SEPA: US community solar doubled in 2017

May 3, 2018
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Ameresco added to the US' community solar pipeline with 6.9MW of new projects in Massachusetts back in July 2017. Image: Ameresco

A new report from the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) noted that community solar within the United States doubled between 2016 and 2017 – surging from 347MW to 743MW.

The new report, “Community Solar Program Design Models”, highlights the growth of community solar across the country.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The report notes that back in 2015, utilities administered 60% of all community solar programs, while 40% was organised by third-party organisations. Since then, that number has flipped, with third parties now accounting for 67% of community solar programs.

Dan Chwastyk, SEPA’s program manager for community solar, said: “Despite community solar’s rapid growth, these shared projects constitute just over 1% of the total US solar market.

“However, we see continued growth ahead because community solar is such a flexible business model, allowing utilities and third-party developers to customize offerings based on local markets and customer interests. Our research and case studies show that the more tuned-in to their customers [the] utilities are, the more innovative and successful their programs become.”

SEPA’s report comes on the same day that CleanChoice Energy announced a 42.5MW pipeline of community solar projects in Minnesota.

This new capacity, available for both commercial and residential customers, is being supplied by eight community solar projects owned and operated by Cypress Creek Renewables.

The farms will increase the number of residential community solar subscribers in Minnesota by as much as 50%, providing community solar opportunities to thousands of new residential customers.

Tom Matzzie, CEO of CleanChoice Energy, said: “We're excited to be expanding solar choice in Minnesota. The state is the national leader for community solar and these new farms mean thousands of more Minnesotans can support local clean energy while saving money on their utility bills.

“Community solar makes it easy for Minnesotans to support solar without a big upfront investment or a home construction project – instead they can sign up online and promote local solar in just a few minutes.”

21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
October 17, 2025
According to Ronak Maheshwari of CRC-IB, there has been a struggle for US renewable power projects to secure necessary equity .
October 17, 2025
A group of over 20 US states are suing the Trump administration for the cancellation of the US$7 billion Solar For All Scheme.
October 16, 2025
T1 Energy and Nextracker have agreed to use the latter’s steel module frames at the former’s new 5GW module manufacturing facility in Dallas.
October 16, 2025
US utility-scale solar additions grew by 56% in 2024, reaching 30GW from 2023’s 19GW and representing over 54% of all new electricity generation capacity added in the country last year.
October 15, 2025
The average price of a solar PPA signed in North America increased 4% between the second and third quarters of 2025, according to LevelTen.
October 15, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Geronimo has begun construction on it’s150MW solar project in Illinois and commissioned the 125MW PV project in Michigan.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK