As significant as those impacts are, your nonprofit can multiply them by serving as a solar inspiration to members of your community and beyond.

Solar contagion

It’s long been known that if you install solar panels on your home, your neighbors are more likely to follow suit. Back in 2016, the largest residential solar installer reported that one-third of its customers were referred by a friend or neighbor. Numerous studies have corroborated the solar contagion effect, showing that solar installations tend to spread in clusters when people see their neighbors going solar.

Nonprofits have the same impact, and now that’s been verified by another study. In 2024, Berkeley Lab found that solar contagion also applies to installations for commercial-scale facilities; when solar is installed at these locations, residential solar adoption increases in the community. The effect is particularly strong with community-oriented organizations such as schools, nonprofits, and houses of worship.

At CollectiveSun, we’ve seen this effect firsthand. Houses of worship we’ve helped go solar across the nation have inspired …

VP of Sales Matt Brennan Appointed to City of San Diego Franchise Compliance Review Committee

CollectiveSun is proud to announce that Matt Brennan, our Vice President of Sales, has been appointed to the City of San Diego’s Franchise Compliance Review Committee (FCRC).

The citizen-led FCRC was created as part of the franchise agreement between the City and the local utility company, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The franchise agreement grants SDG&E the right to provide power to the city of San Diego, which includes using the public right of way to install and maintain necessary infrastructure, such as pipes, poles, and wires. In 2021, the City signed a new 10-year franchise agreement with SDG&E, with the option to extend the agreement for an additional 10 years, and established the FCRC to ensure the utility company fulfills its obligations under the contract.

Webinar April 3, at 3pm ET/12pm PT: Installing Solar in 2025 – You can do it!

Installing a solar array significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions while also cutting your monthly costs and saving you money. Federal government incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act made solar even more attractive. Although executive orders from the Trump administration have introduced some uncertainty regarding these incentives, there’s still time to take advantage of the benefits.

Join CollectiveSun and Adamah, the largest Jewish environmental organization in North America and a dedicated environmental leader, to learn more about installing solar and the future of solar incentives.

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CollectiveSun is here to help you with your solar financing.

| Interest Rates Start at 4.99% |

| Rates Are Based On Community Impact, Not Just Credit Score |

| One Simple Payment | Term Length Up To 10 Years |

| Payment Holiday Durning Construction of System | No Prepayment Penality |

Our goal is for you to end up with a solar system that reduces your carbon footprint and is a $0 down investment with a positive cash flow from day one, so it has an immediate impact on your bottom line. That’s what we want most for the organizations that are the backbone of our communities — financial and environmental sustainability that allows you to concentrate on your mission and reach your sustainability goals.

At CollectiveSun, we understand that every nonprofit is unique, and that’s why we offer a diverse range of financing options. Whether you’re considering a loan like our CollectiveSun Solar Loan designed to support your purchase of a solar system while allowing you to benefit directly from the Direct Pay Tax Rebate; exploring third-party ownership options like our CollectiveSun Solar Power Agreement (SPA); or seeking a hybrid funding model like our CollectiveSun Prepaid Solar Power Agreement (Prepaid SPA), we have the perfect solution to match your solar financing needs.

For those looking to dive deeper into how Direct Pay can benefit you, we’re excited to offer a free comprehensive course series on HeatSpring. This series covers not only Direct Pay but also the additional ITC bonus adders, providing you with all the information you need for when your filing is due.

📚 Enroll in the free course here:

CollectiveSun HeatSpring Direct Pay & More Course Series

You’ll discover how these incentives can make solar energy even more accessible and cost-effective for your nonprofit organization. Together, let’s harness the power of the sun to fuel your mission and create a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

Let’s connect and start the conversation!

A report from American Clean Power Association says the U.S. saw a 33% increase of new renewable capacity installed in 2024 over the previous year, with nearly 50 gigawatts (GW) compared to 37 GW in 2023.

A growing number of House Republicans are urging the party to preserve the clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, saying that developing clean energy is critical for the U.S. to meet the administration’s goal of becoming “energy dominant.”

A key provision for solar in the Inflation Reduction Act is the domestic content bonus adder. Clean Energy Associates is helping navigate the challenges of domestic content compliance to ensure that solar projects qualify.