What Are the Best Community Solar Programs by State?

Community solar programs are available in 22 states plus DC, with the strongest programs in New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Colorado, and Minnesota. Renters subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and receive 5-15% savings — $0 upfront, no equipment.

Top Community Solar Programs (2026)

State	Typical Savings	Availability	Cancel Anytime?	Notes
New York	10-15%	Widespread	Most programs	Largest market
Massachusetts	10-15%	Widespread	Most programs	SMART integration
Illinois	8-12%	Growing	Most programs	Adjustable Block
Colorado	8-10%	Good	Varies	Xcel Energy gardens
Minnesota	8-12%	Good	Most programs	First state to enable
New Jersey	8-12%	Growing	Most programs	Permanent since 2024

How Community Solar Works

1. Subscribe: Sign up online with a provider (EnergySage, Arcadia, or local operators)
2. Credits appear: Your share of solar production appears as credits on your bill
3. Pay less: Credits reduce your bill 5-15%; you pay the provider a discounted rate
4. No equipment: The solar farm is offsite — nothing installed at your apartment

Find programs in your state at RenterSolar's guide.

Related Questions

How do I sign up for community solar? +

Visit EnergySage.com or Arcadia.com, enter your zip code, browse available projects. Sign up takes 5 minutes — you'll need your utility account number and a recent bill. Credits start within 1-2 billing cycles. No credit check required for most programs.

Is community solar available in my state? +

Currently available in 22 states + DC: CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MN, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, VT, VA, WA, WI, plus DC. Check rentersolar.com/solar-incentives/ for your state.

Can I do both community solar and balcony solar? +

Yes! They stack — balcony solar directly offsets real-time consumption, while community solar provides bill credits from an offsite farm. Combining both can reduce your total bill by 25-50%.

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