Conservatives Launch New Nationwide Coalition Supporting Community Solar

The Community Solar Freedom Coalition is committed to advancing the free market growth of community solar.

CONTACT: Tyler Duvelius – tduvelius@conservativeenergynetwork.org

August 1, 2023 — LANSING, Mich. — Earlier today, conservative clean energy supporters announced the launch of the Community Solar Freedom Coalition (CSFC). This new effort, led by the Conservative Energy Network (CEN), is a coalition of conservative organizations and thought leaders who are committed to advancing American energy freedom by supporting the free market growth of community solar.

Community solar refers to solar arrays located within a community where multiple customers subscribe and receive a credit on their utility bill for their share of the power that’s produced, just as if the panels were on their roof. Families, small and large businesses, schools, churches, and hospitals can all sign up to receive energy generated from community solar installations. The private development of community solar saves individuals and businesses money, expands consumer choice, generates income and financial security for landowners, creates American jobs, boosts local economies without raising taxes, and strengthens America’s energy grid.

“Conservative policymakers around the country are embracing community solar as an opportunity to prioritize economic development, increase consumer choice, and promote grid reliability,” said John Szoka, CEO of CEN. “CSFC unites conservatives who share a common vision of using the free market to capitalize on the economic, national security, and other competitive advantages of community solar. We look forward to expanding this coalition as more conservatives engage in community solar policy.”

Over the past decade, the number of states that have enacted policies to support community solar has expanded from only a few to 22 states including Washington, D.C. A collective 5.6 gigawatts (GW) of generation capacity has been installed to date. Wood Mackenzie predicts that by the end of 2023 there will be 6.2 GW of community solar installed across the nation.

CEN polling has found that 78% of voters believe community solar should be part of a diversified energy strategy in their state,and 74% favor community solar development that is bid through a competitive market, rather than solely being developed by utilities. In addition, Republican-led or bipartisan efforts in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are underway to bring community solar to those states.

CSFC currently has partners in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia, among other states. CSFC will work to host educational programming events, commission policy white papers, and publish thought leadership pieces. Supporters of community solar can sign up for the coalition and stay up-to-date by visiting www.communitysolarfreedomcoalition.org.