Resources > Community solar in Pennsylvania

Community solar in Pennsylvania

• Factsheet

May 22, 2025

What is community solar?

Community solar makes it possible for everyone to go solar, but Pennsylvania law currently does not allow it. There is a bill moving through our legislature to change this.

With community energy (solar), you can purchase or lease a “share” in a community solar project or start a project with your neighbors. Every month, you receive a credit on your electricity bill for the energy produced by your share.

Everyone should have access to community solar

We believe that everyone should be able to go solar, whether on their home or through a subscription to a community solar project. Solar is a way to reduce your energy bills, save money, and live your values.

Community solar began with a simple idea. People shouldn’t have to put a solar panel on their own roof to benefit from the electricity it generates. This idea is in the process of dramatically changing the way we get our electricity. Consumers no longer need to depend on analog wires and dials. Community solar, when done right, can provide solar access to everyone.

What is SUN doing to pass community solar in Pennsylvania?

Community energy (HB504) passed the Pennsylvania House on 5/7/25 with a bi-partisan vote of 114-89! Link to article in the Central Penn Businness Journal HERE.

We have work to do in the Senate.

Click HERE to ask your elected representatives to support community solar.

Below are specific aspects of the bills that we are particularly excited about:

• Guaranteed electric bill savings for community solar subscribers
• “Consolidated billing” which integrates community solar into a subscriber’s existing electric bill, making it more understandable for ratepayers
• There are no upfront costs, credit checks or termination fees for potential subscribers
• There are strong consumer and labor protections

SUN helps to lead the Our Solar PA coalition which is actively organizing to pass community solar legislation and we’re excited to see significant progress early on in the 2025-26 legislative session.

Last legislative session (2023-24), we led a strong campaign that made significant head way on community solar. We submitted written testimony for the House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities (CPTU) Committee to consider during the hearing for House Bill 1842. Read our written testimony here. Our advocacy led directly to the inclusion of a definition of “low-income” in the amended bill!

The House CPTU Committee passed House Bill 1842 unanimously, which we celebrated as a clear sign of bipartisan support for community solar. 

One short week later, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 1842 with 111 votes for, 90 votes against. Read our statement on this historic moment in Pennsylvania history.

If you believe that all Pennsylvanians deserve to save money on their electric bills while supporting clean, local solar energy, then your legislators should know that you support Community Solar! 

Is “community energy” the same as “community solar?” 

“Community energy” is the same concept as community solar, but broader – it includes solar, plus renewable natural gas. The focus is on ratepayers being able to subscribe to these local generation projects and save money on their bills!

How you can support Community Solar

• Use our action alert to send an email to your elected representatives in support of community solar. Increase your impact by personalizing your message.
• Join the Pennsylvania Solar Action Team and work with other volunteers to fight for great solar policies like Community Solar.
• If you are part of an organization that wants to pass community solar – get involved with Our Solar PA coalition. We meet every other Friday at 9am. Contact Monica Carey mcarey@solarunitedneighbors.org or Roger Sikes rsikes@solarunitedneighbors.org to get involved
• Take a pro community solar photo! Instructions on how to do so are linked HERE.