ABSTRACT
Shared solar, also called community solar describes a solar installation that is jointly owned or leased by customers who are able to use the electricity produced by the system to offset their electricity bills. Shared solar is environmentally and economically beneficial, and can help to reduce energy inequality in the United States. The city of Ellensburg, Washington solved these energy access problems and opened up the doors for the huge potential impact. Fortunately, a number of states followed Ellensburg's lead with stronger legislation and expectations that much more support for and investment in shared solar will come. Possibility the largest legislative challenge to be overcome in order to expand shared solar deployment is solidifying net metering policy. Virtual net metering allows shared solar projects to be economical because customers are credited at the higher, retail rate of electricity production, as opposed to the lower, wholesale rate.
