Does Connecticut Have Community Solar Laws?

Connecticut has formally adopted legislation supporting community solar to expand access to renewable energy beyond traditional rooftop installations. The state’s commitment to clean energy and equitable participation has led to the creation of programs that allow residents, renters, and businesses to benefit from shared solar generation even if they cannot install residential solar systems on their own properties.

Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program (SCEF)

Connecticut’s Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program (SCEF) was the first formal step toward establishing a community solar project framework. Launched by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in 2015, SCEF authorized select pilot projects in partnership with utilities such as Eversource Energy and United Illuminating. These early projects demonstrated that shared solar could provide both environmental and economic benefits to participants while contributing to the state’s renewable energy targets.

Under the pilot, subscribers received credits on their utility bills proportional to their share of energy produced by the shared clean energy facility. This arrangement mirrored the core principles of community solar energy, where participants gain the benefits of solar generation without owning or maintaining panels.

Permanent Community Solar Program (2021 Onward)

Building on the pilot’s success, Connecticut enacted Public Act 18-50 and subsequent regulatory updates that established a permanent community solar program in 2021. The law expanded eligibility to all residents and businesses within a utility’s service area, allowing customers to subscribe to community solar projects built by approved developers. Utilities are required to provide bill credits through virtual net metering, ensuring subscribers are compensated fairly for their share of generation.

The program also includes performance-based incentives for developers to ensure project efficiency and equitable access. The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) oversees program administration, project approval, and ongoing compliance.

Provisions for Low- and Moderate-Income Households

Connecticut’s community solar framework prioritizes inclusion. State law mandates that a portion of each community solar project serve low- and moderate-income (LMI) subscribers. Developers must allocate at least 10% to 20% of capacity for income-qualified participants, who often receive discounted subscription rates or guaranteed bill savings.

DEEP and PURA have also partnered with local non-profits and housing authorities to streamline LMI enrollment. These partnerships help ensure equitable participation in the Connecticut community solar market, aligning with the state’s broader goals under the Connecticut Energy Strategy to reduce carbon emissions while promoting energy affordability.

What Is Community Solar?

Community solar allows multiple electricity customers to share the benefits of one centralized solar array. Instead of installing rooftop panels, participants subscribe to a community solar farm that generates renewable energy and feeds it into the local grid. Each subscriber receives credits on their utility bill based on their subscription size and the system’s energy production.

In essence, community solar energy democratizes access to clean power. It makes renewable participation possible for renters, condo owners, and homeowners with unsuitable rooftops or limited financial capacity to invest in residential solar systems.

This model has become an increasingly vital part of Connecticut’s renewable portfolio, especially in urban and coastal areas where space for rooftop solar is limited.

When Is Community Solar a Good Option?

Community solar is ideal for individuals who:

• Rent their home or live in multi-unit buildings
• Have shaded or poorly oriented roofs that reduce solar potential
• Face homeowners’ association restrictions on residential solar panels
• Prefer to avoid the upfront investment and maintenance responsibilities of ownership

It also benefits small businesses, municipalities, and non-profits seeking stable energy costs without major capital outlays.

Advantages Over Residential Solar

Compared to residential solar, community solar farms offer several clear advantages:

• Accessibility: Anyone in the utility service area can join without property ownership requirements
• Flexibility: Subscribers can change, transfer, or cancel participation more easily than rooftop system owners
• No Maintenance Costs: The developer maintains the system, including insurance, performance monitoring, and repairs
• Financial Inclusivity: LMI participants gain access to renewable energy savings that traditional ownership models often exclude
• Environmental Impact: Each subscriber supports local clean-energy generation that reduces fossil-fuel dependence and carbon emissions

In Connecticut’s dense and mixed-housing landscape, community solar energy bridges the gap between environmental responsibility and affordability.

Why Community Solar?

The Connecticut community solar initiative aligns with the state’s aggressive renewable-energy and decarbonization goals. With high electricity prices and growing consumer demand for sustainability, community solar projects present a practical solution for expanding renewable participation.

Benefits of Community Solar for Homeowners, Renters, and Businesses

• Lower Electricity Costs: Subscribers typically save between 10% and 20% on annual utility bills, depending on project efficiency and contract structure. These savings accrue without the upfront expense of installing residential solar panels
• Energy Equity: Programs ensure that underrepresented households, including renters and LMI residents, share in the benefits of community solar through discounted subscription rates and automatic crediting mechanisms
• Economic Development: Each community solar project supports local construction, maintenance, and administrative jobs. Many projects also utilize underdeveloped land such as capped landfills, providing an additional revenue stream for municipalities
• Grid Benefits and Environmental Performance: Distributed solar generation reduces strain on the electric grid, enhances resilience, and cuts transmission losses. At the same time, community solar energy lowers carbon emissions and advances Connecticut’s clean-energy transition goals
• Ease of Participation: Customers can join through a simple subscription, requiring no property modifications or permits. The streamlined process makes it possible for virtually any resident to access renewable power

These benefits of community solar make the program one of the most effective pathways for Connecticut to expand renewable access across socioeconomic groups.

Are There Community Solar Projects in Connecticut?

Connecticut’s community solar project market continues to expand rapidly. Following the transition from the pilot program to full-scale implementation, new projects have been approved annually under the state’s distributed-energy procurement plans.

Market Growth and Utility Participation

As of 2025, Connecticut hosts more than 60 operational community solar projects, representing over 120 MW of capacity. Most are located in central and southern Connecticut, where utilities such as Eversource Energy and United Illuminating have integrated them into their renewable-energy portfolios.

The state’s energy agencies select new projects annually through a competitive bidding process. Approved developers construct and operate community solar farms, while utilities manage subscriber billing and energy credits.

Examples of Major Projects

Some of Connecticut’s most prominent community solar farms include:

• Hartford Solar Garden – One of the largest in the state, serving hundreds of Eversource customers and providing reserved capacity for low-income households
• New Britain Community Solar Project – A brownfield redevelopment that demonstrates the dual benefit of clean-energy generation and land revitalization
• Middletown Clean Energy Center – Operated in partnership with United Illuminating, featuring both residential and small-business subscribers
• Bridgeport Community Solar Farm – Notable for integrating battery storage to enhance grid reliability during peak demand
• Storrs Solar Garden – Supports the University of Connecticut and surrounding residential subscribers

Together, these installations represent Connecticut’s progress toward meeting its renewable portfolio standards while making solar power more inclusive.

How Residents Can Join

Residents can subscribe to a Connecticut community solar program through one of two main pathways:

• Utility-Sponsored Programs – Eversource and United Illuminating periodically open enrollment for customers to join approved community solar projects
• Third-Party Developers – Private firms such as Nexamp and Greenskies Clean Focus manage enrollment, subscription size, and billing coordination

The enrollment process is simple: customers choose a project, determine their desired subscription share, and sign an agreement outlining terms and savings. Once active, the subscriber’s share of solar generation appears as credits on their monthly utility bill.

This accessibility has made community solar farms a popular alternative for those unable to invest in residential solar systems.

How Does Community Solar Work in Connecticut?

The operation of community solar projects in Connecticut follows the same core principles found in leading renewable-energy states but incorporates unique state regulatory structures. A developer builds a solar array, often ranging from 1 to 5 MW in size, and connects it directly to the regional electric grid. The project generates renewable electricity that utilities distribute to the grid for general consumption.

Subscribers purchase or lease a share of the project’s capacity, typically expressed as a percentage of their historical energy use. Each month, they receive credits for the energy their share generates, offsetting their electricity costs through virtual net metering.

Example: Eversource’s Shared Clean Energy Program

Under Eversource’s Shared Clean Energy Program, third-party developers build community solar farms, while the utility manages energy crediting and billing. Subscribers can offset up to 100% of their annual consumption, depending on project design. This approach ensures administrative consistency and accurate credit distribution.

Example: United Illuminating’s Community Solar Expansion

United Illuminating’s projects focus on equitable access, with a strong emphasis on LMI participation. Through partnerships with the Connecticut Green Bank and local governments, UI offers enhanced savings guarantees for income-qualified participants. This model demonstrates how Connecticut community solar blends environmental and social policy goals effectively.

Incentives and Integration with State Policy

Developers benefit from both state and federal incentives that lower capital costs and improve project feasibility. The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows developers to deduct 30% of project costs through 2025. State-level incentives under the Renewable Energy Solutions Program offer additional financial mechanisms through performance-based payments and renewable-energy certificates.

Subscribers indirectly benefit as developers pass through savings to keep community solar cost competitive with utility rates. The integration of these incentives ensures that community solar energy continues to expand while remaining affordable for households and businesses.

How Much Does Community Solar Cost in Connecticut?

The community solar cost in Connecticut depends on factors such as the developer, project size, and subscription structure. Most programs are designed to guarantee savings compared to standard utility rates without requiring upfront payments or installation fees. Subscribers generally pay for the portion of electricity produced by their share of a community solar project, receiving bill credits that offset usage on their monthly utility statements.

These rates translate to average household savings of 10% to 18% annually, depending on project location and developer pricing.

The cost covers all major expenses associated with project development and maintenance, including equipment, grid interconnection, insurance, administration, and ongoing operations. Subscribers do not incur additional costs for installation, maintenance, or performance monitoring.

Contract terms generally range from 10 to 20 years, but many developers now offer shorter or flexible agreements to increase accessibility. Low-income participants may qualify for further discounts through state-mandated allocation requirements. Because developers can utilize federal and state incentives, Connecticut community solar remains an affordable and stable renewable-energy option for households and small businesses seeking predictable electricity expenses without owning residential solar systems.