Solar For
Nonprofits

Nonprofits across Missouri and Illinois are switching to solar electricity. They recognize the power of solar to save money for what really matters to their organization… serving others. Solar for nonprofits allows community and civic organizations to achieve long-term financial stability in service of amplifying their reach.

Founded on caring for others, the StraightUp Solar team is driven by our values to prioritize people and planet in our daily work.

SOLAR ENERGY FOR
Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations have had difficulty going solar in past years, due to the combination of their constrained resources and the high price of arrays. However, the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, lower cost of installations, and wider availability of specialized financing options are allowing nonprofits to leverage the benefits of solar. Our team of commercial solar installers at StraightUp Solar have successfully installed solar systems for numerous nonprofit organizations, and we’ll do the same for you, too. Reach out to our trusted solar installation company in Missouri and Illinois today for a free quote.

Benefits of
Solar Panels for Nonprofits

Solar is a great way to save on your energy bills, support a healthy future, and provide community stewardship. Want to further connect solar benefits to your mission? Partner with StraightUp Solar through a PowerUp Fundraising program to develop a new socially-beneficial stream of donations through solar fundraising. Contact us more information on how a partnership would work.

Financial
Savings

Electricity is a significant monthly expense for any organization, but for nonprofits, the money spent on increasing energy rates could instead be used to make a difference and support your mission. Switching to solar can help reduce and lock in substantially lower energy costs.

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Reduced monthly utility costs from day one provide unique opportunities for nonprofits. The low fixed rate of solar makes it easier for organizations to accurately budget and predict future expenses. Additionally, the switch to solar means you’ll have lower operating expenses for decades.

Environmental
Protection

Whether or not your mission focuses on environmental preservation, your commitment to greener energy reduces the total amount of carbon emissions in our region.

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Your PV (photovoltaic) system will create energy from the sun, a clean and abundant source rather than traditional coal and natural gas, helping support the growth of a cleaner, healthier future.

Community
Stewardship

The decision to invest in sustainable energy can increase the fiscal confidence of prospective and existing donors.

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Plus, switching to solar allows your nonprofit to demonstrate leadership as a steward of your community’s well-being. Investing in a solar system also contributes to your community’s long-term strategic climate plan for energy reduction.

NONPROFIT SOLAR POWER
INCENTIVES

How much money will solar power add to Your bottom line?

The cost of solar energy has dropped over 80% during the last decade. State and federal incentives can put some of the purchase price right back in your pocket. This means regular working families now go solar every day. Moreover, StraightUp Solar offers financing options that make it even easier.

Nonprofit
Solar Financing

Thanks to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, solar energy has become more affordable for Nonprofit organizations with the Direct Pay of the Federal Investment Tax Credit. This new feature of the tax credit allows non-tax paying entities to receive the full value of the tax credit by making the 30% tax credit refundable. Non-profit organizations and governments can use that direct payment amount to reduce the cost of their system. Learn more about incentives for nonprofits.

Illinois organizations can partner with a third-party for-profit investor through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The investor owns the solar PV system installed on your site, takes advantage of the ITC and can share a portion of the net cost reduction with you. The investor also sells the electricity generated by your arrays at a fixed and reduced rate.

The third-party is responsible for operating and maintaining the system on-site. At StraightUp Solar, we offer operations and maintenance plans unique to your needs. The most common factors affecting the rate you pay when partnering with an investor include your monthly electricity consumption and site characteristics, such as available space and access to sunlight. However, the most significant benefit of PPAs is eliminating the need for any capital outlay upfront.

If you would rather be the owner and operator of your nonprofit’s system, you can take advantage of solar-specific loan options. Unlike PPAs, down payments are typically required, along with low interest rates. However, the investment in solar is one that will pay you back over the decades.

Some non-profits may qualify for the Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) program. Within ILSFA, the Non-Profit and Public Facilities sub-program (ILSFA-NP/PF) provides solar incentives on Illinois properties occupied by non-profits and public facilities which are located in Low-income and/or Environmental Justice communities. As an Approved Vendor Designee, StraightUp Solar can assist you in accessing this Illinois solar incentives program to fund your solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

Why Choose
StraightUp Solar?

We are a full-service, turnkey solar firm offering design to build and maintenance services for every customer, in addition to electric vehicle charging stations. StraightUp Solar has over 16 years of industry experience, a track record few other solar companies can match. Since 2006, we’ve installed more than 2,300 residential and commercial-scale solar arrays in Illinois and Missouri. Customers trust us through our ongoing support, both now and in the future.

We are fueled by our CLEARE values, which are apparent in all we do. Our team is committed to creating a cleaner, more sustainable world, one solar array at a time. StraightUp Solar has been a Benefit Corporation (B Corp) since 2015, meaning we prioritize of people and planet in our daily work.

Additionally, we are members of the Amicus Solar Cooperative, a network of over 60 locally owned solar firms across the nation sharing lessons learned, best practices, and more. When you choose StraightUp Solar for your project, you’ll experience our commitment to excellence and the environment firsthand. We recommend our non-profit and commercial arrays enter into an O&M agreement for long-term care, with a production guarantee, in addition to preexisting manufacturer warranties. We’re certain you won’t regret switching to solar!

STRAIGHTUP SOLAR IS A
Certified B Corp

StraightUp Solar first became Certified as a Benefit Corporation (B Corp) in 2015. Unique in the business world, B Corps commit to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Get a Quote for Your Nonprofit Solar Project

Through the current incentives and financing options available, solar systems are more affordable now than ever before. The decision to switch to solar will not only benefit your nonprofit by lowering operating costs and providing financial confidence, but you also play an active role in promoting a sustainable future. With StraightUp Solar, you can rest assured that all aspects of your project will be professionally handled and completed. If you’re ready to lower your largest expense and allocate more funds toward your mission, request a free quote today!

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See Our Solar Smiles

"There were a couple of reasons why we chose StraightUp Solar… First of all, we liked the people. They were incredibly helpful, very informative of the process, very patient as we went through our bidding process. Number two, they were local. Third… the price was very competitive in comparison with other vendors."

"To be honest, I was a little skeptical of solar at first. I didn't know if it would be a good fit for our organization as a manufacturer. I had a lot of questions and StraightUp Solar was able to answer those questions well... We developed trust so decided to move forward with StraightUp Solar. We needed a lot of help and StraightUp Solar was there to walk us through the process. It is a complicated project because you're working with utility providers, municipalities, raw material suppliers and StraightUp Solar was able to lay out a plan for us."

"The other really positive thing about StraightUp Solar is you have this big project, and when it's done you might have a sense of 'What do I do next?' They offer help after the project is implemented. They monitor our solar array to make sure it's generating power it should generate, they do regularly planned site visits to make sure everything's functioning. If I have questions I know I can call them. It's not one of those scenarios where they do the project and then they're gone. They're invested in us as a company and they care about our success."

“We were looking at putting in a larger system and from the first encounter with StraightUp Solar they knew all of the regulations and steps our system would have to adhere to. Not only were they incredibly knowledgeable about the entire solar process, but they were also friendly and easy to work with.”

"I have had the pleasure of working with StraightUp Solar for my commercial solar installation at Mountain Top Motor Co. I am very in-depth when it comes to interviewing companies to do business with. I asked a lot of hard questions and I wanted more information than your typical consumer. David at StraightUp Solar not only answered all my questions but taught me some things along the way. StraightUp Solar knew the equipment and the needs of my building more than any other company. They really put a lot of effort into building a quote and system even before a contract was awarded. Through the installation they were great communicators and everything went smoothly. Very impressed with the entire process."

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Solar For
Nonprofits

SOLAR ENERGY FOR
Nonprofits