Justice
How to Fix Solar Power's Inequality Problem
The burgeoning field of shared renewables could help disadvantaged communities, if certain obstacles are overcome.
Clean energy has an inequality problem.
It’s not unique to this sector—cutting-edge technologies tend to be expensive and time-consuming to adopt, keeping them out of reach for disadvantaged communities initially. That’s especially true for rooftop solar panels, which require users to own a roof that receives adequate sunlight. For low-income families, especially those who rent or live in multi-family buildings, the chance to cut their electricity bill by producing their own energy just isn’t feasible.