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Solar Spotlight: San Jerardo CooperativeFounded in 1977, San Jerardo Cooperative is a 64-home housing cooperative in Salinas, California, dedicated to providing safe, affordable homeownership and self-managed community infrastructure for farmworkers and low-income families. San Jerardo recently installed a new 271 kW solar photovoltaic system in partnership with CollectiveSun to help control rising overhead costs and protect resident families from unpredictable utility rate hikes. Rosa Carrillo Orozco, General Manager at San Jerardo Cooperative, spoke with CollectiveSun about the community’s rich history, their sustainability efforts, and how solar energy will help fund vital neighborhood improvements. This loan was made possible by the generous participation of the BQuest Foundation. All images are courtesy of Mynt Systems.
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Please tell us about your mission, including the programs and services you provideSan Jerardo Cooperative is a 64-home housing cooperative located southeast of Salinas, California that was founded in 1977 by farmworker families seeking permanent housing. Rather than offering traditional public services, we provide ultra-affordable, self-managed housing and maintain our own essential infrastructure—including our own wastewater treatment facility—for our resident-owners.
Who benefits from your programs and services?We serve approximately 265 low-income residents, including active agricultural workers, multi-generational families, and our founding members.
Tell us about your solar projectThe cooperative worked with Mynt Systems to install a 271 kW solar photovoltaic system designed to cover roughly 90% of our energy demand across common areas and submetered household units. The system began operation in April 2026.
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If you’re thinking about getting solar for your nonprofit, you’re not alone! Many nonprofit organizations across the nation are going solar, and for good reason. Solar not only lowers your carbon footprint, supporting the environment — it can also lower your nonprofit’s electricity bills, allowing you to focus precious financial resources on your mission.
But the process of going solar may seem daunting.
That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive 62-page solar guide to give you the information you need, every step of the way.
At CollectiveSun, we’ve helped hundreds of nonprofits across the country go solar. We can help you before, during, and after your solar is installed — helping you determine whether solar makes sense for your organization, explaining the available financing options and incentives, and even managing the project for you, if you pick a financing option that includes that service.
Now, the support we provide nonprofits includes our new 62-page guide, with information to support you wherever you are in your solar journey. The guide includes:
Solar basics Financing solar for your nonprofit Preparing your nonprofit for solar What to do after you go solar And more things you need to know As a subscriber to our newsletter, you can download the 62-page guide for free below. Let us know if you have any questions or comments — we’re always here to help.
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| Download the Guide Here! |
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Disclaimer: The information in our educational materials does not constitute legal or tax advice and should not be relied upon for any purpose. Please consult your legal counsel and tax advisor. |
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Click here! |
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Know a Nonprofit?
If your favorite nonprofit organization is exploring going solar and their mission is to provide programs & services that support communities of concern benefitting:
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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. |
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If you’d like to learn more, schedule
a 20-minute call with Matt here. |
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Navigating the world of solar financing can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Our team of seasoned experts has been focused on delivering solar financing solutions for nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations across the country for over a decade. In just the last few years, we’ve proudly facilitated solar projects for over 200 nonprofits spanning 25 states. |
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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 courses 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!
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Solar and Battery Storage Lead Global Growth Solar and energy storage continue to dominate new generation capacity, demonstrating unprecedented resilience. A global forecast projects PV additions to reach 638 GW in 2026, while solar and storage dominate U.S. power construction despite shifting market headwinds. As the battery boom brings round-the-clock solar closer, clean energy is stepping up when traditional power sources falter. For instance, solar delivered in Europe amid extreme heat and drought, keeping the power flowing when thermal generation struggled. Meanwhile, scientific research explains how solar became the cheapest form of energy in the world, laying the foundation for this rapid growth.
Rising Energy Demand and Grid Solutions Skyrocketing electricity consumption—driven heavily by data centers—is reshaping utility markets and putting pressure on ratepayers. In Alabama, proposed data centers threaten to raise utility bills for residents, while the PJM wholesale market struggles to handle the surge in data center load. To tackle these grid challenges, energy experts are exploring how behind-the-meter power may ease the grid crisis by reducing reliance on vulnerable transmission infrastructure. Despite current market stresses, an analysis of rooftop solar sales cites clear reasons for optimism, showing that distributed resources remain an essential strategy for long-term rate stability and local energy security.
Community Solar Adoption and Sustainable Infrastructure Community-scale solar installations are empowering schools and creating a long-term roadmap for sustainable waste management. Education facilities across the country are reaping the cost-saving benefits of clean power, with more than 10,800 K-12 schools now powered by solar across the U.S. At the same time, the industry is addressing life-cycle sustainability head-on: researchers have modeled 1,708 pathways for global PV waste recycling, establishing clear strategies to handle panel end-of-life and ensure clean energy infrastructure remains truly sustainable from start to finish. |
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CollectiveSun helps make solar for nonprofits a reality! Our innovative approach helps these organizations secure affordable financing and streamline project implementation. |
CollectiveSun, LLC 888 980 2786 (CSUN) |
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