California Is Falling Behind on Solar Farms Built for Renters

A new solar array in California’s farming country started providing power specifically to renters and low-income residents this fall. It’s being touted as the first such project in the state’s Central Valley, but industry advocates say rules passed earlier this year will make it difficult to build a lot more of them.

The array located in Visalia is a community solar project, designed to provide clean electrons to those who can’t install rooftop panels. This one, developed by Dimension Energy, along with two others near it will provide enough electricity for more than 3,700 nearby residents at a 20% discount of ...