What is Community Solar?
Community solar is an innovative program that lets community members of all income levels share the benefits and split the costs of one big solar array in their neighborhood. Local residents can “subscribe” to the array and receive credits on their power bill for the energy the solar panels produce.
Why Doesn’t Boise Have Community Solar Yet?
The City of Boise set a goal to work with Idaho Power to develop a local community solar program by the year 2025. However, there are still no tangible plans for a community solar project. Idaho Power announced it was developing a utility-owned solar subscription program in 2023, but hasn’t moved forward, and we worry that the program would have limited options for low-income folks, be focused on company profits, and have the solar array located far away. We need the City of Boise to reclaim this exciting opportunity and meet its goal in a way that prioritizes community needs!
How Can We Create a Community Solar Project in Boise?
Idaho Sierra Club staff and youth leaders have been talking to City of Boise staff and elected officials about ways to meet their community solar goal for nearly two years now. We have identified a potential location for a community solar project that would benefit low-income residents at a City-owned apartment complex, serving as a demonstration project to grow similar programs to serve even more residents across the city. Now we just need to get it included in the City Budget to make it a reality.
The City’s Public Works Department is currently in the process of drafting its budget. Please add your name below to show the Director of Public Works that Boiseans want to see a community solar pilot project for low-income residents included in this year’s budget.
