Community-shared solar makes it easy for individuals and organizations unable to take advantage of on-site renewable energy generation to benefit from distributed generation. From California to New York, community-shared solar programs are making a strong showing, especially among utilities. And consumers are the beneficiaries, from renters and individuals who live in multi-tenant buildings, to those who don't have adequate or appropriate roof space, and individuals who simply don't want solar panels on their roof.

According to research by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC), about half of these community-shared solar programs are run by electric cooperatives, with the other half split between investor-owned and municipal utilities.

In response to this trend, IREC releases Community Shared Solar: Diverse Approaches for a Common Goal, three case studies that offer a glimpse at how three different utilities provide their energy consumers the opportunity to go solar.

The utilities are Simple Solar, Florida Keyes Electric Cooperative (FKEC); Springs Utilities' Community Solar Gardens Program, Colorado Springs; and Bright Tucson Community Solar, Tucson Electric Power (TEP).

This two pager was created by IREC for the ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and its partners in the Solar Outreach Partnership for the Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative. ICLEI is the world's leading association of cities and local governments dedicated to sustainable development.