Community Outreach

Learn how shared solar benefits you and the community

Waikōloa Community Solar is committed to the local community and building relationships to help Big Island residents and businesses benefit from shared solar.

There is already initial support from community leaders and residents for our two community-based solar farms: WCS 1 and WCS 2. As our project progresses, we will reach out to the community to inform and receive feedback on the construction, operation, and implementation of the shared solar subscriptions.

Upcoming Community Meetings

We will post here on our website when and where the next one will be.
If you want to hear from us, Join the Interest List →

Outreach Plan

We are using a grassroots approach to hear from the community, in-person and/or virtually:

Public Meetings
Meetings with local government officials
Group meetings with groups such as housing advocates, community groups, etc.
Individual meetings with key stakeholders
Participation in community events

What is Shared Solar?

Shared solar, or community solar, allows members of the community to split the benefits of a single solar installation without owning it.

Waikoloa Community Solar installs the solar farms near Waikoloa Village
- This connects to the local utility grid to help power the Big Island with clean, renewable energy
You subscribe to receive a portion of your electricity from shared solar farms and receive credits from HECO
- HECO calculates the credits using:
  (HECO’s electricity credit rate Electricity Generated by the solar farm) your subscription size
We charge you for the credits at a guaranteed discount.

Watch HECO’s video to learn more about shared solar.

All customers have to do is sign-up and pay for their portion of the shared solar energy credits.

Hawaiian Electric is required to provide community-based renewable energy to its customers to support the State’s 100% renewable energy goals

All customers have to do is sign-up, pay a small subscription fee for their portion of the shared solar.

LMI allotment

When we say shared solar for everyone, we mean it.
Though not required, we want to make the benefits of solar accessible.
We’re allotting a minimum percentage of our shared solar farms for Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) household subscriptions:

WCS 1: at least 50%
WCS 2: at least 30%

We will be working with community workers to help reach LMI household

Community Benefits

Access clean renewable solar energy
Benefit from and support clean energy without the solar panels on your property. WCS 1 and 2 solar farms will help increase renewable energy use and availability on the island, which decreased since the 2018 lava event.
Save on your Electric Bill
Shared solar participants receive energy bill credits that reduce electric costs even when rates go up. You’ll receive energy credits as long as you’re in the program.
Investment in the Community
- People: We’re not just prioritizing LMI households interested in subscribing to the program, we want to help small businesses and nonprofits save on their bills too.
- Jobs: We aim to hire locals where we can throughout the life of the solar farms. This will help spur economic development via capital infusion, affecting businesses on the island.
Stronger Community Relations
Grassroots marketing and word-of-mouth are our main drivers in recruiting households – especially LMI customers – and small businesses. We will help strengthen connections by helping each other learn about the program to save money (via utility credits).
Flexibility
We understand things change. Waikōloa Community Solar’s subscriptions have no contract term requirements, and no sign-up, transfer, or cancellation fees.

Outreach Schedule

Our current planned community outreach is below. We welcome grassroots, community involvement.

Contact Us if you or your organization are interested in supporting our shared solar program.