Local Energy Rules

The community solar model extends the option of clean energy ownership to those without the means or ability to put solar on their own roof. Now, an Oakland, Calif., cooperative plans to use the co-op ownership model to increase access to solar even further, by putting community solar on the roof of one of its members. For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Subin DeVar, director of the community renewable energy program at the Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC) in Oakland, Calif. SELC provides support to the People Power Solar Cooperative, where DeVar also serves as a board member. This solar cooperative completed its first project in March 2019, leveraging the democratic co-op structure to install community solar on members’ own rooftops. Farrell and DeVar discuss how the cooperative was able to navigate over legal barriers, the importance of community ownership, and the potential for this cooperative community solar model to spread nationwide. Listen to the