Accessibility in sustainability transitions: U.S. electric utilities’ deployment of solar

Several policies promote the adoption of renewable electricity among incumbent utilities. Yet, scale consumer appears limited by accessibility. The underlying factors inhibiting accessibility are exacerbated with low- and middle-income (LMI) consumers who not only have substantial income disparities but also make up a significant proportion utility's customer base. While prior research demonstrates that can help in scaling participation hurdles solar, extent to which utility efforts unlock market potential for LMI is evident. We contribute distributional effects environmental policy evaluating utilities' provide access clean energy. Reviewing solar initiatives utilities, as reflected on their website enhanced secondary archival data, we find role particularly households, either through community projects (CSP) or rooftop installations, shaped complementary factors. Such include ownership models subscriptions panel ownership, disparity, regulatory regime, combination these Our findings further suggest utilities more likely support CSPs presence intervention such incentives retail choice markets when base significantly households. In fact, subscription stronger markets, whereas panels an increasing function income.