Aloha State deserve kudos for doing their part to help Hawaii reach that goal. This month Altus is celebrating the one-year “Solarversary” of our solar array in Kapolei on the island of Oahu — and the subscribers who make it all possible.

What's a Solarversary? It's just like a regular anniversary, but here at Altus Power we commemorate the date a Community Solar project turned on and started generating clean power for its local community. And for those of you who have been subscribed to the project from the start, it’s your Solarversary too!

In just the first year since it’s been live, the Kapolei array and its subscribers have helped avoid 4,532 metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalents*. (FYI, those are units of measure used to compare greenhouse gases’ global warming potential, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.) Along the way, those same subscribers have helped reduce Hawaii’s reliance on energy from fossil fuels and helped expand access to the benefits of clean energy.

Altus announced the Kapolei project in June 2023, hailing it as Hawaii’s first large-scale community solar array. The ground-mounted 5-megawatt array generates clean electricity for a local medical facility and its employees and for the Hawaiian Electric grid. As part of Altus Power’s Community Solar Partnership Program, subscribers supporting the array enjoy solar savings of 13.3%.

Those subscribers are among the more than 25,000 customers enrolled with Altus Power’s Community Solar nationwide, who are supporting Altus in delivering 290 megawatts of clean energy to local power grids across the country. And with Community Solar, it’s easy to access the benefits of clean energy, especially because there are no upfront fees and no equipment to install.

“This is a true local partnership between the local medical facility, Hawaiian Electric, Altus and most importantly, Oahu residents, to help Hawaii achieve its goal of sourcing 100% of its electricity from clean sources by 2045,” said Nichole Clennon, VP of Community Solar for Altus Power. “We’re proud to have built the largest Community Solar project in Hawaii a year ago and are excited to welcome more subscribers into the program.”

Interested in joining Community Solar? In addition to Oahu’s Kapolei array, Altus has solar projects in the continental United States, too. Anyone in a qualifying state with a utility bill can sign up for free and start supporting clean energy while enjoying guaranteed solar savings between 5 and 20%, depending on where they live, and subscribers can cancel any time. Head over to join.altuspower.com to check your eligibility and get started.

‍*Calculated using Hawaii's grid emission factor of 0.7088 kg co2e/kWh (as reported by the EPA's Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database) multiplied by the solar generation of 6,393,970 kWhs of the Palailai Solar 1 project in the first year of operation.

The Altus Power Team

October 9, 2024

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Community Solar

You Don’t Have to be a Homeowner to Get the Benefits of Solar

Recent research has shown that 77% of U.S. residential households are ineligible for rooftop solar due to factors like building ownership. But there’s good news for renters: You don’t have to be a homeowner to benefit from solar. Renters can contribute to a cleaner energy future through Community Solar, and they can do so at a discount to their annual utility costs.

Here’s how it works: With Community Solar providers like Altus Power, clean energy is generated on a nearby solar array, sending clean energy into the local power grid. Renters and homeowners with active utility accounts can “subscribe” to the solar array, which earns them solar credits on their electric utility bill for the energy generated by the size of their subscription. These solar credits reduce the total amount subscribers owe to their electric utility company in a given billing cycle. Subscribers then pay their Community Solar provider back for those solar credits at a discounted rate, and that’s how they save money.

For example, let’s say you have a Community Solar contract granting you a 20% discount on your solar credits. That means that for every dollar of solar credit you receive on your electric utility bill, you pay your Community Solar provider 80 cents. Continuing that example, if you receive $50 of solar credits in a given month, your utility bill would show a deduction of $50, and you’d pay your Community Solar provider $40, resulting in a $10 discount for that month’s electricity.

Better yet, there are no fees or upfront costs with Altus, and there’s no equipment to install. Instead, you’re benefiting from the solar power produced at solar projects elsewhere in your area — whether they’re ground-mounted solar arrays, arrays built atop rooftops or even on carports, or agrivoltaic arrays that share land with agriculture.

And because there’s no equipment to install, you don’t have to own your residence to take advantage of Community Solar, nor do you have to worry about paying for solar panels or finding enough sunlit square footage on your building’s rooftop.

You can also take your Altus subscription with you if you move to a new home covered by the same utility, or in another location we service, and you can cancel your Altus subscription anytime for free.

Property owners can also use Altus to offer solar as an amenity at their buildings, all through a virtual billing adjustment that doesn’t require hardware or site visits.

In this way, Community Solar helps make the benefits of renewable energy accessible and equitable for all. And Community Solar projects help reduce their local power grids’ reliance on energy derived from fossil fuels, which moves us closer to a greener future.

If you’re a renter wanting to benefit from solar, “your best bet is to tap into some sort of community solar offsite generation — subscribe to an array,” Alan Robertson, then the managing director of solar development at BlueWave, told CNET in 2023. “It works and is a good way to contribute, support the solar industry, and save money on your electricity bill.”

Community Solar could help Generation Z in particular. As Redfin reported in 2023, only 26% of adult Gen Zers owned their homes as of 2022, compared to 52% of millennials, 71% of Gen Xers, and 79% of baby boomers.

“Gen Z is very passionate about the climate, but they don’t have a lot of money,” Clare Quirin, an account coordinator for the clean energy public relations company Tigercomm, explained to CNET this year. “It’s not like we own homes and can handle the upfront costs of rooftop solar. So I think community solar is a great way to save on energy bills but also be a part of the clean energy transition.”

As far as Community Solar goes, that clean energy transition is accelerating. A 2023 Wood Mackenzie analysis projected that the United States’ total community solar capacity would rise to around 8 gigawatts in 2024 and to around 14 gigawatts in 2028.

In April 2023, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced several investments in solar energy designed to reduce local pollution and home electricity bills as part of the push toward a 100% clean electricity grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The DOE’s $10 million Community Power Accelerator Prize, for example, seeks to bolster a network of community solar project developers across the United States. And the annual Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar gives prizes to community solar projects that increase equitable access and ensure that subscribers and their communities benefit from those projects.

If you’re a renter — or a homeowner, for that matter — who’s interested in benefiting from solar through Altus, go to join.altuspower.com to check your eligibility and start your application.

The Altus Power Team

September 27, 2024

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Community Solar

I Live in a Townhome — Do I Qualify for Community Solar?

You may have heard the phrase “solar without the panels,” but what does that even mean? How is that possible? Well, when you sign up for Community Solar, there’s no equipment to install — and no upfront fees, for that matter — which makes this clean energy program a viable solution for owners of townhomes, apartments, and condo owners who don’t own a building or don’t have a suitable roof on which to build residential solar panels.

So how do you get to enjoy the benefits of solar without panels? Consider it a case of “out of sight, out of mind.”

When you sign up for Community Solar, Altus Power connects you to a solar project nearby. That solar project could be a ground-mounted array nearby, like Altus Power’s 5-megawatt solar farm in Kapolei, Hawaii, which is celebrating its one-year “solarversary.” It could be a solar array atop a parking lot canopy, like our 2.7-megawatt array at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s campus in Purchase, New York. It could even be an array of panels on another building’s rooftop, like our community solar project on the roof of a self-storage facility in the Bronx, New York.

The point is, the panels are somewhere else, not above your head. You won’t need to install them, and won’t need to maintain them.

Therefore, Community Solar is good news for many of the U.S. households unable to install residential solar panels on their rooftops. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that 81% of U.S. residential buildings have enough rooftop space for a 1.5-kilowatt photovoltaic system, but only 51% of U.S. households can actually install such a system, because of factors like ownership, number of stories, and roof suitability. Meanwhile, 77% of U.S. households are likely ineligible for rooftop solar because of credit issues, roof shading, or ownership status, Greentech Media reports.

Altus Power’s solar projects supply their local electricity grid with clean power, easing the strain on utilities and reducing their community’s reliance on energy from fossil fuels. As a Community Solar subscriber, you’ll sign up for a share of a solar project’s output, and utilities will give you solar credits in the form of deductions on your utility bills. You’ll pay Altus for these credits at discount between 5-20%, depending on where you live, and you can cancel any time.

If you’re ready to sign up for Community Solar, go to join.altuspower.com to check your eligibility and begin the application. If you have any questions or want to know more, please feel free to reach out to us at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

September 26, 2024

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Community Solar

I Just Joined Community Solar — When Will I Get My Solar Credits?

So you’ve signed up for Altus Power’s Community Solar program, the first step in supporting clean energy while saving money on your electricity costs — a win-win! So when can you expect those solar credits to kick in and start bringing your utility costs down?

Great question. If the solar project you have joined is generating electricity, you’ll usually see solar credits appear on your bill within two or three billing cycles. If that solar project is still under construction, you’ll usually see solar credits on your bill two or three billing cycles after that project has been turned on. If you would like to check the status of your account — or have any other questions — please reach out by emailing hello@altuspower.com.

Once the credits start coming in, they’ll be automatically added to your electric utility account each month. You’ll see them on your monthly utility bill, perhaps labeled as a “transfer” or an “adjustment.” No matter the wording (which varies by state and utility company) those credits will reduce your total electricity charges. If your account is on standard dual billing, you will also receive a monthly statement from Altus Power for the solar credit amount minus your discount. You’ll pay your Altus balance alongside your reduced monthly electricity bill.

‍“If I’m paying two bills, how am I saving money?”

‍Another great question. Here’s an example: Let's say your electricity bill totals $200 in a given month, and you receive $100 worth of solar credits. After this reduction, you’ll pay your utility company just $100. Now, let’s say you have an Altus Power savings discount of 20% — your Altus statement for this cycle will show a balance of just $80, which means the remaining $20 is your savings!

In other words, you'll pay $100 to your utility company and $80 to Altus Power — a total of $180, rather than the $200 you would have owed your utility company without Community Solar.

If your account is on consolidated billing, you will not receive a statement from Altus Power. The discount will be applied to your solar credits by your utility company, and your total solar savings will appear as a deduction on your monthly electric utility bill.

Solar credits are calculated based on your annual electricity usage, so reach out to our Customer Experience Team if you think your usage has changed in a big way, and we can adjust your subscription. Also, be advised that your solar credits might vary from the summer (when there are more hours of sunlight here in the Northern Hemisphere) and winter (when there are fewer hours of sunlight).

If your solar credits ever offset more than 100% of your utility bill, then the excess will be banked to your account (with no expiration date) and will be automatically applied to future bills. If those credits continue to back up — or if you have any other questions not answered here — send us a message at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

September 25, 2024

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Community Solar

Refer a Friend to Altus Community Solar and You’ll Both Get $50

Are you already making a difference (and getting a discount on your annual electricity costs) through Altus Community Solar? Do you know someone who would want to do the same? You and they can both get $50 through Altus Power’s Community Solar referral program.

Here’s how it works: On our referral program form, enter your first name and your email address to generate a unique referral link (just make sure to use the same email address that’s associated with your existing Community Solar account, if you have one). Then, read and agree to the Terms & Conditions, and click the big green “Get Referral Link” button. That’s how you’ll get a referral link that’s unique to you.
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Once you have that referral link, share it with your friends and family — via text, email, or even social media. For every first-time customer who signs up for Community Solar through Altus Power using your referral link, you’ll get a $50 digital gift card, and so will they!

When the other person clicks your referral link, they’ll start the sign-up process by entering their name and email address. Then they’ll begin the Community Solar application. Once their application is accepted and their account is activated (this may take a few days or weeks depending on the solar project and local utility provider), you will both be notified via email and a gift card will be emailed to you both through a service called Tremendous.

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As an Altus Power Community Solar subscriber, you already know the benefits, but if you could use help explaining the idea to your friends and family, we can certainly help. Altus Power’s Community Solar program is a way to support clean energy and reduce your energy costs without installing any equipment on your home. That means that both homeowners and renters can participate.

Through Altus Power’s Community Solar program, customers subscribe to a solar project, which provides clean energy to the local electricity grid. Community Solar subscribers are compensated for that energy through solar credits, which appear as deductions on monthly utility bills, and subscribers pay Altus Power for those solar credits at a discounted rate. Subscribers contracted with a 20% discount, for example, pay Altus 80 cents for every dollar saved solar credit and keep the other 20 cents. Even better, there are no upfront costs, fees, or long-term commitments — subscribers can cancel at any time.

And the best part? There’s no limit to the number of people who can use your referral link to sign up for Community Solar.

So, if you get eight members of your kickball team to sign up, for instance, then each of those eight people will get a $50 digital gift card, and you’ll get digital gift cards worth a total of $400. If you get 12 members of your book club on board with Altus Community Solar, that’s $50 for each of them and $600 for you. 💰 Just remember that your friends and family members have to become fully enrolled with an active Community Solar account before you and they get the referral bonuses.

If you have questions not addressed here or on the referral program FAQ, reach out to us at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

July 15, 2024

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Community Solar

How Much Does It Cost to Switch to Solar? Zero, With Community Solar

The cost of solar panels can be a major outlay for homeowners, but there’s an alternative — one with which solar energy doesn’t have to cost a cent and can even save customers money.

By participating in Community Solar, customers pay nothing up front, and they save money through utility bill discounts. Community solar is thus a viable option for households that can’t afford solar panels or — in the case of renters and condo owners — can’t install them. In fact, 77% of U.S. residential households are likely ineligible for rooftop solar systems, according to GTM.

Community Solar projects provide electricity to a local power grid, and subscribers are granted shares of the electricity output. Because Community Solar projects are remote, customers don’t need any equipment installed locally. Tapping into the benefits of solar remotely can be a boon for people who can’t afford the upfront cost of residential solar, those whose residences can’t support solar panels or whose residences don’t get enough sunlight, and those who rent their residences or live in multi-unit buildings.

Here’s how it works: Utilities track the electricity provided by the Community Solar projects and the resulting “solar credits” offset a subscriber’s monthly electricity bill from their utility company. Customers often pay a monthly bill for the Community Solar project, too, but the total for the electricity supply is less annually than what the subscriber would pay without Community Solar.

At Altus Power, the savings that a customer receives from the Community Solar program depend on their location. But if a customer’s Altus contract includes a 20% discount, that means that for every $1.00 that the customer’s utility company takes off their monthly bill for solar credits, the customer only owes Altus $0.80. For example, a customer contracted at a 20% discount who uses $150 of electricity in a month and receives $100 in solar credits will owe their utility company $50 and Altus $80, resulting in a total charge of $130 and thus a discount of $20.

Signing up is simple. Enter your zip code and utility here to see if Community Solar is available near you.

Community Solar has “become almost as easy as signing up for Netflix," Matt Hargarten, vice president of campaigns for the Coalition for Community Solar Access, told CNET recently. “It used to be onerous contracts, credit checks, and all these other things. But as financiers have become more comfortable with these products, it's become month-to-month, cancel whenever you want, no credit checks, and a really easy energy tech product for people to sign up for.”

The Altus Power Team

July 9, 2024

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Community Solar

U.S. Electric Bills Expected to Spike This Summer — Community Solar Can Help

Americans might get a shock when they see their electric bills this summer, as the cost to keep cool is projected to reach record-breaking levels in the United States in the upcoming months. Community Solar, though, offers savings, with no home equipment or upfront fees required.

Electric bills are expected to reach a total of $719 during the months between June to September 2024, up 7.9% from the $661 total of June to September 2023, according to a June 3 report by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate (CEPC).

If that prediction holds true, electric bills will set a record, having crept up from $476 in 2014, the report adds.

The price of fuel, the cost of constructing and maintaining plants and grids, and energy regulations are all contributing to the spike in electric bill levels, according to USA Today. The real culprit, though, is the weather. Heat wave seasons nearly tripled in length between 1960 and 2021, according to Environmental Protection Agency data cited by the NEADA/CEPC report, with increases in northern cities like Seattle and Milwaukee matching increases in southern cities like Phoenix and Baton Rouge.

Plus, 2023 had the hottest summer on record, beating 2022’s high, and experts predict 2024’s summer may be hotter yet: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s calculations suggest there’s a 61% chance 2024 will be the warmest year on record.

Amid record-breaking heat, the amount that consumers owe their utilities rose from $17.5 billion to $20.3 billion between January 2023 and December 2023, with the NEADA estimating that 16% of U.S. households are behind in their energy bills.

Low-income Americans are especially at risk amid rising heat and rising electricity costs, and Congress recently slashed the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding by $2 billion. The NEADA/CEPC report notes that the budget cut has forced states to cut financial assistance to 1 million households and to reduce average cooling benefits. Meanwhile, 33 states have no summer shut-off protections in place, leaving low-income families more susceptible to dangerous heat, the report adds.

Low-income households are also less likely to have rooftop solar. The median income of rooftop solar adopters in the United States was $117,000 in 2022, a level less the 2010 median of $140,000 but still well above the median of all owner-occupied U.S. households in 2022, which was $86,000.

Community Solar can help ease the strain. Community Solar providers like Altus Power connect households with solar projects in their area. Subscribers sign up for a share of a solar project’s energy output. A project supplies electricity to the local grid and utilities give subscribers solar credits in the form of monthly bill deductions, Subscribers then pay the Community Solar providers for the solar credits at a discounted rate.

Altus customers, for example, have received solar savings of between 5-20%, depending on where they live, and there are no upfront fees to join. Because of these savings, Community Solar can come through for U.S. households — and low-income families in particular — who are facing rising heat, rising electricity prices and cutbacks to assistance.

There’s also no equipment to install, making Community Solar accessible to households who don’t own their home, can’t afford rooftop solar systems, or don’t have suitable rooftops. If you’re interested in subscribing, go to join.altuspower.com to check your eligibility and start your application.

The Altus Power Team

June 26, 2024

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Community Solar

Supporting Hawaii’s Renewable Revolution With Community Solar

Altus Power’s Hawaii program supports the state’s transition to clean electric power. As with our presence in other states, Altus offers Hawaii residents — homeowners and renters alike — the benefits of Community Solar, including the chance to reduce their community’s carbon footprint, without any equipment or changes to their existing utility.

Hawaii has gone from relying on imported fossil fuels for its electricity to leading the United States’ charge toward renewable energy sources like solar. As the Hawaii State Energy Office touts, the Aloha State was the first state to commit to getting 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2045. Hawaii is also aiming at a net-negative emissions target, having set a goal to sequester more greenhouse gases than it generates by that same deadline.

Altus Power’s Hawaii program supports the state’s transition to clean electric power. As with our presence in other states, Altus offers Hawaii residents — homeowners and renters alike — the benefits of Community Solar, including the chance to reduce their community’s carbon footprint, without any equipment or changes to their existing utility.

As Altus’ solar farms deliver power to the local grid, subscribers get solar credits on their utility bill and pay Altus for those credits at a discounted rate. In Hawaii, Altus is working with Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), and Altus subscribers get a 13% discount on the solar credits. Spots in the Altus’ Hawaii program are currently available for Oahu residents. To check your eligibility, head to join.altuspower.com and enter your zip code and utility provider.

Part of the clean energy meeting Hawaii's net emissions goals is coming from Palailai Solar Farm in Kapolei, which Altus owns and operates. Altus announced the project in June 2023, heralding Hawaii’s largest community solar project to date. Approximately 60% of the solar energy from Palailai’s 5-megawatt array benefits a local nonprofit operating a medical facility, and the remainder is available to benefit the nonprofit’s employees and other Oahu residents.

Already, Altus has more than 24,000 customers across the United States and is delivering more than 680 megawatts of clean energy nationwide. The Hawaii program is part of the Altus mission to join utility companies like HECO in offering an alternative to fossil fuel-based energy.

“We’re excited the shared solar program is taking root and opening up to residential customers who haven’t been able to install private rooftop solar,” Lani Shinsato, HECO’s co-director of customer energy resources, said when the Palailai farm was announced. “Providing customers with options is critical, and shared solar projects like this will allow subscribers to reduce their energy bill and take part in the state’s clean energy transition.”

Interested in being part of the progress? Go to join.altuspower.com to start the application process. And if you have any questions at any point along the way, contact our Customer Experience Team any time at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

June 18, 2024

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Community Solar

Nearly 80% of U.S. Households Are Likely Ineligible for Rooftop Solar

Solar energy is on the rise, but what happens to the estimated 77% of U.S. households that can’t install rooftop solar? Whether they wish to save money or help reduce the United States’ reliance on fossil fuels, households for whom rooftop solar isn’t possible or affordable can still benefit from solar energy. Community Solar links households with solar projects — e.g. solar farms — by allowing them to purchase solar energy, often at a discount, that then gets delivered to the local grid.

Solar energy is on the rise, but what happens to the estimated 77% of U.S. households that can’t install rooftop solar?

Renewable power generation surpassed nuclear in the United States in 2021 and coal the following year, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration analysis. That same analysis projects that the country’s solar generation will grow 75% between 2023 and 2025. And the United Nations reports that inexpensive renewable electricity could decarbonize 90% of the world’s power sector by 2050, mitigating climate change.

Even so, just 5% of homes in the United States have rooftop solar, according to a June 2023 report from Rewiring America. Homeowners and renters face various financial and logistical obstacles to installing panels. Thanks to Community Solar, however, everyone can access cleaner energy.

‍For many Americans, rooftop solar isn’t an option

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that 81% of residential buildings in the United States have rooftop space suitable for a 1.5-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system. However, due to factors like ownership, the number of stories of a building, and the availability of roof space, the percentage of households that can actually install a 1.5-kilowatt PV system is just 51% NREL added.

Plus, as Deloitte reports, home solar may only be a viable option for people who have a creditworthy FICO score and who live in a state with net energy metering policies (which allow owners of solar energy systems to sell excess solar energy back to the grid).

Due to factors like roof shading, low credit scores, and property ownership, Greentech Media reports that 77% of U.S. residential households are likely ineligible for rooftop solar installations.

Then there are recent policy changes that make rooftop solar even less accessible. In New York City, for instance, a recent fire code revision requires certain railings and access pathways around rooftop solar panels in new construction, restricting the square footage and sunlight available to those panels, according to Grist. And National Academy of Sciences research released last year showed that more than a dozen states had ended their net metering policies in the prior decade, per E&E News.

Community Solar offers a solution

Whether they wish to save money or help reduce the United States’ reliance on fossil fuels, households for whom rooftop solar isn’t possible or affordable can still benefit from solar energy. Community Solar links households with solar projects — e.g. solar farms — by allowing them to purchase solar energy, often at a discount, that then gets delivered to the local grid.

Altus Power, for example, owns and operates many solar projects installed at ground level or atop rooftops or carports. Altus subscribers purchase solar credits at a discount, and the solar credits result in deductions on monthly bills from their utility company.

And Community Solar is taking off. Research shows that community solar capacity more than quadrupled between 2016 and 2019; and in 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a goal for community solar to power the equivalent of five million households and create $1 billion in energy bill savings by 2025.

“The economics are strongly on the side of doing this,” Dan Kammen, an energy professor at the University of California at Berkeley, told The Washington Post last year. “It’s now cheaper to build new solar than to operate old fossil [fuel plants]. … We’re at the takeoff point.”

Added Dimension Renewable Energy’s Brandon Smithwood, “The great promise of community solar is it allows everyone to be part of the energy transition and not feel they’re being left behind.”

Interested in signing up for Community Solar? Check your eligibility and start your application here.

The Altus Power Team

June 11, 2024

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Community Solar

The Environmental Benefits of Community Solar

June 5 is World Environment Day, an annual occurrence that the United Nations Environment Programme launched in 1973 to engage the public to protect and restore the Earth.

And at Altus Power, we’re celebrating World Environment Day by spotlighting the environmental benefits of Community Solar, subscription-based clean energy programs that connect customers with solar energy projects around the United States.

‍Unlike fossil fuel energy sources, the generation of power from Community Solar projects creates no carbon emissions.

The combustion of fossil fuels for electricity emits greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains has resulted in more severe weather events and rising sea levels.

But solar power — Community Solar included — generates electricity without carbon emissions. In fact, the 780,000 megawatt hours of electricity Altus generated in 2023 helped avoid 550,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents, compared to utility power. That’s the equivalent of the electricity consumption of more than 100,000 homes.

‍Air pollution from fossil fuels harms crops, too

Research indicates that the soot and ozone generated from the combustion of fossil fuels harms yields of crops, according to the World Economic Forum. In fact, some states in India have experienced 50% relative yield losses. Soot absorbs sunlight, limiting the light available for plants’ photosynthesis. Ozone, meanwhile, enters leaves through normal gas exchange and causes yellowing, cell injury, and other negative effects in crops.

Not using fossil fuels helps protect our oceans.

Fossil fuel use can also be detrimental to the Earth’s oceans. For one, oceans absorb at least a quarter carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels, leading to increased acidity that endangers marine organisms and coral reef habitats, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Additionally, wastewater from fossil fuel use can be toxic, with lead, arsenic, chlorine, and mercury contaminating groundwater, the institute reports. And the extraction, transport, and refining of fossil fuels can lead to oil spills that are catastrophic to wildlife and natural habitats.

Solar arrays can provide habitats for pollinators.

Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are crucial for about 35% of global food production, as the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy reports. And solar arrays like the ones used in Community Solar projects can provide habitats for pollinators, benefiting both the insects and the nearby agriculture. A study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) determined that pollinator habitats at current or planned utility-scale solar deployments in the United States could benefit 1,350 square miles of nearby agricultural land, an amount of land greater than the area of Rhode Island.

‍Community Solar allows more people to access the benefits of cleaner energy.

Some environmentally minded consumers can't install solar power systems at home —whether it’s because they can’t afford such a system or don’t have the credit rating to get a home solar loan, they don’t have a rooftop sunny enough or suitable for a solar array, or they simply don’t own their building. For these customers, Community Solar options like Altus Power offer opportunities to participate in renewable energy without overhead costs, equipment, or maintenance — and to work toward a greener, healthier future.

The Altus Power Team

June 5, 2024

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Community Solar

Is Community Solar Available in My State?

If you’re wondering whether Community Solar is available in your state, you may already know that Community Solar fills in the gaps where residential solar isn’t available or affordable. Nearly 50% of households and business in the United States cannot host rooftop solar systems, according to National Renewable Energy Laboratory data cited by the U.S. Department of Energy. And lower-income households less frequently reap the benefits of rooftop solar. The median household income of a U.S. solar adopter was about $117,000 in 2022, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory findings cited by CNET, while the median income for all households was $69,000.

But Community Solar can let all households and businesses access solar energy’s benefits, regardless of their rooftop solar capability, as the Department of Energy points out. And on top of that accessibility, proponents say Community Solar can alleviate energy insecurity for those who have trouble paying their utility bills, according to Grist. It’s little wonder, then, that Community Solar is taking off, with the United States’ total capacity expected to grow from 8 gigawatts in 2024 to 14 gigawatts by 2028, as the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie reports.

So, which states have community solar? According to a map provided by the Department of Energy, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wyoming are the only states that don’t have at least one Community Solar program or project. The department also reports that 22 states and Washington D.C. have policies supporting community solar — and, in some states’ cases, incentives and mandates for Community Solar deployment.

Here are details on Community Solar policies in the states where Altus Power has community solar projects.

Hawaii

The Hawaii State Legislature passed Act 100 in 2015, directing the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to establish a community-based renewable energy tariff with the intent “to make the benefits of renewable energy generation more accessible to a greater number” of households and businesses in the state, according to the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Illinois

In 2016, Illinois lawmakers passed the Future Energy Jobs Act, or FEJA, which seeks to use community solar projects and other solar energy sources to make solar energy more accessible to low- and moderate-income communities, according to the Institute for Self Reliance. FEJA also set a goal for 100% renewable energy in the state by 2050.

Maryland

Maryland is in the middle of a seven-year Community Solar Pilot Program, scheduled to run through the end of 2024. The pilot program aims to provide benefits of renewable energy to low- and moderate-income customers, according to the Maryland Public Service Commission.

Maine

As of May 2023, nearly four years after the enactment of L.D. 1711 — titled “An Act to Promote Solar Energy Projects and Distributed Generation Resources in Maine” — Maine had 23,000 Community Solar project subscribers and 1,000 Community Solar projects built or scheduled, according to WMTW.

Massachusetts

On Earth Day 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources had been selected to receive more than $156 million through the Solar for All grant, which much of that budget going directly to solar projects like a low-income community shared solar initiative.

Minnesota

Minnesota’s community solar program, which launched in 2013, is one of the oldest and largest in the countries, with more than 800 megawatts of solar capacity developed as of 2024, according to Energy News Network. As part of a recent revamping, the Minnesota Department of Commerce will now manage the program, ENN reports.

New Jersey

The Garden State has the Community Solar Energy Program, designed to grant New Jersey residents access to solar energy’s benefits. And in 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation to simplify the program’s application and billing processes and to make more capacity available for community solar development.

New York

The NY-Sun Solar Program is New York’s public-private partnership implemented to “drive growth in the solar industry and make solar technology more affordable for all New Yorkers,” according to its website. Among other resources, the partnership offers New York residents the opportunity to participate in community solar projects.

In states without Community Solar legislation, meanwhile, lawmakers are making progress on that front. Obstacles include utility companies that use influence and political spending in opposition to such legislation, as is the case in Michigan, according to Planet Detroit. “Part of our work … is to say to legislators, ‘Look, people want to do this in your district. Republicans and Democrats alike want to do this. Go ahead and ask folks in your district and see what you find,’” Ed Rivet, executive director of the nonprofit Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, told Planet Detroit.

Even so, bipartisan support is helping these Community Solar policies wend through legislatures. “You're seeing a maturation in some states and then a whole new introduction in some states, particularly in the Midwest," Stephen Cortes, senior director of public affairs and communications for the Coalition for Community Solar Access, told CNET. “A little bit more conservative states are coming around to the benefits of community solar, and that's exciting because it's really a bipartisan form of energy that can really benefit ratepayers and the grid.”

Ready to apply and start saving? Click here to start your Community Solar application today. If Community Solar isn't available in your state just yet, be sure to join our waitlist and we'll contact you as soon as it becomes available.

The Altus Power Team

May 20, 2024

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min read

Photo Credit:

Community Solar

What Is a Solar Farm?

The term “solar farm” may conjure images of fields with rows of solar panels, much like rows of any agricultural crop. And that’s exactly what many solar farms look like. But these projects take other forms, too, especially in areas where land comes at a premium or where land isn’t suitable for other uses.

Solar Farms Are Coming to Rooftops, Parking Lots, and Even Landfills

With the push toward clean energy in the United States and abroad, there’s a lot of talk about solar farms. But what are solar farms, how are they constructed, and what are the advantages of this kind of technology?

The term “solar farm” may conjure images of fields with rows of solar panels, much like rows of any agricultural crop. And that’s exactly what many solar farms look like. But these projects take other forms, too, especially in areas where land comes at a premium or where land isn’t suitable for other uses.

‍What is a solar farm?

Solar farms are large-scale solar arrays — sometimes called photovoltaic power stations, solar parks, solar power plants, or solar projects — with photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight into electricity that is supplied to a power grid.

Beyond that definition, though, solar farms take many different forms. One common type is the ground-mounted solar farm, like the one Altus Power owns and operates in Kapolei, HI, a project that ranks as Hawaii’s first large-scale community solar array and delivers power to the Hawaiian Electric grid. “We’re excited the shared solar program is taking root and opening up to residential customers who haven’t been able to install private rooftop solar,” Lani Shinsato, co-director of customer energy resources at Hawaiian Electric, said in June 2023, when Altus announced the project. “Providing customers with options is critical, and shared solar projects like this will allow subscribers to reduce their energy bill and take part in the state’s clean energy transition.”

‍Where are solar farms built?
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Ground-mounted solar farms feature photovoltaic panels installed either at a fixed tilt or with solar trackers that move the panels to follow the Sun’s arc across the sky. These farms can be built on farmland, sometimes co-existing with agriculture in a practice called agrivoltaics. Such dual-use solar projects can provide benefits to both solar and agricultural industries and can involve crops, livestock, and pollinator habitats existing underneath or adjacent to solar panels, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. And the German startup Next2Sun is installing bifacial photovoltaic panels vertically to allow agriculture and solar to coexist in places where land is limited, as IEEE Spectrum reports.

Solar farms can also turn brownfields into so-called “brightfields.” Brownfields are areas of land impacted by the detected or presumed presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants, and there are more than 450,000 of these sites in the United States, according to the EPA. Brownfields like landfills can be used for solar farms, and in 2021, the local governments in the United States announced 21 landfill solar projects that would generate a combined 207 megawatts of energy, 10 times the amount generated from landfill solar projects the year prior, according to TIME.

Speaking of land re-use, rooftops are another popular site for solar farms. Altus Power’s Zerega community solar project, for example, generates electricity from the rooftop of a large self-storage facility in New York City. And in another innovative re-use of land, parking lots can host solar farms with carport canopies outfitted with photovoltaic panels. These canopies not only generate electricity for the local power grid, but they also provide shade for the cars beneath and can even provide electricity for EV vehicles. Another Altus Power project is a 2.7-megawatt solar array installed on parking canopies at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s campus in Purchase, N.Y. That project is expected to save the carbon equivalent of burning more than 2.9 million pounds of coal or more than 4,700 barrels of oil, compared to utility power. Morgan Stanley will receive 40% of the electric power generated by the array, and the rest will be offered to the local community.

‍What are the benefits of solar farms?
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Solar farms can impact wildlife habitats in myriad ways, but scientists told Vox in 2021 that it’s not a zero-sum game — they’re looking for ways to prioritize both solar energy and biodiversity. Solar projects can be wildlife corridors and protected habitats for native plants and pollinators, for starters. “Solar can be a net benefit in terms of restoring a native habitat and improving ecosystem services, like storm water control and carbon storage and sequestration,” Leroy Walston, an Argonne National Laboratory landscape ecologist researching the relationship between renewable energy and the environment, told Vox.

Another benefit: Solar farms generate not just electricity but jobs. In fact, a 2023 U.S. Department Energy report touted that solar employs the most workers of any electric power generation technology, with 12,000 new solar jobs in 2022, representing a 3.7 percent growth.

Perhaps the biggest benefit is that solar farms, like residential solar, provide a renewable type of electricity that can reduce or even replace our reliance on electricity derived from fossil fuels. As of the second quarter of 2022, a megawatt of solar electricity could power an average of 173 homes in the United States, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

In 2023, solar energy provided 165 billion kilowatt-hours, or 3.9% of the electricity generated by utility-scale facilities in the United States, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. In all, renewable energy — which also includes hydro, wind, biomass, and geothermal power — made up 21.4% of that energy production, compared to the 60-percent share generated from fossil fuels.

As the United States works toward a clean energy future — and as 23 states progress toward their goals of 100% clean energy — you can expect to hear a lot more about solar farms and innovations that allow solar farms to work in harmony with human development and the environment alike.

The Altus Power Team

May 16, 2024

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min read

Photo Credit:

Community Solar

Powering New York State With Community Solar

The state of New York is committed to making solar energy accessible and affordable for all. We are proud to play a role in that progress as we continue expanding our Community Solar presence and serving customers in the Empire State.

The state of New York is committed to making solar energy accessible and affordable for all. In fact, the state recently announced they have become “the top community solar market in the country with more than one gigawatt of community solar installed and operational — enough to serve 209,000 homes across the state.” This milestone is largely the result of NYSERDA's NY-Sun program, a major state initiative to increase solar development while reducing costs, thereby making solar energy more accessible to homes, businesses and communities throughout New York.

Here at Altus Power, we are proud to play a role in that progress as we continue expanding our Community Solar presence in the Empire State.

Homeowners and renters alike throughout New York state can sign up for Community Solar through Altus Power and start saving on their electricity costs. To see if you’re eligible, go to join.altuspower.com and enter your zip code and utility provider. If we don’t have a solar project in your area yet or if the project near you is already full, be sure to join our waitlist so we can reach out when you become eligible.

For residents living in the New York metro area who have Consolidated Edison as their utility, we are developing a new solar array in partnership with Morgan Stanley that is currently under construction atop a new carport located at the company’s campus in Purchase, NY. This solar project will soon be generating clean, renewable energy for the Morgan Stanley Westchester campus as well as the surrounding New York City metro area. Qualifying residents can sign up now to reserve their spot in advance.

Our new Westchester solar array at Morgan Stanley will join our existing Zerega Community Solar project, which currently generates clean electricity locally on the rooftop of a large self-storage facility in the Bronx, and our recent addition in Castleton, NY, which serves National Grid customers throughout New York State. Together, these Community Solar projects offer qualifying New Yorkers throughout the state, from all income levels, the opportunity to save on their electricity costs and support clean energy in their community.

We are proud to have a strong Community Solar presence in New York and look forward to serving even more customers throughout the state. If you’re interested in joining, head over to join.altuspower.com to start your application. If you have any questions or need help signing up, please reach out to our customer team any time at hello@altuspower.com.

The Altus Power Team

April 22, 2024

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min read

Photo Credit:

Altus Power

Community Solar

What Is Community Solar?

If you’re curious about Community Solar, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Altus Power, we are leading the way towards a more sustainable future by offering Community Solar to homeowners and renters in multiple states across the country.

‍So, what exactly is Community Solar? Let’s dive in.

Community Solar programs offer individuals the option to save money on their electricity bills and support more clean energy in their local communities without installing equipment or adding panels to their roof.

Altus Power’s clean energy is produced by large-scale “solar farms” owned and operated by Altus Power, located on nearby commercial rooftops, carports, or on the ground. Solar farms are made up of hundreds or even thousands of solar panels, which capture energy from the sun and convert it into electricity we use every day.

We send the power produced by these solar farms directly to local electricity grids so it can be used to power homes and businesses in the surrounding community, reducing the reliance on energy derived from fossil fuels.

‍How does Community Solar help you save money?

Community Solar gives qualifying residents the opportunity to purchase electricity from a nearby solar farm and receive credit on their utility bill for it. The size of the credit you receive depends on the amount of clean energy generated by the solar farm you are subscribed to. The bill credits you receive each month appear as a deduction on your bill and significantly reduce the amount you owe your utility company.

If you’re an Altus subscriber, we’ll bill you for those credits — at a reduced rate — which saves you money overall.

Here’s an example of how it works:

Let’s say your utility bill this month is $400, and you receive a credit of $300 on your utility bill in exchange for the energy generated from your portion of the solar farm. In other words, you will pay your utility company only $100. Then, Altus will bill you for those solar credits at a discounted rate.

For example, if we agree on a 20% discount, then you’d be paying a total of $340 instead of $400 this month — saving you $60!
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Example for illustrative purposes only

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‍How does Community Solar Help the environment?

Community Solar subscribers aren’t just saving money — they are actively helping to make their community greener by supporting supplying more clean energy directly into the local power grid, which is then used to power local homes and businesses in the community. That means less reliance on power made from fossil fuels. When our solar farms convert sunlight into usable electricity, neither greenhouses gasses nor other harmful emissions are produced.

Community Solar is a great way for people to support clean energy if they live in an apartment, are renters, do not want to install rooftop panels or face structural or building issues preventing them from installing their own solar panels. The only requirement to participate in Community Solar is having a utility bill — the program is open to homeowners and renters alike, and there are no upfront fees or ongoing subscription costs. Subscribers only pay Altus a percentage of what they save on their electricity costs each month. We share in the savings, and your community gets the benefits as well.

If you want to read more about Community Solar, here are some articles from the web that we recommend:

Community Solar Makes Renewable Energy Available to All
Community Solar: Access Solar Power Without Rooftop Panels
14 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

To see if Community Solar is available in your area, click here and enter your zip code and utility company. To complete your sign up, you will need a copy of your utility bill so be sure to have that handy.

If Community Solar is not currently available in your zip code, please join the waitlist to be contacted when we expand. For questions, concerns, or technical support, reach out to us at hello@altuspower.com any time — we’re always here to help.
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The Altus Power Team

January 29, 2024

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min read

Photo Credit:

Community Solar

5 Ways to Cut Your Energy Costs in 2024

January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day and we're sharing our top 5 tips for saving on electricity costs this year.

If you’ve noticed that your utility bills are on the rise, you are not alone. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average electric bill for U.S. residential customers in 2022 was $137 per month — a total of $1,600 a year. Despite these steep prices, there area number of things you can do to proactively reduce energy costs and increase efficiency.
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January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, and we couldn’t think of a better reason to come up with an action plan. Here are five tips for getting started:
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Schedule a home energy audit. A home energy audit is akin to a physical health checkup for your home. A certified energy auditor can inspect your home and conduct diagnostic tests to make recommendations for making your home a more efficient, comfortable and healthy living space. Whether it’s identifying faulty window seals or recommending more efficient fixtures, an energy auditor can help you uncover what may be draining unnecessary energy from your home. You can find an auditor via the U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score program, the Building Performance Institute, or your local power company. While most audits come with a fee, some local utility companies will offer an audit for free.
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Turn down the lights. Keeping the lights on in your home can account for up to 15% of a home’s energy usage. To cut down on costs, switch to LED lighting throughout your home, especially products with the Energy Star label. Make sure to turn off lights when you are not using them. You can also consider installing dimmer switches that allow you to save electricity (while setting the mood). After making these changes, monitor your monthly electric bill for savings and make additional adjustments as needed.
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Unplug unused appliances. How many appliances do you have plugged in that you don’t use on a regular basis? Think coffee makers, charging cables, cable boxes, toasters, etc. These “vampire” appliances are wasting electricity when they’re not even being utilized. Unplugging them — or leaving them plugged into a power strip that you can switch off — can quickly add up in energy savings. When an appliance can’t be unplugged, like a thermostat, for example, you may be able to use eco mode, which will shut off or go into sleep mode when a certain temperature is reached or you are away.
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Scale back on hot water. You may be surprised to learn that hot water accounts for an estimated 20% of home energy use. One easy way to cut down on hot water consumption is to wash your clothes in cold water, especially since most detergents are designed for 65 degree water temperatures. While taking a cold shower isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, another suggestion is to turn down the resting temperature of your water heater. Most water heaters are preset at 140 degrees, 20 degrees above the Department of Energy's recommendation. When using your dishwasher, look for the eco mode, which reduces the amount of hot water used as well.

Sign up for Community Solar. One of the most impactful ways to cut down on your energy costs is by signing up for Community Solar. In fact, Community Solar customers receive solar savings of between 5-20% — savings that can add up quickly. Community Solar is an excellent way for an entire community to have access to the benefits of solar energy without any equipment, installation or change to your rooftop needed. Community Solar subscribers continue receiving electricity from their utility company so there’s no interruption in service. The energy generated by the community solar facilities is sent directly into the local power grid, thereby increasing the total amount of clean energy available to the area. Signing up is easy and can be done here.
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The New Year is a prime opportunity to start thinking differently about energy consumption and cutting down on rising energy costs. Remember, every effort towards energy efficiency matters, and all of these changes can make an impact in both the short and long term. So, think about your habits and take proactive steps to save energy and money while creating a more sustainable future.

The Altus Power Team

January 10, 2024

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min read

Photo Credit:

Altus

Community Solar

A Greener Future For NJ Starts With Community Solar: Here's What You Need to Know

After a successful two-year pilot program, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently established a permanent Community Solar Energy Program designed to provide more New Jersey residents — especially from low- and moderate-income households — greater access to clean energy and significantly lower utility bills. The new program will support enough solar to enroll about 30,000 subscribers across the state.

‍Community Solar comes with big benefits — financially and environmentally. Since the start of New Jersey’s pilot program, Community Solar customers have saved as much as $1.5 million on their monthly energy bills. This equals monthly savings of at least 15%. With utility rates on the rise, these savings can add up quickly, especially in overburdened areas.

Community Solar is poised to play a big role in New Jersey’s efforts to transition to 100% clean energy with the potential to meet 30% to 40% of its energy capacity needs by 2035. Community solar doesn’t pollute the air like coal, gas, oil and other fossil fuels and can help prevent more than 45,500 metric tons of carbon emissions each year.

What is Community Solar?

‍Community Solar allows residents and local businesses shared access to solar and its benefits 100% virtually. By subscribing to a Community Solar project, you can reduce your carbon footprint and electricity costs without making any changes to your rooftop or home.

This is a great option for homeowners and renters alike who are interested in a flexible way to support clean energy, but who may not be able to install solar panels on their own property because they lack suitable roof space, live in rented or multi-family properties or cannot afford the upfront installation costs. Subscribers still receive electricity from their utility company, so there are no changes to service. The energy generated by the community solar facilities is sent directly into the local power grid, thereby increasing the total amount of clean energy available to the area. And if you decide to move within New Jersey, you can likely take your Community Solar contract with you to your new home.

New Jersey Has Transitioned to Utility-Consolidated Billing

‍While most Community Solar subscribers in the United States receive an additional monthly invoice to pay for their discounted solar credits, subscribers across New Jersey can now enjoy the benefit of Utility-Consolidated Billing. Once enrolled in Community Solar and solar credits begin accumulating, subscribers receive just one monthly consolidated bill from their existing electric utility provider. This bill contains both the subscriber's usual supply and delivery charges plus the adjusted solar discount, which is deducted from the total due. Utility-Consolidated Billing also simplifies the application process, which is a win for both Community Solar providers and their subscribers.

Choosing the Right Company for Your Community Solar Needs

‍While many companies claim that they can provide renewable energy and save you money, not all companies deliver on their promises. It’s important to look for a Community Solar provider that is independently owned and operated and fully in control of the process, from start to finish. Be wary of companies that insist on an upfront or annual commitment or claim that you must switch your existing utility provider to participate in Community Solar. These are major red flags!

At Altus Power, for example, once enrolled, all customers’ utility service remains unchanged except for a monthly credit on their utility bill for the energy generated by their local solar facility. Savings will depend on local utility rates, but on average, Altus Power New Jersey Community Solar customers save an average of $400 on their electricity bills annually.

Get Started Today

‍Again, signing up for Community Solar is easy and should be completely free! If you’re interested in becoming an Altus Power customer, you can simply sign up here and once your enrollment is complete, you’ll start receiving solar credits on your monthly utility bill.

Limited spots are available in the statewide program, with priority access given to those who qualify for certain state benefits. To learn more about how to qualify, please visit http://www.altuspower.com/nj.

Altus Power Team

December 5, 2023

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min read

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