Busting Solar Myths: Common Misconceptions About Going Solar as a Nonprofit

There is a lot of competing information out there about “going solar”. Over the years, we’ve heard it all, and you probably have, too. When it comes to considering ways for your organization to save on energy costs, the sheer quantity of information out there may have caused you to put solar on the back burner, or maybe even write it off completely. Fortunately, we’re here to help clear up some of the most persistent myths about solar energy to help you understand your options.

Solar Myths

1. Solar is expensive
2. Solar panels can cause roof damage
3. Our roof is too old for solar
4. Our roof is too small for solar

Myth 1: Solar is expensive. How will it help my organization save money?

PowerOptions has partnered with Sunwealth, a trusted and experienced solar development partner, to extend the benefits of solar to its members. Your organization is in a unique position as a nonprofit and PowerOptions member to take advantage of the PowerOptions-Sunwealth partnership and to receive a few key benefits:

• $0 in upfront costs. This means you are putting no money down to install solar panels on your organization’s roof (or property). Sunwealth will develop and construct the solar panel system that is installed on your property at no cost to your organization.
• $0 in maintenance costs.  The contract you’ll enter into with Sunwealth through the PowerOptions partnership is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). In short, a PPA means that Sunwealth is the owner and operator of the solar system, and they sell the power produced by the system to the PowerOptions member that is hosting the system on their property at a predetermined, discounted rate. As the system’s owner, Sunwealth is responsible for all maintenance costs throughout the agreement’s term limit.
• Discounted electricity rates. Through a PPA with Sunwealth, PowerOptions members are agreeing to purchase the electricity produced by the solar project for a fixed period, typically 20 years. They also agree to purchase that electricity at a discounted rate – usually, at minimum, a 10% discount on current rates. This means that you are locking in electricity savings for 20+ years!

In short, as a PowerOptions member, you can go solar at no cost today with $0 down and still see significant energy savings over the lifespan of your Power Purchase Agreement with Sunwealth. Alternatively, the PowerOptions’ RPF gives you the option to purchase the solar system outright. Members with grant funding or additional financing often explore this option.

Myth 2: Solar panels can cause roof damage. Why would my organization want to risk that?

We understand that, as a nonprofit or public entity, you need to prioritize limiting interruptions to your organization’s community. Concerns about roof damage are incredibly valid, and we’re here to help set those concerns aside. Going solar won’t negatively impact your roof or roof drainage as long as you work with a trusted, reputable contractor. In some cases, solar can actually prolong a roof’s lifespan by shielding it from the sunlight that would otherwise cause it to degrade faster. Additionally, all contracts require that the solar project is installed in a way that maintains the roof’s warranty.

Sunwealth has identified a select few trusted Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) partners to collaborate with us to provide competitive solar offerings to PowerOptions members. Sunwealth’s EPC partners have been thoroughly vetted, having passed both pricing and credibility screening processes. All EPC partners are subject to all of the rules of the PowerOptions Solar Program. We’ve worked with our partners for several years on dozens of projects that vary in size, location, and type of solar. Our EPC partners are careful to avoid roof punctures and damage and go out of their way to maintain your roof’s warranty. In fact, some solar systems do not even require roof punctures to complete an installation! We trust our EPC partners and stand by their work.

Solar projects typically involve relatively little maintenance, but Sunwealth’s Operations and Maintenance (O&M) partners perform annual maintenance checks to clean, inspect, and ensure the system is  functioning properly. Our Asset Management team monitors the systems we own in real time. Should any issues arise, Sunwealth will immediately send out our team to resolve the problem at no cost to your organization.

Overall, roof damage should not be a concern when considering whether your organization should go solar.

Myth 3: Our roof is too old for solar. How old is too old?

Solar systems have a lifespan of over 20 years, so it is essential to consider a roof’s age – you wouldn’t want to install a new solar system on a roof that needs to be replaced in the next year or two! Roof age isn’t the only thing we consider when determining whether your roof is solar-ready. These other factors include roofing material (shingles, tile, etc.), roof condition, and whether it can support the solar system size that your organization needs.

Typically, Sunwealth considers roofs that are up to 10 years old, with exceptions based on the other factors listed above. Depending on the economics of your organization’s project, Sunwealth may be able to help finance a roof for your building as part of the solar installation package if that is a factor blocking the project’s progress.

Myth 4: Our roof is too small for solar. How can we meet the electricity needs of our organization?

You’d be surprised at the efficiency of some solar panels; there just might be enough space on your roof after all! If not, there are many other ways to design a solar project to meet your organization’s energy needs. Sunwealth is experienced in developing projects that include raised racking on flat roofs, ground-mounted solar on unused or multi-use land, and solar canopies covering parking lots or other areas.

There is no minimum roof space threshold your organization needs to meet to have solar project potential with Sunwealth. We consider everything from actual electricity needs, type of solar installation area available on site (Roof space? Yard space?), shade from trees or other buildings nearby, local permitting policies, and other site-specific factors. There are a lot of local, state, and federal incentives available that help make projects that seem unlikely to work very possible, and the partnership between PowerOptions and Sunwealth helps make them happen.

So, you want to go solar… What’s next?

We’re excited to help power the work your organization does with clean energy! Sunwealth and PowerOptions’ unique partnership can help save on energy costs to focus your resources on what really matters: serving the communities you support every day. Taking advantage of the partnership between PowerOptions and Sunwealth provides additional benefits, including:

• Transparent pricing
• Streamlined contracting with pre-negotiated contract templates
• Vetted, trusted, and experienced partners
• Hands-off construction management and system operations
• $0 down
• Discounted electricity at a fixed rate through a Sunwealth PPA agreement

There’s never been a better time to electrify with federal legislation incentivizing high-impact projects that allow us to deliver even greater savings. However, the federal solar tax credits are limited, so the time to go solar is now.

Ready to reap the benefits of solar for your organization? Reach out to poweroptions@sunwealth.com today!