Community Solar: A Pathway toward Leadership for Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions equip their graduates with the skills and knowledge to become leaders and future problem-solvers. Increasingly, higher education institutions are seeking ways to lead in sustainability and ensure a legacy of progressive environmental change. One option for these institutions to enhance sustainability is to hosting community solar projects. Community Solar, defined by Northwest SEED, is a voluntary solar program providing power and/or financial benefits to, or is owned by, multiple community members. This research details two potential community solar models for higher education institutions: non-profit and for-profit. Through informal interviews with key informants, National Renewable Energy Laboratory technical assistance, undergraduate research and financial modeling the non-profit option is recommended. Using upfront payments from community solar participants, a Western Washington University Foundation partnership, federal tax incentives, value of energy produced and a university buyout, the non-profit community solar project is feasible to be hosted at Western Washington University. Being a community solar host provides higher education institutions with a means of decreasing community carbon emissions, increasing access to renewable energy, advancing institution-community relations, normalizing renewable energy for students, providing faculty and student research opportunities, and positioning these institutions as leaders in sustainability.