A couple of dozen solar panels sit atop a picnic shelter at a neighborhood park in Seattle.
Credit: Seattle CIty Light

Solar panels aren’t just for Arizonans living in sprawling ranch houses anymore.

Homeowners who lack adequate roof space or who enjoy the shade of big trees — even condo owners and renters such as Joe and Vanessa Goldberg of notoriously rainy Seattle — are now teaming up with their neighbors to buy electricity from shared solar power projects. 

“Because we rent, we don’t really have the option of putting solar on our house,” said environmentally conscious Joe, 35, who once made a local move using only bike trailers.

Like a growing number of Americans, the Goldbergs decided to invest in a community solar project. Solar-paneled picnic shelters in their neighborhood’s Jefferson Park feed the local electricity grid. The couple purchased two of the solar units, and now receive credits on […]