With the adoption of renewable energy steadily growing in Connecticut, municipalities and environmentalists have raised concerns over the clear-cutting of forests to accommodate solar farms. While the state already has over 1,000 MW of solar capacity installed, but it must add significantly more to reach its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2040.

One solution? over developed land, such as parking lots or brownfields. These installations can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, conserve energy, and make better use of underutilized spaces.

A solar canopy at Brass City Mall in Waterbury provides electricity for EVs.

Legislative Support for Solar Canopies

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Public Act 25-125, part of which called for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to develop a solar canopy strategic plan. 

The plan is slated to:

  • Promote solar canopy adoption
  • Identify opportunities for installations
  • Prioritize environmental justice communities

Benefits for Public and Private Properties

Solar canopies are versatile and beneficial for both private and public properties.

  • Large retail uses, like shopping centers or supermarkets, often have ideal parking lots for canopies due to their size.
  • Public facilities, like schools and community centers make excellent use of canopy installations.

Canopies not only capture solar energy but protect parked cars from accumulating snow in the winter or heating up in the summer. When combined with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, they can also provide 100% renewable vehicle fuel, whereas charging stations drawing from the electrical grid would be fed by roughly 65% fossil fuel sources.

Solar canopies offer a middle ground between roof-mounted (which generally have limited capacity due to roof sizes) and ground-mounted (which often require clear-cutting or destroying habitat) solar installations. Canopies also generate power near which reduces the need for costly transmission infrastructure and electricity losses. Investing in solar canopies can preserve valuable habitat without sacrificing clean energy.

PACE’s map of solar canopy potential across the state.

Potential in Connecticut

Interested in what solar canopies might look like in your community? The Connecticut-based nonprofit People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) undertook an initiative to estimate the solar canopy capacity that could be installed in parking lots across the state. Significant potential exists along the Route 8 and I-84 corridors that run through the Naugatuck Valley region. Dataset: Solar Canopies – 100PercentCT – PACE. 

PA 25-125 suggests the possibility of a solar canopy “program” to advance the outcomes of the strategic plan. Communities should consider which sites could make strong candidates for future grant applications.

Further Reading

The solar canopy strategic plan is just one outcome from the 2025 legislative session. For a full list of all Public Acts related to environmental issues, see this document: 2025AA-0110_2025 Acts Affecting Environment.pdf

Contact Us

The “Sustainability Spotlight” provides readers with ideas on how to incorporate sustainability into your land use regulations. Questions? Contact Christine O’Neill.