The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is celebrating the completion of two community solar projects developed by Ava Community Energy, totaling just over 2 MW.

The projects, located in Oakland and just south of Los Angeles in the city of Carson, will both be hosted or owned by real estate investment trust Prologis. At 1.32 MW and 720 kW respectively, the projects bolster the Golden State’s existing portfolio of community solar projects, CPUC officials say.

“The competitively procured community solar project in Oakland creates opportunities for customers who may not be able to install solar panels on their own homes to participate in a program that delivers direct discounts to their electricity bills,” says Kerry Fleisher, a director in the CPUC’s Energy Division. “Projects like this one demonstrate how the best community solar projects can expand the number of clean energy projects in California while supporting the communities that need the bill relief the most.”

The Oakland project will begin operation under the utility commission’s Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff (DAC-GT) Program, representatives say. Now fully operational, the rooftop site will be able to provide not only renewable energy, but “meaningful bill savings” one nearby households in low income areas.

Making the most of the space

The Carson project, funded by the CPUC’s Community Solar Green Tariff (CSGT) program, aims to demonstrate how future solar developers can make use of underutilized spaces for renewable energy projects. The state currently boasts one of the strongest networks of community solar projects in the U.S., having built a model that loops in renters, residents of multifamily housing, and others who may not be able to access rooftop solar.

The state’s Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) program, founded in 2008, has opened and expanded programs for community solar of all types, officials say.

“These efforts continue to demonstrate that community solar is viable and scalable throughout California through the most competitive projects,” the CPUC says of its community solar programs. “Today, more than 1,200 shared solar projects totaling approximately 560 MW are operating across the state, with an additional 430 projects totaling 165 MW currently under construction.”

In total, Ava’s projects will serve approximately 3,000 households through their community programs, representatives from CPUC say.

Tags: Ava Community Energy, California, Community Solar, project