The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has released the “Utility Community Solar Handbook: Understanding and Supporting Utility Program Development.”  The handbook provides the utility’s perspective on community solar program development and is a resource for government officials, regulators, community organizers, solar energy advocates, non-profits and interested citizens who want to support their local utility in implementing a project.

The handbook details the numerous legal, financial, and project design considerations utilities need to address during project development, and provides suggestions for how communities should engage with utilities and support the program implementation effort constructively. Effective implementation covers areas such as stakeholder engagement, infrastructure and supply procurement, and program marketing.

In addition to SEPA, partners of the study include ICELI-USA; International City/County Management Association (ICMA); Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC); North Carolina Solar Center (NCSC); Meister Consultants Group, Inc. (MCG); The Solar Foundation (TSF); American Planning Association (APA); and National Association of Regional Councils (NARC). This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0003525.