In May, Mari Hernandez, IREC regulatory program assistant director, joined other stakeholders at an invitation-only workshop hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy to share ideas on opportunities and barriers to community solar and potential strategies to move the market forward.

A new guide from IREC offers national insight to help local governments, housing providers, utilities and other stakeholders better understand the possible pathways to ensure more renters and other multifamily residents can benefit from solar.

Community Solar Basic is IREC's new handy guide to the basic mechanics of creating healthy community solar programs, featuring seven crucial policies and design elements, checklists and resources ideal for state or community-based programs like yours.

Recently, IREC joined national and local solar industry players and other stakeholders at the first community solar summit in Denver. Erica McConnell, an attorney who represents IREC in regulatory matters, shared her expertise to help regulators, companies and others navigate the community solar landscape.

Oregon reached a critical waypoint in its policy journey to enable community solar – allowing multiple individuals to participate in and share in the benefits of a shared solar project. As a result, Oregonians are now closer than ever to being able to access community solar.

Leading energy companies in the solar market this week announced the formation of the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), the first-ever national trade association for community solar.

IREC joins the new U.S. Department of Energy Solar Market Pathways project as a partner with the project’s national coordinator, The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), to provide technical assistance to the Pathways’ teams and create an expanded learning network that connects solar stakeholders across the U.S.