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    Community Solar

    An ideal way to provide local residents & businesses
    with off-site clean energy benefits.
    ;

    What is community solar?

    Unlike traditional solar, where solar panels are placed on a property, community solar projects are installed in an off-site location. Then, anyone in your designated area can access the benefits of that clean energy: renters, homeowners, businesses, nonprofits and more.

    DSD Community Solar

    Development, Operation & Interconnection

    DSD Renewables builds and operates community solar projects in the communities we serve. DSD is also responsible for interconnecting the project with the local utility.

    Initial Subscription Sign-Up

    Local residents and businesses subscribe to a portion of a community solar project directly with DSD.

    Interconnection

    The energy generated by the subscriber’s community solar project allocation is directly fed into the state’s electricity grid. The polluting power on the grid is replaced with clean electrons from solar energy, which helps alleviate dependence on fossil fuels. This means that the solar energy produced from a community solar project is not actually fed into an individual property, but is enjoyed by your wider community in Maine.

    Solar Energy Production Monitoring

    The utility monitors production from the community solar project, and allocates bill credits to DSD subscribers proportionally to their allocation of the project capacity.

    Billing & Crediting

    Subscribers receive credits on their regular monthly utility bill and are billed for those credits at a predetermined, discounted rate--saving money. Depending on the program type, customers can be billed directly by the utility or separately by a billing manager.

    Why consider community solar?

    A community solar project provides the benefits of clean energy to those who can’t install their own. By subscribing to a community solar program, customers receive credits on their regular electricity bill for the clean energy produced — which can lower their electricity costs.

    Savings on electricity bills.

    Savings on electricity bills.

    Subscribers can reduce their monthly utility bill by subscribing to a community solar project. The amount saved each month will depend on the quantity of solar energy generated by the subscriber’s selected community solar project.

    Access for all.

    Access for all.

    Community solar is available for anyone that pays a utility bill. It’s a great option for renters and small businesses that don’t have the ability to install solar panels on their property, or for properties where onsite solar is not suitable (e.g., curved roof, shady area, etc.).

    Little to no upfront costs.

    Little to no upfront costs.

    Since customers do not have to install their own solar arrays, the initial cost of subscribing to a community solar project is minimal, if any.

    Reduced carbon footprint.

    Reduced carbon footprint.

    Community solar can help dramatically reduce the carbon emissions of a town or county. Community solar projects can be public-private partnerships or spearheaded by a community initiative.

    Boosts to local economy.

    Boosts to local economy.

    Community solar projects require the creation of locally generated clean energy, which increases the number of “green jobs” in the community.

    Our Capabilities

    Canopy

    DSD’s custom solar canopies & solar carports provide shaded protection to your customers while making an exquisite statement about where you stand on climate action. Take an interactive journey.

    Rooftop

    Each rooftop solar application is specially designed to consider building structural integrity, rooftop lifespan and mounting/attachment options, and environmental factors such as snow and wind.

    Ground Mount

    Ideal for large applications — such as capped landfills, brownfield redevelopment and agricultural — our ground-mounted solar solutions are born from a rigorous design and geotechnical process

    Case Studies

    Read More
    Mass.gov
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    DSD Woodstock
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    “Community solar projects play an important role in creating a sustainable future. These projects not only help us in reducing our environmental impact, but they will also bring new clean energy benefits to local communities and organizations.”

    Chad Wilkerson
    Director of Sustainability and Infrastructure Sourcing at T-Mobile

    Take the first step.

    Getting the ball rolling on a Community Solar project may seem complicated. But we’re here to show you how it’s done. It all starts with a first step.