Ampion has announced an impressive advancement in its community solar power service, according to Solar Power World.
The company runs a community solar credit business, where customers pay for a portion of a large-scale solar plant’s output and receive a proportional credit on their utility bill in return. This allows residents to benefit from the savings of solar power without using solar power directly. Ampion generally guarantees at least 10% savings with this scheme. It says it’s possible to cover an entire utility bill with these solar energy credits.
Traditionally, this plan has required homeowners to be in the same state as the solar energy farm, but Ampion has just announced its ability to start participating across state lines.
Ampion’s model hinges heavily on government policy to exist. Local jurisdictions have to mandate that utility providers accept solar energy credits and attach them to specific subscriber accounts.
By that token, this new Synthetic Community Solar program is made possible by a federal credit targeting low-income homes. Ampion hopes that this credit will incentivize the creation of more solar energy generation to plug into its system, since it will be easier to sell credits.
Utility-scale solar is the cheapest energy source available, making its efficient transmission an important bottleneck. Providing creative means for residents to support solar through credits like Ampion’s can not only save people money, but it also helps to displace dirty energy sources on the grid.
Fossil fuels, such as gas and coal, are among the primary drivers of increasingly destructive weather events, including floods and droughts. These disasters have massive housing and agricultural costs.
Tapping into solar power at an individual level can just as easily contribute to avoiding those outcomes while saving yourself a few bucks. EnergySage has a free online tool that can connect homeowners to vetted local installers. These experts can save up to $10,000 on installation costs thanks to rebates and credits.
Ampion was excited about the potential of its new Synthetic Solar Credit program.
“We’re grateful to offer a solution that helps developers navigate the complexities of community solar across different state programs while providing additional savings to low-income subscribers. This initiative directly supports our mission of making renewable energy accessible everywhere, for everyone,” said Ampion CEO Nate Owen.
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