How Community Solar Helps Local Disadvantaged Communities and Helps Make California Green

A young professional renting an apartment in downtown Ventura, who believes in the importance of harnessing renewable energy but doesn’t have rooftop access to install solar panels. A retired couple who own a bungalow on Larsson Street in Manhattan Beach who would love to reduce their electricity bill by utilizing solar power, but can’t afford the upfront costs to have panels installed.

There are millions of individuals, families and businesses across Los Angeles County and Ventura County who are excited about the possibility of running their appliances, vehicles and devices using solar energy, but for access and financial reasons are unable to join the effort to save energy, save money and help make California green.

https://cleanpoweralliance.org/ and local energy developers have joined an innovative new program that aims to help support communities excited about solar energy but facing limitations – https://cleanpoweralliance.org/communitysolar/.
The California Public Utilities Commission 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, specifically in disadvantaged communities.

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 farm is constructed, members of the community can join the Community Solar program to receive credit for a portion of the electricity the solar farm produces.

Through a process called Virtual Net Metering (NEM), bill credits are assigned based on the size of the individual or group investment, with subscribers receiving credit for a set amount of energy produced by their share of the installation. In many cases, ownership and subscription models are available to interested community members, with ownership entailing purchasing a set number of the solar panels, and the subscription model enabling buyers to receive a percentage of the power the solar farm produces, at a lower price than local utility rates.

With the NEM program LA and Ventura County customers are able to maximize their rooftop solar or Community Solar investment to receive bill credits and even cash back when their systems produce more energy than they use over a 12-month period.

To help move the program forward CPA has reached out to solar developers, potential community sponsors and site hosts to encourage local participation. To complement Community Solar, CPA has also partnered with the company Energy Sage, which focuses on providing research materials to help solar customers receive free solar and battery storage quotes from nearby, pre-screened installation companies located in the online Solar Marketplace.

To learn more about these and CPA’s other community solar energy efforts, visit our dedicated webpage at https://cleanpoweralliance.org/communitysolar.

Anthony Boukarim

Anthony Boukarim serves as Resource Planner, Power Supply, supporting long-term resource planning, portfolio optimization, and procurement strategy to advance CPA’s clean energy, reliability, and affordability objectives. He brings more than a decade of experience in the energy sector, spanning management consulting and advanced energy analytics, with deep expertise supporting utilities and community choice aggregators. Prior to joining CPA, Anthony spent six years at Ascend Analytics, where he led firm-wide renewable energy and storage procurement initiatives. He holds a Master of Science in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

Kim Dunham

Kim joins Clean Power Alliance as the Senior Analyst, Rates and Tariffs. Kim is responsible for developing and maintaining CPA’s cost of service and rate models to evaluate the financial, competitiveness, and customer impacts of rate design and rate setting options. Kim held financial, strategy, and planning roles across utilities, consulting, and the energy sector, including roles with Black Hills Energy, Marathon Oil, and Noble Energy. This cross-sector background gives her a broad view of how financial modeling, regulatory strategy, and capital planning intersect to support growth, reliability, and environmental responsibility. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Wyoming.

Mark Hum

Mark Hum serves as Senior Associate, Communications and Marketing at Clean Power Alliance. He is a marketing and communications strategist with a background in medtech and life sciences, where he supported initiatives spanning multiple industries across both B2B and consumer-facing brands. His work is grounded in a copywriter’s mindset, starting with audience needs and translating complex ideas into clear, compelling stories that build trust and understanding. Mark has led integrated communications across digital, social, email, web, and stakeholder channels, with an emphasis on accessibility, consistency, and measurable impact. He brings a strong appreciation for structure and narrative, ensuring that every message serves a purpose and connects with people in a meaningful way. Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).

Pom Saengxuto

Prapassara “Pom” Saengxuto serves as Finance and Accounting Analyst at CPA. She is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. Throughout her career, she has worked across a wide range of industries, including public accounting, private corporations, entertainment, manufacturing, consulting and construction. This diverse background allows her to bring a well-rounded and practical perspective to every engagement. Pom is known for her strong dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy. She works effectively both independently and as part of a team, consistently supporting organizations in making informed, strategic financial decisions. Her approach combines technical expertise with a deep sense of responsibility and professionalism.