Managing distributed generation sites involves coordinating with the utility, contracting subscribers in a complaint manner, and ensuring accurate and timely financial flows. Enterprise-level systems are required to manage the full subscriber lifecycle.
The Future of Community Solar
Q&A with Nate Owen, CEO | Ampion Renewable Energy
Tell us about yourself and your role with Ampion Renewable Energy.
I have over 25 years of experience in the utility industry, in both retail energy and distributed generation. I founded two energy billing and service companies: Ampion and ESG (Energy Service Group). In the early stages of utility deregulation, I worked with utilities and energy generators across the country to establish market rules, business processes, and data exchange standards for deregulating states across the U.S.
I started Ampion in 2014 with the goal of creating an online platform that would connect the demand and supply sides of the renewables industry, basically a billing and revenue management system for distributed generation. As the founder and longtime CEO of ESG, I saw firsthand how challenging and strategically important these revenue-related functions were. Now, at Ampion, my responsibilities include setting company strategy and direction, ensuring we meet the needs of our clients and regulators, and communicating with the board of directors and investors.
Tell us about Ampion. What role does Ampion play in the community solar landscape?
Ampion provides a market for asset owners and subscribers to transact on an ongoing basis. Developers and asset owners work with Ampion for customer acquisition, subscriber management, regulatory and policy guidance, and credit, payment, and collections. Subscribers utilize our platform to access various forms of renewables contracts, primarily community solar, and to receive long term support as those contracts are fulfilled. We contract all types of subscribers in all utility rates classes, from LMI to the largest enterprise anchors, matching their demand profile to the growing list of projects.
Our billing platform is purpose-built for community solar and distributed generation, and our customer care team is equipped with industry-specific experience. Ampion’s seasoned regulatory team provides developers and subscribers with a strong understanding of market requirements, which vary by state and utility. This team provides key input which defines our tech platform and processes. The results are long term, compliant, and beneficial contract terms for both asset owners and subscribers.
Who can benefit from community solar?
Community solar makes the environmental and financial benefits of solar energy available to renters, homeowners, businesses, municipalities, and just about anyone who pays an electric bill. Community solar is enabled by state and federal legislation, and provides meaningful savings for subscribers. These state programs are unique in that anyone can support clean energy without having to make the hefty investment of installing panels.
What kind of expertise is needed to succeed in the community solar industry?
Managing distributed generation sites involves coordinating with the utility, contracting subscribers in a complaint manner, and ensuring accurate and timely financial flows. Enterprise-level systems are required to manage the full subscriber lifecycle, from acquiring the right mix of subscribers to implementing billing and customer care. It also requires keeping tabs on regulatory anomalies in different markets, executing a seamless billing experience for subscribers, ensuring subscriber satisfaction through proactive customer care, and more.
What are some of the challenges you have to navigate to ensure that low-to-moderate-income (LMI) communities can receive the benefits of community solar?
Servicing low-to-moderate income (LMI) subscribers is now a central focus in nearly all community solar programs, with the IRA and state initiatives driving a lot of developer and asset owner investment decisions. It has never been more important to understand the nitty gritty details of these programs, especially the eligibility requirements. Understanding how to determine eligibility and store eligibility evidence securely was an initial hurdle that community solar management companies had to learn so that LMI could participate in these programs.
We also had to store the personal information securely, and ensure fast, easy access in the event of IRS and state audits. Different markets have different eligibility requirements. For example, New York’s Inclusive Community Solar Adder (ICSA) qualifications are different from New Jersey’s Permanent Community Solar Program LMI qualifications. And the IRA eligibility requirements are different from any state program’s requirements, so we needed to educate ourselves on those market requirements.
You recently partnered with Wendy’s to help their restaurants enroll in community solar as part of the company’s sustainability plan. You also have a number of other big-name subscribers on your platform. Can you tell us what trends you’re seeing in corporate solar adoption?
Community solar is extremely popular amongst large corporations at the moment. We’re seeing a huge surge in demand for clean energy solutions that enable corporations to offset their carbon emissions and track their progress. Companies are actually transitioning into asset owners themselves. For example, Walmart has begun investing in community solar portfolios. Within the next five years, we predict that there will be an intense growth of community solar in the real estate world. One reason why corporations are compelled to invest in community solar sites is because the sites are located next to their facilities. They provide benefits to their staff, their employees, and their business partners.
Community solar projects are also very simple to finance and build, making them a very “bankable” type of investment compared to other renewable energy contract types.
What does the future of community solar look like? We know that the market landscape in California, for example, is undergoing a shift. So what are the other states or markets to watch for as community solar expands?
Regardless of the recent CPUC decision in California, we remain optimistic about the overall community solar landscape. There are so many incentives that exist for solar developers to build community solar sites. An increasing number of states are implementing and advancing laws that encourage the creation or expansion of community solar programs.
States such as Ohio, Alaska, Colorado, and Virginia are among those recently initiating programs or broadening existing ones. Community solar initiatives yield vital savings for a wider range of Americans, including businesses, renters, municipalities, and more.
Nate Owen, CEO of Ampion, has over 25 years of experience in retail energy and CDG. He has founded two successful energy billing and service companies: Ampion and ESG (Energy Service Group). In 2013, Nate saw an opportunity to manage the operational details in the growing Community Solar space and eventually started Ampion in 2014. Since then, the company has grown into a well-respected public benefit corporation that aims to make Community Solar accessible to all. Under Nate’s leadership, Ampion develops software solutions that allow renewable energy companies to market services, bill customers, and operate across the country in compliance with local shared renewable energy program requirements.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag
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