Clean Power Alliance has launched the Community Solar program to provide locally generated renewable energy at a discounted rate to customers living in underserved communities in our service area – improving access to clean energy for those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in sustainability efforts.
Community Solar currently provides qualifying customers in the Bassett and Avocado Heights neighborhoods with 100% locally generated renewable energy from a 670-kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar installation located on a commercial storage facility in Pico Rivera which can serve up to 360 customers. The program provides energy to customers at a 20% discount on their monthly electric bill.
Enrolling in Community Solar does not require customers to purchase or install any additional equipment, and when combined with CARE or FERA discounts, eligible customers can save up to 45% on their monthly electricity bills.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) designed the Community Solar program to enable electricity providers like CPA to partner with energy developers and local communities to increase the availability of renewable energy options. The program works by matching developers with nonprofits, schools, or public agencies who then sponsor projects on behalf of nearby residents within a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) in CPA’s service territory. Once the solar installation is constructed, members of the community can join the Community Solar program to receive credit for a portion of the electricity the solar project produces.
Community Solar began serving customers in March and is administered through CPA’s Power Share program, which promotes the development of renewable energy generation in and for underserved communities.
Over 18 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar will be installed to serve Power Share customers, which is enough energy to power over 10,000 homes each year. Current Power Share projects have created over 100 new clean energy industry jobs. Power Share allows thousands of eligible Los Angeles County and Ventura County customers to save money on their energy bills and join their community in reducing harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that impact health and quality of life. To date, customers in the program have saved approximately $250,000 on their electricity bills.
CPA’s Community Solar program will be expanding to the city of Carson later this year, and qualifying residents will receive their renewable energy from two solar sites located in Carson. Those projects will total 2.7 megawatts (MW) in size and serve up to 1,500 customers.
Residents can learn if they qualify for participation in Power Share before Community Solar becomes available in their city by visiting the Community Solar program page.
