California has more solar capacity than any other state, but residents can’t access solar power for themselves without installing their own panels. But an August study conducted by UCLA researchers found that California has failed to build a functioning community solar program, which would allow people to do just that.
A new analysis found untapped opportunity for 3,100 distribution-connected projects in the state’s three investor-owned utility territories.
OPINION — California’s environmental leadership is at risk. Despite the growing demand for clean and cost-effective energy, the state lacks a viable community solar and storage program that allows customers to participate in the development of shared clean generation facilities.
“What do we do about the 55% of Californians who are renters, who are low income families, who are in places that don’t necessarily support rooftop solar systems? How do they get to be a part when they want to buy in to solar systems?” Assemblymember Chris Ward
Across the three large California IOUs, distribution substations could absorb an estimated 17,536 MW of full discharge from distributed front-of-the-meter systems during the summer peak and net peak hours in 2032, 32% of the California Energy Commission’s 2025 Integrated Energy Policy Report Mid-Case Planning Forecastfor that year.
Community solar and storage can address household energy burden by allowing customers to subscribe to small-scale, locally-sited solar and battery projects and receive direct energy bill reductions without installing panels on their rooftops.
