What if you could support local solar energy, save money on your electricity bill, and be part of a community-owned clean energy project, all without putting solar panels on your roof?
That’s Community Solar.
CEF’s Community Solar program makes it possible for people to participate in local solar energy even if they rent their home, don’t have a suitable roof, or simply don’t want to install their own solar panels.
How Community Solar Works
Instead of putting panels on your home, you subscribe to a portion of a local solar garden. The solar garden produces clean electricity and sends that energy to the grid.
As a CEF member and Community Solar subscriber, you receive credits on your Xcel Energy electricity bill based on the energy your portion of the solar garden produces.
It’s a simple way to support renewable energy while potentially lowering your monthly energy costs.
Solar That Works for More People
Traditional rooftop solar can come with significant upfront costs and isn't an option for everyone. You might rent your home, have a roof that isn't suitable for solar, or simply not have thousands of dollars available for an installation.
Community Solar changes that.
CEF's Community Solar model is designed to make clean energy accessible to more people, including renters and households that may have traditionally been left out of the clean energy transition.
You don't need to own a home. You don't need a sunny roof. And you don't need to install panels yourself.
More Than a Monthly Bill Credit
When you join CEF, you're not just signing up for a solar program. You're becoming part of a member-owned cooperative.
CEF members have a voice in the cooperative through our one-member, one-vote structure. Our Community Solar projects are designed to create benefits that stay within the communities where we work.
That means your participation can help support local renewable energy, community ownership, and a more equitable energy system.
What You Can Expect
CEF Community Solar subscribers can typically expect savings of 10–20% on their electricity costs, depending on the project and individual circumstances.
Membership starts with a $25 one-time membership stock purchase, and we can work with you if the upfront cost is a barrier.
Once you're enrolled, your solar credits appear on your Xcel Energy bill. And if you move, your subscription can generally be transferred or canceled, giving you flexibility as your housing situation changes.
Clean Energy That We Can Own Together
We believe clean energy shouldn't only be something people buy. It should be something communities can own, benefit from, and have a say in.
Community Solar gives more people a way to participate in the clean energy transition while helping build a future where energy is more affordable, accessible, and community-controlled.
Ready to become part of Community Solar?
Please join the waitlist for one of our community solar gardens and find out how you can become a CEF member and start saving.
