September 16th, 2013 - Solar energy, the fastest growing U.S. energy source, now employs more people in the U.S. than the steel industry and is starting a transformation of our country’s energy landscape in such a profound way that some are calling it a solar revolution.  The growth of solar is driven largely by falling prices for solar panels and new and innovative financing options.

The federal government’s support of solar, while small compared to the energy sectors with lots of lobbying money – such as oil and natural gas – has also been a key component propelling more and more businesses and households to invest in solar energy. However, the landscape for the nonprofit organizations that serve our communities is very different when going solar.

Roadblocks
Two of the major factors that allow for-profit business and individuals to go solar are not there for nonprofits. Most nonprofits can neither find a lender that is willing to finance a solar project for them nor are they able to use the 30% tax-credit offered by the United States federal government as a de facto rebate for going solar. Most banks are not yet comfortable in valuing solar as an asset with collateral the way they would a car or a home when deciding whether or not to lend money. Because of this and also because nonprofits’ income comes mostly from unpredictable grants and donations, banks rarely if ever lend to charities to help them finance a solar project. This, compounded with the fact that tax credits are only a useful tool to help organizations buy solar panels if they have a profit and owe tax, means that most nonprofit organizations who want to go solar, are not able to do so.