Photo of solar array courtesy of Delaware Electric
Photo of solar array courtesy of Delaware Electric
A modest effort to bring community solar to a Wilmington neighborhood made news this month.
Championed by Second District Councilmember and legislative candidate Shané Darby, and operated by solar developer Ampion, the program promises to cut electricity costs for enrollees.
Under legislation dating back a decade and a half, with a major update a few years ago, residents and small businesses in the Delmarva Power territory are eligible to sign up with community solar providers. It allows those without rooftop solar to benefit from solar power and save on utility bills.
Meanwhile, incentives for rooftop solar have been trimmed as it became evident that benefits skewed toward wealthier property owners, with renters and those with modest incomes subsidizing rooftop installations.
A similar change in a Delaware Electric Cooperative program created quite a stir among some of its members, who may have spent upwards of $30,000 on panels and battery backup.
While Darby cites discounts of up to 20% from community solar, actual savings can vary and may be as low as 5%. In Wilmington’s Second District, a $50 gift card will be offered to those who sign up.
A word of caution: Businesses and consumers also need to review the fine print on the minimum time required before they can drop out of the program.
The Delaware Public Service Commission lists 20 community "solar gardens" generating energy, mainly in Kent and Sussex counties. There would be more projects if grid operator PJM had not faced a backlog of hook-ups, leading to some projects being abandoned.
Financing solar gardens has also been a problem, due to high interest rates, zoning issues and delays in the approval pipeline,. Other projects with no financing or government approvals clogged up the pipeline, at least for a time. PJM adjusted the process but still faces criticism as it struggles with declining electricity reserves.
Compounding grid-related issues is increasing opposition to solar arrays. Concerns range from aesthetics and the loss of farmland and forests to falsehoods promoted on social media.
It’s worth noting that community solar gardens tend to be far smaller than utility-scale solar farms, which consume more farmland.
Despite hurdles, community solar demand should grow.
The key challenge will be securing enough land and gaining public support to realize community solar's potential. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
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