Author: Ingrid Behrsin Published: 6/2/2025 ILSR
Post last updated May 2025
D.C. scored 8 out of 13 on the 2025 Community Power Scorecard. It passed its first community solar legislation in 2013.
Successful and meaningful community solar policies prioritize four central principles: tangible benefits for participants, flexible ownership structure, synergy with other renewable energy policies, and access for all residents.
At a minimum, state community solar policies must allow non-utility ownership of solar projects. Utility-owned programs are not community solar, but just another way for utilities to squeeze ratepayers for more profits.
Read on for a breakdown of how D.C.’s community solar policies have aligned with the four principles of effective community solar.
General Information
The most accessible and inclusive community solar programs make community solar membership available to all utility customers, and are administered by an entity other than the utility. They do not have program caps, and do not adopt a first-come, first-served approach to capacity allocation.
- Washington, D.C., signed its first community solar (“Community Renewable Energy Facility” or CREF) policy into law in 2013. It augmented the original policy with a Solar For All community solar program, eligible for low- and moderate-income households, established in 2016. All subscribers must reside in Pepco’s service territory. Pepco also administers the original program, whereas the Solar for All program is administered by the Department of Energy and the Environment, with support from the D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility. Neither program has a cap, and projects are administered on a first come, first served basis.
Compensation
Watch the top state community solar programs’ capacity and project count progress in ILSR’s Community Solar Tracker.
Project and Subscriber Requirements
Consumer Protection
Explore ILSR’s interactive Community Power Map of 18 state policies, including community solar, that help or hinder local clean energy action.
Equity and Impact
Compare D.C.’s Community Solar program against other states’ in our Community Solar Policy Comparison Table.
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