Solar microgrids bring energy and opportunity to Yellow Springs

Farah Siddiqi

The small community of Yellow Springs, Ohio, is leading an innovative effort to harness renewable energy while directly supporting low-income residents.

The village has shifted its focus from broader community solar projects to implementing microgrid solar systems on low-income apartment buildings. This approach not only aims to reduce energy costs for tenants but also sets an example for other small communities on how to use federal funding to generate local benefits.

Lisa Abel, interim director of the Yellow Springs Development Corp., said the community is prioritizing those who often receive the least benefit from new technologies.

"We decided to put our funds toward the rooftop microgrids on lower-income apartment buildings as a way to provide solar and the benefits of solar to the lower-income folks almost as a first," she said.

The project is supported by a grant from the Department of Energy. It can cover up to 30% of installation and solar panel costs through provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. This makes it a feasible solution for smaller, lower-income housing units.

The community's initiative is also addressing the challenges faced by local farmers. Many are considering the option of leasing portions of their land for solar panels, which provides a steady income amid the uncertainties of farming. Abel noted that this is an increasingly attractive option for farmers, the next generation of whom may be considering leaving the profession.

"Renting some land for solar panels would give them some guaranteed income," she said. "Farming is becoming really a marginal kind of business, and so on a year-to-year basis, they don't know if they're gonna take a profit or take a loss on what they're actually producing."

As Yellow Springs continues to explore sustainable-energy solutions, the initiative underscores the importance of balancing renewable energy development with preserving agricultural land. The village's efforts highlight the need for continued federal support, which supporters say will ensure long-term environmental and economic benefits for small communities.