From Policy to Procurement: Community Solar for Large Buyers

Community solar is entering a new phase – shifting from a policy-driven clean energy mechanism to a cost-control and procurement strategy for large energy buyers. 

In 2025, momentum was driven less by federal policy and more by state-level action responding to rising electricity costs, affordability concerns, and demand for greater consumer choice. As a result, community solar is expanding beyond traditional markets and emerging as a repeatable, portfolio-level solution for commercial and industrial organizations. 

For buyers operating across multiple states, this evolution matters. It is not only expanding where community solar can scale, but also how it can be integrated into long-term energy strategies to reduce risk, improve cost visibility, and diversify procurement portfolios. 

However, not all markets translate into viable opportunities. Program design – not policy alone – determines whether community solar can deliver meaningful savings and scale. Billing structures, crediting mechanisms, siting rules, and developer economics ultimately shape project availability and buyer value. 

This new report from Trio provides a detailed assessment of the most consequential community solar policy developments in 2025 – and where real, scalable opportunity is emerging in 2026.  

Key report highlights 

• State expansion is improving – but not standardizing – buyer access 
  Permanent programs and capacity increases are expanding availability, but market quality varies significantly by design.
   
• New markets are emerging in unexpected regions 
  Bipartisan momentum in non-traditional states is expanding procurement options for multi-state portfolios.
   
• Program design determines outcomes 
  Billing structures, credit rates, siting constraints, and incentives directly impact savings, scalability, and developer participation. 
   
• Not all programs translate into viable markets 
  Strong policy signals do not always result in durable project pipelines or attractive subscription economics. 
   
• Buyers are increasingly shaping market evolution 
  C&I participation is influencing program design, pricing dynamics, and long-term scalability across key states. 

Download the report to understand where community solar is truly scaling today, where risks remain, and how to position your portfolio for emerging opportunities in 2026.