{"id":37480,"date":"2022-05-25T12:41:41","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T16:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/?page_id=37480"},"modified":"2023-12-27T11:02:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T16:02:29","slug":"community-solar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/energy-solutions\/community-solar\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Solar"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Owning solar-generating installations can sometimes require significant up-front investment and is only compatible with some properties and roof types. <span class=\"ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak\" dir=\"ltr\">Subscriptions through the community solar project are intended to provide an avenue for cooperative members who cannot own solar-generating installations to participate in solar energy production.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Subscriptions to SVEC&#8217;s community solar program are now available. After reviewing information on this page, if you are interested in signing up, please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/energy-solutions\/community-solar\/community-solar-interest-form\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fill out this form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/energy-solutions\/community-solar\/community-solar-calculator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">community solar calculator<\/a> to estimate the cost of a community solar subscription.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/energy-solutions\/community-solar\/community-solar-calculator\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button primary is-primary is-medium\" rel=\"noopener\"  >\n    <span>Community Solar Calculator<\/span>\n  <\/a>\n\n<h2>Community Solar Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-37981\" class=\"accordion-item post-37981 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why does community solar exist?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is a <strong>voluntary<\/strong> option for members who want to help do their part in providing cleaner energy. All members, regardless of location, can participate, with a few exceptions outlined in another question below.<\/p>\n<p>Owning solar-generating installations at home can sometimes require significant up-front investment and is only compatible with some properties and roof types. Solar energy subscriptions through the community solar project are intended to provide an avenue for cooperative members who cannot own solar-generating installations to participate in solar energy production.<br \/>\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-238290364\"><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_40178\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-40178\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img class=\"wp-image-40178\" src=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/community-solar-graphic-800x651.jpg\" alt=\"Graphic depicting community solar. Text in a circle with arrows shows Subscribers &gt; Subscription &gt; Community Solar Project &gt; Electrical Grid &gt; Bill Credits &gt; Subscribers.\" width=\"500\" height=\"407\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-40178\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: The Institute for Local Self-Reliance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><\/div><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-37982\" class=\"accordion-item post-37982 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What are the benefits of community solar?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Benefits of Community Solar:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Generates clean, renewable electricity without using water, creating emissions or producing waste products;<\/li>\n<li>Diversifies the region\u2019s electricity generation mix, which reduces the reliance on natural gas and other fuels that are subject to high price volatility;<\/li>\n<li>Allows members who are not able to install their own solar to participate in tangible solar energy production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Benefits of SVEC\u2019s Community Solar Site<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Smaller size, in acreage, creates lower visual profile to preserve rural surroundings;<\/li>\n<li>Located adjacent to exist infrastructure; and<\/li>\n<li>Minimal land disturbance because no site grading.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-37985\" class=\"accordion-item post-37985 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Where is SVEC&#8217;s community solar site?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The project is on 32 acres at 332 Walker Road and 595 Georgetown Road in Mount Jackson. It is adjacent to an existing SVEC substation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-37983\" class=\"accordion-item post-37983 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why should a member participate?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 2022, SVEC adopted a clean power plan, a document that puts on paper everything we say we are committed to achieving in being good stewards of the environment. Supporting renewable energy efforts, specifically expanding access to solar, is one component.<\/p>\n<p>Community solar is one part of the full equation to reducing our carbon footprint and will make solar generation available to members who may not otherwise be able to install or own solar of their own. Since at-home solar isn\u2019t practical for all locations and budgets, community solar is an option for everyone. <\/p>\n<p>This is a voluntary program, and we understand it\u2019s not going to appeal to all members. You can be a good environmental steward in many other ways, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/energy-solutions\/beat-the-peak\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beat the Peak<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-37986\" class=\"accordion-item post-37986 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How much will it cost to participate?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Units of solar energy in 50 kWh blocks are available. The subscription rate is $5.38 per solar block. You are obligated to pay the fixed block charge for each subscribed solar block even in months where your actual usage is less than the cumulative size of the subscribed solar blocks.<\/p>\n<p>The monthly subscription rate per solar block will be fixed for successive three-year terms, with the first term ending on May 31, 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>That date is three years after when the community solar tariff was approved by the State Corporation Commission.<\/li>\n<li>The end of the three-year term does not mean an end to community solar. The term\u2019s end simply gives SVEC an opportunity to re-evaluate the rate at that time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The fixed block charge will be updated at the end of each three-year term based on prevailing energy supply costs recovered in the cooperative\u2019s standard rates. Read the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/Community-Solar-Subscription-Rider-SSR-1-June-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Community Solar Subscription Rider SSR-1 (PDF)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-40181\" class=\"accordion-item post-40181 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Is there a limit to how much I can participate?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Multiple solar block subscriptions will be allowed, so long as the kWh to be subscribed does not exceed 50% of a subscriber\u2019s lowest metered kWh usage from the previous 12 months at their location. For example, if the lowest month was 800 kWh, the subscriber could have eight solar blocks totaling 400 kWh (eight 50 kWh blocks).<\/p>\n<p>With at least 30 days\u2019 notice, the subscriber may elect to increase the number of subscribed solar blocks provided the subscriber\u2019s monthly usage supports the additional solar blocks, subject to solar block availability, or decrease the number of subscribed solar blocks.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-40185\" class=\"accordion-item post-40185 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What are the terms? Can I cancel?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Subscriptions should normally be for 12 consecutive months beginning with the effective date of the subscription. Annual subscription periods will automatically renew unless cancelled by the subscriber or the cooperative at least 30 days before the renewal date.<\/p>\n<p>A subscriber may cancel a subscription at any time by giving a least a 30-day notice to the cooperative.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-40186\" class=\"accordion-item post-40186 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is the process to enroll?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Call SVEC at <a href=\"tel:18002347832\">1-800-234-7832<\/a> or fill out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/energy-solutions\/community-solar\/community-solar-interest-form\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this form<\/a> to let us know you're interested in community solar. A member service representative will follow up with you to review the details of signing up for community solar, and then an affirmation must be signed and returned to the cooperative to acknowledge a member\u2019s understanding of the program.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-40190\" class=\"accordion-item post-40190 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How will my participation appear on my bill?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There will be a single \u201cCommunity Solar Charge\u201d line on your statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-834589943\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-40191 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/community-solar-bill.jpg\" alt=\"Sample SVEC bill showing a highlighted line item for community solar charges.\" width=\"656\" height=\"329\" \/><br \/>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-40192\" class=\"accordion-item post-40192 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can net-metered members and those in other groups or programs participate?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Net Meter Member: <\/strong>Yes. However, please remember solar blocks are available based on your lowest usage from the previous 12 months. That means if you are a net-metered member who does not record a minimum of 50 kWh in usage every month, you cannot subscribe to community solar.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Energy Assistance Member<\/strong>: Yes, but members must understand community solar will generally require paying more on monthly bills.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Landlords<\/strong>: Yes, but subscriptions cannot be prorated. They could end up being billed for kWh that they do not use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Levelized Member<\/strong>: Yes, levelized billing will not be affected by community solar.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rider R Member:<\/strong> No, Rider R members cannot participate in both programs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-40193\" class=\"accordion-item post-40193 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will the electricity I subscribe to be delivered to my home?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No, nothing will change about how electricity is currently delivered to you. The renewable energy produced from the community solar site will be added to the electric system where it is interconnected, but its energy will be measured and tracked as part of this program so you know the solar block(s) you\u2019ve subscribed to are, indeed, produced from the sun.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-37987\" class=\"accordion-item post-37987 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-community-solar-project-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What happens to the panels at the end of life?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When, or if, the project is set for decommissioning, the majority of the equipment will be recycled because it is composed of steel, aluminum, copper, and glass. The decision to recycle will be left to the project owners, EDF and ODEC. Land may be returned to previous agricultural use at end of the project\u2019s useful life (25-35 years).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Owning solar-generating installations can sometimes require significant up-front investment and is only compatible with some properties and roof types. Subscriptions through the community solar project are intended to provide an avenue for cooperative members who cannot own solar-generating installations to participate in solar energy production. Subscriptions to SVEC&#8217;s community solar program are now available. After [&#8230;]\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":39931,"parent":37444,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37480"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37480"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40203,"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37480\/revisions\/40203"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.svec.coop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}