The City and County of Denver and Adams County, along with the Cities of Edgewater, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Northglenn and Thornton, in partnership with nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, announced today the launch of Solar Switch – a solar group buying program.
The program offers homeowners and small businesses a convenient way to learn about and install rooftop solar panels and battery storage. Solar Switch leverages the power of group buying, and the expertise of nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, to ensure participants get a quality system at a discounted price. Solar Switch vets qualified installers to compete for the group and runs a reverse auction to secure a competitively priced solar package.
“We’re excited to scale the Solar Switch program to help make solar accessible to even more people in the Denver area,” said Grace Rink, Denver’s Chief Climate Officer. “This program will help homeowners while further growing our local renewable energy economy and making progress on Denver’s ambitious climate goals.”
With the dropping cost of solar panels, new federal clean energy incentives, and the Solar Switch group discount, going solar is more accessible than ever. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), participants may be able to use the solar tax credit for residential solar and save 30% on their total system cost. A similar tax credit is also available to small businesses, who are invited to take part in the program. In addition, there are a number of $8,000 rebates available to income-qualified residents in the City and County of Denver, although space is limited.
Solar Switch is another step forward towards the municipalities’ renewable energy goals. More rooftop solar will also help grid resiliency, grow the local economy, promote energy independence and improve air quality.
Residents are encouraged to sign up by July 26 when the installer auction will take place. The more registrations there are submitted by that date, the better the winning rate will be.
After the auction, personal recommendations will be prepared and then sent to all registrants via email by August 29.
Solar Switch’s auction is expected to save residents an average of $5,000 on a standard-sized system.
“This partnership will bolster our efforts to bring even more local solar energy directly to Denver area residents.” said Tanner Simeon-Cox, Colorado Program Director for Solar United Neighbors. “Leveraging the power of group buying through Solar Switch can help participants get a discounted price on a rooftop solar installation, while receiving additional support through each phase of the process.”
Registration is free and there is no obligation for homeowners to purchase solar panels. Residents will have the option to move forward with a solar installation based on program-negotiated pricing that includes the group discount. Visit SolarSwitch.com/Colorado to register and learn more.
Solar Switch Denver will be hosting an in-person event for participants and anyone interested in solar to learn more about the program in August. Event details will be posted on the Solar Switch Denver website.
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