“Energy Justice Mechanism”

A community solar project in a Michigan village proves that even small, clean energy systems can bring big benefits to residents.

As Inside Climate News reports, the small village of L’Anse on Lake Superior benefits from a solar installation located near the community that went online in 2019. The system consists of 340 panels and has a maximum output of 110 kilowatts per ICN.

About 50 households or organizations have signed up for the community solar program, ICN said, and some are saving about $300 a year on their energy bills as a result. Thanks to a $140,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, 25 low- and moderate-income customers received subsidies to help them pay for their subscriptions, ICN said.

According to ICN, the local power company said it had noticed a significant drop in the number of households defaulting on their bills as a result of the energy subsidy program.

Karl Hoesch, lead author of a report on the project and a graduate student at the University of Michigan, attributes the program’s success to the tight-knit community of L’Anse, which came together to light their village with clean electricity powered by the sun.

When planning for the project began in 2017, the Inflation Control Act was not yet in effect and Michigan did not offer a state solar program that could help with financing. That meant the village was left to provide the money, but fortunately, grants from the Michigan Department of Environmental Protection and zero-interest loans helped make the project happen, ICN explained.

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The charming village of just 1,900 inhabitants has shown the world what can be achieved with a bit of ingenuity and determination to provide a town with affordable, pollution-free energy.

Fortunately, the adoption of IRAs has made it much easier for states and cities to launch clean energy projects. In its first year, the IRAs led to 280 renewable energy projects in 44 states, representing $282 billion in investment, according to Goldman Sachs.

The Treasury Department reported that an estimated 270,000 jobs have been created since the IRA was authorized, and that number is expected to reach more than 1.5 million by 2034.

As more solar energy comes online around the world, communities everywhere can enjoy breathing cleaner air, lower energy bills, and being part of the energy solutions that help cool the planet.

“Ideally, community-sourced solar power can be a mechanism for promoting energy justice,” Hoesch wrote in an article published by ICN.

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