Community solar: solar savings without panels on your roof
You subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and get credits on your electricity bill. Good for renters, shaded roofs and people who plan to move.
Community solar projects are built on land or large roofs nearby. Subscribers receive bill credits for their share of the output, usually at a discount of 5–15% to what the power would otherwise cost. There is typically nothing to install and little or nothing to pay up front.
Availability depends on your state and utility; programmes are most common in the Northeast, Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois and a few other states.
What this means for you: If your roof is shaded, faces north or you rent, look for community solar in your utility territory before ruling solar out.