This measure requires the Secretary of Energy to set up a program, within one year, to increase access to community solar programs. The program targets individuals (including low- and moderate-income people who lack onsite solar), businesses, nonprofits, and State, local, and Tribal governments. The Secretary must align the program with existing federal programs that serve low-income communities, provide technical assistance, help develop new financing and business models, and use National Laboratories to collect and share data that help finance and run community solar projects. The Department of Energy is directed, to the extent practicable, to expand its existing grant, loan, and financing programs to include community solar.
The bill also amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act to add a new standard requiring each non‑Tribal electric utility to offer a community solar program with equitable and demonstrable access for all ratepayers. It defines community solar facilities, community solar programs, and subscribers, allows Tribal utilities to offer programs voluntarily, and requires mechanisms that let utilities, non‑utilities, or other entities assume ownership of community solar facilities when needed. The Secretary must provide technical assistance and guidance to support these programs. The measure sets deadlines for State regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities to consider and decide on the new standard (within 1 and 2 years, respectively), and it exempts utilities in States that already implemented or considered a comparable standard. Finally, the measure changes Federal public utility contract rules to allow contracts up to 30 years.
The text directs the Secretary of Energy to expand existing Department of Energy grant, loan, and financing programs to include community solar and to provide technical assistance. The measure does not provide an estimate of federal costs or specify funding levels. No publicly available information on projected federal spending is included in the bill text.
The bill’s provisions focus on increasing access to community solar, especially for people without onsite solar and for low‑ and moderate‑income households; aligning the new program with existing programs that serve low‑income communities; providing technical assistance and data through National Laboratories; and creating financing and ownership mechanisms to support deployment and subscriber participation.
No publicly available information.