Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This video was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The Community Solar Program and Subscription Design: Design Elements and Considerations for Creating a Municipal Utility Community Solar Program continuing education course was about designing a community solar program. The recording covers the various elements of a program offering and considerations for developing subscriptions for customer participation. The primary audience of the course are municipal utilities, however the core concepts are broadly applicable to any stakeholder interested in the community solar business model. The course discusses proven practices and considerations for topics including site selection, anchor tenants, customer classes, renewable energy certificate (REC) treatment, subscription limits, term limits, exit rules, subscription transferability, subscription cost and credit types, and more. The course includes guest speakers from Austin Energy and Longmont Power and Communications (Colorado), who share their experiences in community solar program design. The course was led in 2023 by staff at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory through the American Public Power Association continuing education platform, funded by the Department of Energy's National Community Solar Partnership.
00:00-02:10 - Agenda & Introductions
02:11-12:42 - Community Solar National Market Overview and Trends
12:43-14:52 - Program Goals
14:53-29:08 - Austin Energy Program Example
29:09-32:57 - City of Longmont Program Example
32:57-49:49 - Site Selection
49:50-1:31:43 - Program Design Elements
1:31:44-1:32:45 - Worksheet Explanation
1:32:46-1:36:26 - Agenda & Introductions
1:36:27-1:42:24 - Ownership Models for Community Solar
1:42:24-1:46:58 - Intro to System Advisor Model (SAM)
1:46:59-2:29:12 - Impact of Program Design Elements on Project Financials
2:29:13-2:39:41 - Austin Energy: Project vs Portfolio Program Example
2:39:42-2:41:43 - Closing
This video was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The Community Solar Program and Subscription Design: Design Elements and Considerations for Creating a Municipal Utility Community Solar Program continuing education course was about designing a community solar program. The recording covers the various elements of a program offering and considerations for developing subscriptions for customer participation. The primary audience of the course are municipal utilities, however the core concepts are broadly applicable to any stakeholder interested in the community solar business model. The course discusses proven practices and considerations for topics including site selection, anchor tenants, customer classes, renewable energy certificate (REC) treatment, subscription limits, term limits, exit rules, subscription transferability, subscription cost and credit types, and more. The course includes guest speakers from Austin Energy and Longmont Power and Communications (Colorado), who share their experiences in community solar program design. The course was led in 2023 by staff at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory through the American Public Power Association continuing education platform, funded by the Department of Energy's National Community Solar Partnership.
00:00-02:10 - Agenda & Introductions
02:11-12:42 - Community Solar National Market Overview and Trends
12:43-14:52 - Program Goals
14:53-29:08 - Austin Energy Program Example
29:09-32:57 - City of Longmont Program Example
32:57-49:49 - Site Selection
49:50-1:31:43 - Program Design Elements
1:31:44-1:32:45 - Worksheet Explanation
1:32:46-1:36:26 - Agenda & Introductions
1:36:27-1:42:24 - Ownership Models for Community Solar
1:42:24-1:46:58 - Intro to System Advisor Model (SAM)
1:46:59-2:29:12 - Impact of Program Design Elements on Project Financials
2:29:13-2:39:41 - Austin Energy: Project vs Portfolio Program Example
2:39:42-2:41:43 - Closing
