Community Solar Authority

What Community Solar Authority does

Community Solar Authority (CSA) is a New York City-based private LLC founded in 2019 that operates as an advisory and execution platform for the U.S. community solar market. It intermediates between three constituencies — community solar developers seeking anchor subscribers and offtake, landowners with viable project sites, and large energy users (commercial, institutional, and municipal) seeking electricity-cost savings through subscription — and supports clients through site identification, subscriber aggregation, and partnership brokering. The company cites 200MW enrolled in 2025, $75M+ in unlocked customer savings, and over $1.5M paid to partners through its referral network in the same year.

CSA's core product is deal-origination and advisory services rather than a software platform; revenue is implicitly generated through developer retainers, success fees on closed megawatts, and referral economics distributed through its partner program. The firm has extended into adjacent offerings including battery storage leasing within existing community solar engagements and is launching the Megawatt Authority media brand in 2026, signaling a move toward audience-monetized distribution layered on top of the advisory base. Its operating footprint is concentrated in Illinois and New York, two state markets with active community solar policy regimes.

The go-to-market combines enterprise sales (named customers include Casey's General Stores, SSM Health, Siena University, NTN-Bower, and multiple municipalities and school districts) with a content-led funnel built around the Sustainability Strategies podcast. The firm operates with a 9-person team, suggesting a high-leverage model in which partnership channels, content distribution, and project-by-project success economics substitute for a large internal sales force. There is no disclosed information on AI/ML tooling, external funding, or audited financials.

Name

Community Solar Authority

Legal name

Community Solar Authority LLC

Website

https://communitysolarauthority.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Advisory and Execution Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)

Keywords

• Community solar advisory
• Solar project sourcing
• Renewable energy consulting
• Commercial solar subscription
• Clean energy services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Community Solar Advisory Services: Expert advisory services for organizations seeking to access community solar benefits, including done-for-you project sourcing and implementation management.
2. Partner Referral and Revenue Share: Revenue sharing model with partners including developers, strategic partners, and consultants who refer clients to the community solar platform. $1.5M+ distributed to partners in 2025.
3. Property Leasing: Solar leasing arrangements with landowners who host community solar assets, generating lease payments in exchange for property access.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Solar Authority is a community solar advisory and execution firm that enables large energy users to access community solar subscription savings without installing solar equipment or committing capital. The firm provides expert advisory, done-for-you project sourcing, and full implementation management for clients, while also connecting community solar developers, landowners, and strategic partners through an ecosystem model with revenue-share compensation.

Product overview

Community Solar Authority operates as a community solar advisory and execution platform offering a multi-service ecosystem. The core offering provides large energy users access to community solar for cost savings without capital investment or physical installation. The platform comprises distinct service lines: Developer Partnership (pipeline management and offtake sourcing), Client Advisory Services (energy cost reduction for subscribers), Strategic Partner Program (channel/reseller model with revenue-share), and Landowner/Leasing Services (property hosting for solar assets). The company also operates a media division called Megawatt Authority (launching 2026) focused on energy brand storytelling, and produces the Sustainability Strategies podcast as an educational content asset.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Megawatt Authority: Elite media brand dedicated to helping the world's most innovative energy companies tell better stories. Planned launch 2026.

Products and services

• Community Solar Advisory Services Core advisory and execution service for large energy users providing access to community solar subscription savings with zero capital risk and no on-site solar installation. Includes expert advisory, done-for-you project sourcing, and full implementation management from audit through enrollment within 90 days.
• Developer Partnership Program
• Strategic Partner Program
• Landowner Solar and Battery Storage Leasing
• Megawatt Authority Media brand dedicated to energy sector storytelling, content production, and authority positioning for innovative energy companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• $135k+ annual utility credits for industrial multi-site facility (NTN-Bower)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Solar DeveloperscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partnerships provide long-term investment-grade offtake sourcing for community solar pipeline development. Partners benefit from market intelligence and risk mitigation services, enabling faster and more efficient development compared to traditional aggregators. The partnership model offers anchor subscription partner status.
• Strategic Partners (Consultants/Advisors)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partners help their existing clients access community solar benefits, adding value to client relationships while generating additional revenue. Partners receive done-for-you execution support and access to industry-leading partner compensation models with revenue-share structures.
• LandownerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandowners lease property to host community solar assets in exchange for regular lease payments. Services include solar leasing, battery storage leasing, and done-for-you project management from assessment through implementation.
• NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYSERDA partnership referenced in City of Fulton case study where CSA helped the municipality achieve Clean Energy Community certification through community solar implementation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Uplight: Uplight provides software and services that help utilities and energy retailers run clean energy programs, including community solar program management. It is a broader incumbent in the energy services stack that competes with CSA for the role of program facilitator between developers and end customers.

Emerging players

• Nexamp: Nexamp is a community solar developer and operator with a strong direct subscription management capability for end customers. It competes with CSA both as a developer sourcing subscribers and as a subscription manager that can disintermediate facilitation intermediaries like CSA.
• Pick My Solar: Pick My Solar is a residential and small commercial solar advisory marketplace. While more residential-focused, its done-for-you advisory model and authority positioning in solar decision-making overlap with CSA's trusted-advisor GTM in the community solar space.
• EnergySage: EnergySage operates a solar marketplace connecting consumers and businesses with solar installers and community solar providers. While primarily residential, its commercial marketplace and content authority overlap with CSA's marketplace and thought-leadership positioning in community solar.

Direct peers

• Neighborhood Sun: Neighborhood Sun is a community solar subscriber acquisition and management platform focused on connecting residents and small businesses to local community solar projects. It overlaps with CSA on the subscription facilitation layer, particularly in Mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets.
• Solstice: Solstice is a community solar subscription platform connecting subscribers to local solar farms, serving both households and commercial/institutional energy users. It directly competes with CSA in the community solar subscriber acquisition and management layer, particularly in Illinois and New York.
• Arcadia: Arcadia operates a clean energy platform that includes community solar subscriptions alongside utility data and REC management for businesses. It competes with CSA's enterprise buyer-facing subscription facilitation and shares a multi-sided model linking developers, utilities, and end customers.
• Sagewell Energy: Sagewell Energy operates as a community solar subscription and financing platform focused on commercial and institutional energy users. It competes head-on with CSA in zero-capex community solar access for large energy buyers and developer offtake sourcing.

Others

• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): CESA is a nonprofit coalition that supports state community solar programs through research, convenings, and policy work. It is comparable to CSA as an authority-building entity in the community solar ecosystem and as a stakeholder influencing the same state policy environment CSA depends on.

Regional players

• CenterState CEO: CenterState CEO is a regional business leadership organization in Central New York referenced in CSA's customer logos. While not a direct competitor, it is a comparable regional ecosystem organization connecting CSA to enterprise and municipal buyers in its served geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-solar-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Solar Authority