; (B) assist eligible entities in the development of new and innovative financial and business models that leverage competitive processes in order to serve community solar subscribers; and (C) use National Laboratories to collect and disseminate data to assist private entities in the financing of, subscription to, and operation of community solar programs. (b) Federal Government participation in community solar programs The Secretary shall, as the Secretary determines appropriate, expand the existing grant, loan, and financing programs of the Department of Energy to include community solar programs. (c) Establishment of community solar programs (1) In general Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2621(d) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (22) Community solar programs (A) In general Each electric utility shall offer a community solar program that provides all ratepayers, including low-income ratepayers, equitable and demonstrable access to such community solar program. (B) Definitions For the purposes of this paragraph: (i) Community solar program The term community solar program means a service provided to any electric consumer that the electric utility serves through which the value of electricity generated by a community solar facility may be used to reduce total charges billed to the electric consumer. (ii) Community solar facility The term community solar facility means a solar photovoltaic system that— (I) allocates electricity to multiple electric consumers of an electric utility; (II) is interconnected with the electric grid