Lower electric bills

Local power that keeps the lights on.

California electric bills keep rising, and the power grid is overworked. Community solar + storage changes the equation and improves reliability. It lets residents subscribe to a local solar project and receive a credit on their utility bill, without having to own their own roof or on-site installation.

Californians can’t afford to wait for cheaper clean energy.

Communities need bill relief now. On average, community solar subscribers will save $200 a year compared to their current utility bills, and savings are even higher for low income households. All Californians deserve the option to save on their bills with local, affordable solar, including renters and those who can’t put solar on their roofs.

What Community Solar Actually Means for You

Before you scroll past another energy policy conversation, take a minute to see how community solar works, who it helps, and why it’s starting to matter to your monthly bill.

Solar, shared.

Community solar + storage means small projects on 20-30 acres of land keep the power local, with no need for big, expensive transmission lines. Farmers can host the facilities on unproductive or fallowed parcels of land, make enough money to keep the farm in the family, and help their neighbors lower their energy bills.

Three steps. No roof required.

Community solar + storage is designed to be simple to join, with no home installation and no ongoing equipment maintenance for subscribers.

Step 1:

A local community solar + storage project produces clean electricity.

Step 2:

Residents subscribe to a share of that project.

Step 3:

Subscribers receive credits on their utility bills tied to the energy produced.

September 24, 2026

Community Voices: Community solar plus storage provides benefits at three levels

I’m a teacher, and every day I drive to work on North Jack Tone Road. On my way to work is a field of solar panels with sheep grazing. I drove by that field every day for five years before I got a letter from a community solar developer asking if I would be interested […]

September 11, 2026

UCLA study sheds light on California’s lack of community solar programs

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.

Recent Press Releases

September 30, 2026

CLASS Response to Governor Newsom’s Veto of AB 1813

With Governor Newsom’s veto of AB 1813, California continues to fall further behind

August 30, 2026

California Senate Passes AB 1813, Clearing the Way for the Nation’s Largest Community Solar Program

The California State Senate passed AB 1813 (Ward)

Bring more affordable solar choices to California.

Californians for Local Affordable Solar and Storage (CLASS) is working to lower electricity bills for families and small businesses, empower farmers and landowners to host community solar facilities and keep their farms in the family, while creating jobs and generating clean energy locally.