RMI’s Financing Community Scale Solar Brief provides an overview of community solar, financing structures, and risks.
Financing Community-Based Solar Projects: Case Studies from the Field
SEPA’s report explores different financing options through a series of six case studies based on in-depth interviews with utilities and project developers.
Unlocking Solar for Low- and Moderate-Income Residents: A Matrix of Financing Options by Resident, Provider, and Housing Type
NREL’s report aims to identify the most promising strategies state policymakers might consider using to finance PV for low- and moderate-income customers across three housing types: single family, multi-family, and manufactured housing.
New York State Solar Guidebook
The Solar Guidebook contains information, tools, and step-by-step instructions to support local governments managing solar energy development in their communities. The Guidebook’s chapters cover a variety of solar energy topics including the permitting process, property taxes, model solar energy law, and more.
Project Sunroof
Google’s Project Sunroof Data Explorer can estimate the solar potential for an entire city, while its Savings Estimator can evaluate specific buildings.
RE-Powering America’s Land Website
EPA’s RE-Powering America’s Land website contains tools and resources on mapping and screening renewable energy on potentially contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites.
Quarterly Price Index Blog
LevelTen releases a quarterly blog that provides aggregated pricing information for large-scale wind and solar power purchase agreements in various regions of the U.S.
Innovation in Power Purchase Agreement Structures
While not specific to U.S. cities, this report provides a useful overview of potential risks in off-site power purchase agreements.
WattTime
WattTime’s more granular, real-time emissions data resources can assist cities in making more accurate and nuanced assessments of the potential greenhouse gas emissions impact of prospective projects.
Energy Resource Maps
NREL’s maps provide useful insights into the amount of solar insolation, average wind speeds, and other available renewable resources across the U.S.