Buy or Lease? Solar Ownership Models

Solar is growing faster than ever. There are many different ways to access solar energy: we’re here to help you understand your solar ownership options.

Customer-owned

Cash: Purchase solar with your own funds upfront. If eligible, you can take advantage of tax incentives. This option will give you the largest return on your investment.

Loan: Borrow money from a bank, credit union or home equity loan to purchase solar. Some financing institutions offer low-interest, solar-specific loans. Review financing options

Mortgage: When building a home, finance solar through your mortgage. When buying a home, consider a rehab loan or energy-efficient mortgage, which allows you to borrow additional money for energy improvements.

C-PACE: C-PACE financing allows businesses to get loans for building energy improvements that are repaid through property taxes. For commercial entities only.

Third-Party Ownership

PPA: When using a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), a company installs solar on your roof and maintains the panels. In turn, you purchase all power produced by the system at an agreed-upon price. Some companies offer zero money down options.             

LEASE: A company installs solar on your roof and maintains the panels. You pay a fixed monthly fee to lease the panels. Some companies offer zero money down options. Consumer resources are available to help you review the terms of your lease.         

Utility Owned

Subscriber Solar: Subscribe to buy electricity from a solar farm that is operated by your utility (if available). By locking in a rate for your electricity usage, you are insulated from rising energy prices. Available to Logan, St. George, and Rocky Mountain Power customers.

NOTICE: WE ARE NOT A SOLAR COMPANY

We would like to clarify that Utah Clean Energy is not a solar company. We are a nonprofit organization that advocates for solar and other clean energy technologies, but we do not install or sell solar in any way.

Utah Clean Energy Association is not affiliated with our work. This is a sales group that despite our best efforts to get them to stop, continues to use our name in their advertising. We encourage you to report them to Google Ads as misleading. The company that reached out to you is likely a solar company that purchased your contact information as a lead. You may consider reporting that company to the Better Business Bureau for using misleading sales tactics also.

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and appreciate your understanding.

Thank you,
The Utah Clean Energy team