If you are interested in getting started with the Community Impact Solar model, you first need to make sure that you have identified which entities will take on the different roles involved with the model and how you intend to manage relationships with community members or organizations. As a community-oriented leader, your position in the project is extremely important for ensuring the proper outcomes of the solar model.
The construction of the solar array will largely be an arrangement between the large power user (host site), the capital partner, and potentially another entity charged with the actual sale, installation, and operation of the solar panels. This process is likely to take several months and will require these entities to overcome bureaucratic and permitting hurdles. However, once the installation is completed, the nonprofit partner will ensure that the power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between the host site and the capital partner will provide funds for community distribution.
As noted in the Community Impact Solar model overview, by replacing the large power user's power consumption with solar, cost savings can be achieved under the right circumstances. These savings, in turn, would be collected by a nonprofit partner and distributed to a selected group of community members or to a designated community organization in order to provide immediate and direct community impact as a result of the solar installation's presence in the community. How these funds are distributed will likely depend on the corporate social responsibility goals of the host site, the amount of cost savings generated, and the goals of the community leaders involved with the design of the project. During the model's initial design phases, the community impact funds were intended to directly reduce the energy bills of surrounding community members. However, community members may decide that the funds may be better applied through different avenues. Additionally, reducing energy bills directly may be a cumbersome undertaking, as it would rely on involving retail electric providers (REPs) and transmission and distribution utilities (TDUs) in order to directly reduce consumers' bills.
The success of all community impact projects relies on strong equitable program design. Principles of equity elevate the importance of community-led clean energy solutions and ensure that diverse stakeholders are brought in on the decision-making process. The following principles should be incorporated into the design of the Community Impact Solar project:
