News > A new way to empower solar homeowners

A new way to empower solar homeowners

• Distributed Power Plant,
• Solar accessibility,
• Solar affordability

March 14, 2025

• Ben Delman

A solar installation on your home is great. It lowers your energy bills by letting you take control of where your energy comes from. But many solar installations, connected together, are powerful. They can create a less expensive and more reliable energy system for everyone. 

That’s why Solar United Neighbors recently developed tools for lawmakers and regulators to create Distributed Power Plant (DDP) programs in their communities. 

What are distributed power plants and how do they work?

DPPs let people share the benefits of their solar and battery storage investment with their neighbors. In return, these solar owners earn credit for participating in the program — which can total up to $1,500 a year in some places. These credits incentivize homeowners to invest in solar and or batteries, as well as other tools like smart appliances that enable them to better control their energy use.

By participating in a DPP program, these homeowners allow grid operators access to their energy and storage capacity. Grid operators use this to better manage electric supply and demand across the electric grid. This makes electricity service more reliable for everyone. It also limits the need to turn on expensive, polluting gas plants during times of high demand. 

DPPs are poised for a big impact. A report from the Department of Energy estimates that tripling the current scale of DPPs by 2030 could save more than $10 billion in annual grid costs.

This all sounds great. What’s the barrier?

Distributed Power Plants don’t just happen. They can only exist where allowed by law and electricity regulations. That’s why SUN developed a model program and legislation to guide lawmakers and regulators on how to stand up a DPP program that works. Currently, only a handful of places have DPP programs up and running.

What can I do to bring DPPs to my community?

Solar United Neighbors is working on DPP policy in more than a dozen states across the country. There are many ways to get involved. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper sharing your experience of going solar. Sign up to testify at a legislative hearing. Spread the word about solar energy in your community. 

You can plug into this work by signing up to volunteer.