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Obama Administration Creates Community Solar Partnership

Aug. 3, 2015

Community solar was recently backed by the Obama Administration when it announced a new initiative to increase access to solar energy for all Americans. The new National Community Solar Partnership was part of that announcement. In this podcast, Cory Honeyman, senior analyst at GTM Research, describes the growth ahead for community solar.

Lisa Cohn

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In this podcast, Cory Honeyman, senior analyst at GTM Research, says that over the next five years, the U.S. community solar market will add 1.8 GW, compared to just 66 MW installed through the end of 2014. GTM Research expects community solar to grow at a 59 percent compound annual growth rate between 2014 and 2020.

The National Community Solar Partnership aims to provide access to solar for the nearly 50 percent of households and business that are renters or do not have adequate roof space to install solar systems. The partnership issued a guide that addresses programs design questions and explains how shared solar policies work in conjunction with other policies.

Among the partners are the U.S. Department of Energy in collaboration with HUD, the U.S. Department of Agriculture , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, representatives from solar companies, NGOs, and state and community leaders.

“The partnership will leverage the interest in the public and private sector to expand access to community solar, in particular, for low- and moderate- income communities, while utilizing the technical expertise of DOE and the National Laboratories,” according to materials from the DOE.

Partners include:

BARC Electric Cooperative
Black Rock Solar
State of California
Clean Energy Collective
Citi
Colorado State Energy Office
District of Columbia Department of the Environment
First Solar, Inc.
Grand Valley Power
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance
GRID Alternatives
Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
National League of Cities
State of New York
RE-volv
Solar Energy Industries Association
Solar Electric Power Association
Spear Point Energy
SunShare
The Solar Foundation
Vermont Public Service Department
Vote Solar

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About the Author

Lisa Cohn | Contributing Editor

I focus on the West Coast and Midwest. Email me at [email protected]

I’ve been writing about energy for more than 20 years, and my stories have appeared in EnergyBiz, SNL Financial, Mother Earth News, Natural Home Magazine, Horizon Air Magazine, Oregon Business, Open Spaces, the Portland Tribune, The Oregonian, Renewable Energy World, Windpower Monthly and other publications. I’m also a former stringer for the Platts/McGraw-Hill energy publications. I began my career covering energy and environment for The Cape Cod Times, where Elisa Wood also was a reporter. I’ve received numerous writing awards from national, regional and local organizations, including Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Willamette Writers, Associated Oregon Industries, and the Voice of Youth Advocates. I first became interested in energy as a student at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where I helped design and build a solar house.

Twitter: @LisaECohn

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