Washington Post [read free] – “Half of Americans can’t install solar panels. Here’s how they can plug into the sun…If you live in a state with a robust community solar market, subscribing is easy. Marketplaces like EnergySage aggregate projects signing up new subscribers. I typed in a Zip code in St. Paul, Minn., a hotbed of community solar activity, and was presented with six projects offering savings of $68 to $135 per year, along with 10 tons of greenhouse gases. The marketplace allows you to quickly compare details such as fees, locations and billing. Once I selected a project, I could create an account, link this to my utility and start a subscription. To get the best terms, say project developers and nonprofit groups, you should look for contracts that uphold a few key terms:

• Get a discounted electricity rate: Community solar projects tend to offer 5 percent to 15 percent off prevailing electricity rates.
• Ensure you can cancel any time: Sellers should allow you to cancel your subscription immediately or within a few months to finalize credits on your bill.
• Avoid cancellation fees: Choose a plan that doesn’t force you to pay if you want to end your subscription.
• Source close to your home: Ideally, projects should be within 10 or 15 miles of where you live, says Jeff Cramer, CEO of the Coalition for Community Solar Access. This ensures that you decarbonize your local grid…”