You can now go solar without installing panels on your property!
Our community solar garden lets you share in the benefits of solar power, even if you can't install panels on your property because you need a new roof or because of neighborhood restrictions.
Our first solar garden is located at our Strawberry substation on Cypress Gardens Road in Moncks Corner. Participating members will be credited with a portion of the output from the solar garden based on the number of panels leased which will be applied toward their monthly electric usage. Our second community solar garden will feature canopy-mounted solar panels on covered parking at our Awendaw district office.
(Our community solar program is currently fully leased. Please check with the program administrator about availability.)
Solar communities are groups of solar panels installed at one location. They offer you a solar energy option. This means you get a credit on your bill for the solar energy generated without needing to have equipment attached to your home.
So why go Community Solar?
You subscribe to the output from the co-op’s Community Solar site for a 15-year period. Choose the number of blocks you would like.
You can add more blocks at any time, as long as they are available. Once energy production begins, each month you will receive credit for a portion of the production from the Community Solar farm, based on the number of blocks you have chosen. You pay a portion of the cost per block upfront, and the remainder of the cost is paid in a monthly charge. The output of those blocks is credited back to you on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) basis. You pay a one-time fee to cover administrative costs.
(*varies based on the calculated annual value of solar)
For example, if a member subscribes to the 5-block maximum, the initial charge will be $120 ($20 administrative, $20 upfront per block x 5 = $100). After the initial sign-up, the member would be charged $50 per month ($10 per block x 5). The member would then receive credit for their portion (5 blocks) of the total energy output for the entire solar garden for the month.
Please note: these figures are only averages; solar energy production will fluctuate month to month based on weather and time of year.
If you move to another home served by the co-op, the solar energy subscription moves with you. If you move out of the co-op’s service area, the subscription will be re-marketed by the co-op. However, the upfront charge paid when beginning the program is not refundable.
*currently not available to members enrolled in pre-paid billing
The overall program term is 15 years. The minimum term participation is 2 months, and requires a 30-day notice of cancellation.
The minimum subscription is 1 block. The maximum is 5 blocks, or 16 panels.