Community solar has rapidly become a popular solution for businesses seeking to reduce costs and support sustainable energy without the need for any on-site infrastructure. Initially gaining momentum with the 2007 Ellensburg Community Solar Project, this model allows businesses to tap into energy produced by local solar farms without installing panels or making physical changes to their buildings. Signing up, you can expect savings of 10-20% on electric costs, often with no contract required. By receiving virtual credits applied to their existing utility bills, businesses can achieve the cost saving benefits of solar without physically transferring the energy produced by the solar farm. Many people believe that the energy they are getting is actually from the solar farm but this is not true. Its just a credit system to lower your bills, while everything is handled in the backend of your existing utility company. This is a win-win for businesses because you are supporting the solar farm by having their credits applied, in exchange for additional cost savings. Whether you’re a small business, a large corporation, or a municipal organization, community solar offers a cost-effective, low-risk way to access renewable energy and reduce expenses.
How It Works
The solar company is paid by the utility for adding renewable sources to the grid, and the credit system is the utility company’s way of paying you back for supporting the initiative. This hassle-free process eliminates common concerns like planning, infrastructure, or building ownership, making it an attractive and flexible option for a variety of industries. With its expansion across multiple states, community solar offers businesses an easy way to lower costs and support environmental initiatives, all without any operational disruption at all. Instead of requiring businesses to install solar panels on their property, which can be costly and logistically challenging, community solar allows businesses to save on their annual bills by signing up.
The savings will appear as “credits” on your bill, which is just a fancy way of saying there will be a cost reduction line item applied similar to that of a coupon.
How Signing up Works:
The process of subscribing to community solar is simple and hassle-free. A business signs up with a community solar provider, who then alerts your utility that you have joined the program. After that your next bill from the utility company will reflect the cost savings and discount applied. The entire setup is virtual, and you can be signed up via a single phone call with a variety of third parties that are contracted with the utilities and solar companies who to provide this service. Additionally, for many providers is no long-term contract, providing businesses with flexibility to join or leave the program as needed.
Cost-Saving Benefits:
The primary draw of community solar for businesses is the financial savings. By participating, businesses can reduce their electricity bills significantly—typically between 5% and 20%. Given the increasing costs of energy, this reduction can have a meaningful impact on a company’s bottom line, particularly for those who are heavy consumers. Beyond the direct savings on electricity bills, community solar also allows businesses to make a positive environmental impact and gain community support for supporting environmental initiatives such as reducing carbon emissions and supporting local clean energy businesses. This positions the business as a sustainable, eco-conscious organization, which can enhance its reputation among customers, partners, and stakeholders.
Is my location right for the community solar program?
One of the key benefits of community solar is that it requires no infrastructure, upfront costs or ongoing maintenance investments. Businesses don’t have to install any physical infrastructure, such as solar panels or wiring, nor do they need to worry about repairs, cleaning, or system updates. In fact, you don’t even need to own the building to sign up, since community solar doesn’t require any physical installation on the building itself, it doesn’t interfere with property ownership. This simplicity is what makes community solar particularly attractive for businesses that may not have the resources, space, or interest in managing a physical solar array. Community solar is available in various regions and can benefit a wide range of organizations. For instance, housing authorities and Section 8 housing providers can use community solar to reduce electricity costs for common areas or subsidize energy expenses for residents. Municipalities and essential services, such as city or town governments, can offset power costs for public infrastructure and lower their operational energy costs by subscribing to community solar.
In addition to these sectors, other businesses that can benefit include schools, nonprofits, office buildings, and small retail shops. Essentially, any business that uses electricity can take advantage of community solar to reduce their costs.
ZLH Enterprises: Connecting You to Community Solar
Navigating the community solar landscape and finding the right provider for your business can be challenging because not all providers give you the same advantages when it comes to your contract. That’s where ZLH Enterprises comes in. As an experienced technology and energy consultant, ZLH Enterprises specializes in pairing businesses with the most trusted providers so that your experience runs smooth. Whether you’re looking to lower your electric bills, reduce your environmental footprint, or both, ZLH Enterprises can help guide you through the process and connect you with a solution tailored to your business’s needs.
By working with ZLH Enterprises, you’ll gain access to expert advice, top-tier providers, and personalized service to ensure you maximize your savings and meet your sustainability goals.
©ZLH Enterprises 2024
