CleanChoice Energy to Use $2.5 Million Award to Make Solar Accessible to Hundreds of Thousands of Americans

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  • Sep 14, 2016

The number of homes with solar-powered electricity is skyrocketing. Only 10 years ago, some 30,000 homes in the United States had rooftop solar systems installed. Today, there are more than 1 million solar installations in the United States. And that number could grow to as many as nearly 4 million installations by 2020.

But what if you don’t have a sunny roof? Or you just can’t put a solar panel on it? Only about 25 percent of residential rooftops are suitable for hosting a solar system after adjusting for structural, shading or ownership issues.

That’s where CleanChoice Energy comes in.

CleanChoice Energy Receives Award to Expand Access to Solar 

CleanChoice Energy plans to increase the availability and cost effectiveness of solar power through the development of community solar farms. A $1.25 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative coupled with a roughly 50% cost share will help CleanChoice Energy make community solar accessible to hundreds of thousands of Americans. 

CleanChoice Energy Founder & CEO Tom Matzzie believes, “community solar has the potential to expand access to solar energy in the U.S. market to potentially all Americans.”

Sharing the Sun through Community Solar

Community solar is a shared renewable-energy resource. That means multiple energy consumers can jointly enjoy the benefits of one local renewable energy farm. Participants can enjoy advantages of solar power – including lower electricity prices – without actually having the panels installed on their roof.

Participating in a community solar farm can increase your energy independence, hedge against rising electricity prices and shrink your carbon footprint. By pooling resources into one project, community solar lowers costs through economies of scale, reduces up-front installation costs, and decreases entry costs and risks to any single owner.

Community solar expands access to solar power for renters and condominium owners, homeowners with shaded roofs and people who choose not to install a system on their home for financial or other reasons. 

Community Solar: A Growing Movement

As interest in solar power has taken off, so has enthusiasm for community solar. There are currently 102 cumulative megawatts installed through community solar farms in the United States. That’s enough energy to power nearly 17,000 average U.S. homes. In fact, analysts at GTM Research predict that community solar will be the largest solar growth market in the United States over the next five years.

Keeping with its mission of making 100% clean energy accessible to all, CleanChoice Energy will provide consumers with the opportunity to participate in this growing community solar market. In the near future, CleanChoice Energy will announce its first community solar farm, allowing consumers in the area near to participate in a farm which supplies clean energy directly from the sun.

If you’d like more information about our community solar plans or would like to be placed on a waitlist, please contact us.

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