Why does nobody talk about how community solar subscriptions beat rooftop panels for renters?

I compared my friend's $0 upfront community solar plan that saved her $15 a month versus my landlord's cheap DIY rooftop install that barely works half the year and now I'm wondering why we all don't just push for shared solar projects instead, has anyone else had better luck with one over the other?

3 comments

3 Comments

alex30716d ago

My buddy @logan236 had the same issue with moving, I just tripped over my own extension cord trying to save on electricity so maybe I’m not qualified to judge either option lol.

logan23620d ago

Hang on, I gotta push back a little. In my experience, community solar subscriptions can be a pain because you're locked into a contract and if you move, transferring it is often a nightmare. My old roommate did the $0 upfront thing and when she moved two years early, the early exit fee basically wiped out all her savings and then some. Your mileage may vary, but landlords with crappy DIY panels aren't really a fair comparison to a good owned system either.

the_paul20d ago

Whoa, hold on, I think everyone's missing the biggest problem nobody wants to admit. The real issue isn't the contract or the landlord's install, it's that community solar projects mostly benefit people who already have decent credit and a stable address. I've got friends who rent month-to-month or live in places where the landlord won't even sign off on the paperwork for a shared project. It's like the whole thing is designed for people who are already pretty settled. And rooftop panels, even the bad ones, at least give you some control when the grid goes down, which is happening more often now. Community solar just feels like another subscription bill that you can't opt out of when you really need to. So I'm not sure either one is the real answer for renters, it's more like we need a whole new way to think about power.