Issues: Distributed Generation/Solar

Not-for-profit electric co-ops develop solar for one reason only: to serve their members. Cooperative solar IS consumer-owned solar. Co-ops are now bringing solar to regions of the country where this technology had been written off as unprofitable.

• Member-owned electric cooperatives have nearly 240 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity online or on the drawing board across the country.
• Cooperatives are developing solar in 34 states, made up of small, mostly residential systems.
• Co-ops are now bringing solar to regions of the country where this technology had been written off as unprofitable.
• As of October 2014, co-ops reported an existing capacity of nearly 95 MW of owned and purchased solar capacity in 34 states, and plans for an additional 144 MW.
• Co-op solar development has been gaining speed. With the addition of 144 MW of solar capacity by 2017, cooperatives will more than double existing solar capacity.

 

Learn More

View the Cooperative Solar Footprint at
[http://www.nreca.coop/wp-content/plugins/nreca-interactive-maps/esri-solar-story-map/index.html]