U.S. community solar deployment is expected to more than double over the next five years. How should developers, regulators, utilities, and NGOs be planning to make sure growth incorporates equity, access, and customer savings? This session will look at how stakeholders can collaborate to create lasting programs that expand access to low-to-moderate income customers and contribute to a more resilient, customer-centric electric grid.

As the grid experiences delays in clean energy projects coming online due to interconnection constraints, it’s critical that communities be prepared! In this session, panelists will cover the current landscape of clean energy interconnection in the U.S., explain how the industry is and is not addressing backlogs and explore innovative ideas on how to improve the interconnection at the state level to increase energy equity and accelerate decarbonization.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has several provisions that aim to benefit low-moderate income (LMI) communities. This session will discuss these provisions and explain how we can ensure communities realize the opportunity these benefits provide including black and brown communities that have been historically underrepresented even with LMI focused programs.

As community solar is gaining popularity in more states and developers are eager to open new markets, join a panel of industry stakeholders to discuss how to balance costs and benefits of implementing new programs. Hear different viewpoints from those who have successfully implemented programs as well as those preparing to start programs. See how parties weigh the technical and financial aspects of community solar programs to bring access to clean energy to all customers.

As the clean energy industry gears up for significant expansion, stakeholders will need to work together to resolve land use and siting conflicts, particularly at the local level. How do we balance the need for renewables while protecting other environmental resources? How do we ensure the community’s voice is heard? How does the IRA influence the conversation? And what are some ways that we can leverage renewable energy projects to build profits? This panel will examine the challenges that the clean energy industry faces and potential solutions for navigating siting and land use conflicts over the next decade.

Wood Mackenzie forecasts that the US community solar market will grow 118% over the next five years. New York, which currently holds 49% of the national market, installed around 500-megawatts direct current in 2022. This panel will dive into lessons learned from states with robust community solar programs like New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Illinois, and look to inform new markets like New Mexico and Hawaii.

This session will explore how different community energy projects prioritize community benefits beyond the generation of clean energy. Attendees will hear how these projects were executed and what they did to increase resiliency and capacity in the community.