[RE-wrenches] community solar

[Lee Bristol]

Larry, et al,

The State of Maryland is working on legislation to enable such "virtual" net
metering arrangements but it is not here yet.  It is a wonderful idea as you
can imagine new sub-divisions being built with one lot set aside for a large
array for the community.

We set up a group of local investor/folks to do a PPA on a local community
church in University Park, Maryland.  The investors all contributed from $2k
to $5k to pay for the system and will get a return on their investment over
the next few years of hopefully more than 5%.  This was the only way for the
folks to have solar PV in their neighborhood as their houses generally had
trees and slate roofs.   Check out their website:
http://www.universityparksolar.com/

Lee Bristol

NABCEP Certified Solar Designer/Installer
Co-Founder & Commercial Channel Manager

Standard Solar Inc.
1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 944-5105 Direct
(240) 479-1510 Cell
(301) 944-1202 Fax
leebristol at standardsolar.com


On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 3:56 PM, Larry Brown <sunmountain at netstep.net> wrote:
> wrenches.
>
> I have had several inquires into this possible scenario.  anybody have any
> experience doing this with their local utility?
>
> several families in a neighborhood or community invest together to put up
a
> solar array either on an existing building that has excellent solar access
> or a ground mount that also has a wide solar window.  the system is set up
> so that it is configured into sub arrays with each sub array having an
> inverter and a kwh meter that records the output of that sub array. each
of
> the sub arrays is designated (by agreement and the proper paper work)  to
a
> particular family based on how much they invested into the system.  the
> output of the whole system is then grid tied and all of the kwh go
directly
> to the utility.  it is then just a matter of accounting in that each of
the
> sub arrays kwh's produced is deducted from the kwh's used by that
particular
> customer on their home or business utility bill.  So the customer either
has
> a credit that is carried over or has a balance owed that appears on the
next
> utility bill.
>
> The design and installation is straight forward and in one centralized
local
> location.
> It is only a matter of paper work and accounting.
> And it builds community and neighbors get to know each other
> Much like Community Supported Agriculture
>
> Larry Brown
> Sun Mountain
>
>
>
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-- 
Lee Bristol
NABCEP Certified Solar Designer/Installer

Co-Founder & Commercial Channel Manager
Standard Solar, Inc.
1355 Piccard Drive, #300
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 944-5105
(240) 479-1510 (c)
www.standardsolar.com
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