Solar power is a popular form of clean energy that can help reduce carbon emissions and electricity costs for households and businesses. But the cost of going solar can be sky-high—with some solar panel installations easily costing over $20,000.

　　Community solar programs offer an alternative to installing solar panels on your home, allowing you to enjoy the benefits (and cost savings) of solar power without the installation costs and hassles. And if your home’s electrical system or roof can’t support solar panels, a community solar program may be your only choice for access to clean energy.

　　What is community solar?Community solar programs, also known as solar farms, are designed to provide access to solar power to multiple households from a central location. Large plots of land are used to host hundreds (or even thousands) of solar panels, and the collective energy is shared with the local utility grid.

　　Community solar lets consumers, businesses, nonprofits, and other entities subscribe to—or own—a portion of the energy output and earn credits toward lowering monthly utility bills. Community solar is ideal for households or locations where installing solar panels is unfeasible due to costs or restrictions, such as those imposed by a homeowners association.

　　How does community solar work?Community solar programs generate electricity through large solar arrays that route energy to the local power grid. Local subscribers (or owners) of the community solar program pay for a share of the energy generated by the project, typically by paying a monthly fee directly to the program itself.

　　The program then receives payments from the local utility company that are distributed to subscribers as credits, lowering their electric bills. The amount each subscriber receives is proportional to the amount they own or pay into the program.

　　Community solar programs are typically owned by local utility companies or by private parties that work directly with local utility companies. Most programs serve anyone interested in joining, although some are available only to low-income residents.

　　Allows residents and businesses to participate in an environmentally friendly energy program that cuts the cost of electricity.Provides access to solar power generation even if you can’t install panels on your own home.Typically allows you to choose how much to invest in the program.Lets you earn energy credits to reduce your power bill and offset your investment costs.Avoids the high costs of installing solar panels.Cons:

　　Doesn’t provide the tax credits available for installing your own solar panel system.May not be available in your local community.Available only to low-income households in some areas.Typically results in two monthly bills—one from your utility company and another from the community solar operator—that may make it difficult to determine how much you’re saving. How to sign up for community solarCommunity solar programs are available in 43 states in the U.S. Here are some resources to help you find local community solar projects and learn more about them:

　　National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) state community solar list. The NREL website features a downloadable spreadsheet of state community solar programs to help you find a program near you.LIFT Solar projects list. This compilation features more than 450 community solar projects for low-income households available in 20 states.Your local electric utility company. Check with your electricity supplier to find out if a community solar program is available.Once you find a community solar program to join, research the sign-up process and terms for the program. Some programs offer monthly subscriptions, while others require an up-front investment to purchase ownership shares.

　　How much can you save with community solar?Joining a community solar program saves you money through monthly credits on your electric bill, although the amount you save varies by the program. Here are two examples of monthly savings:

　　Ozarks Natural Energy. This program is available to residents of Springdale, Arkansas, and lets them purchase up to 100 shares of ownership at $244.80 a share. The estimated energy credit for one share is about $1.25 a month.Grand Valley Power. Available to residents of Grand Junction, Colorado, this community solar project lets them lease up to 41 solar panels for a period of 20 years. The cost is $700 a panel, and each panel offers monthly credits of about $4 on energy bills. A zero-down option is also available. It charges $15 a month for five years to cover the cost of a panel instead of paying $700 up front.The cost savings don’t offset the investment in the program for some time. In some cases, you’ll need to continue with a program for more than 15 years to recoup your investment. But it does ensure you are helping to provide clean energy to your local community.

　　Programs vary considerably from state to state. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a solar community project that charges no up-front investment and has no termination fees to worry about (should you move or simply find community solar isn’t for you).

　　Many community solar programs are already at capacity; you may need to join a waitlist to be notified when a spot opens up. If there are no community solar projects in your area, contact your local energy provider to request more availability.

　　The bottom lineCommunity solar programs help provide solar energy to local municipalities, along with cost savings to subscribers through electric bill credits. If you can’t install solar on your own home, or if you don’t have the funds for a solar installation, joining a community solar program can offer you access to the benefits of solar without the high up-front cost.

　　But the cost savings implied by most programs isn’t a huge amount. It may take more than a decade to break even on your investment. Community solar is for long-term residents who prefer clean energy and plan on sticking around long enough for the investment to break even.