Prosperity Indiana - Solar Uniting Neighbors

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Solar Uniting Neighbors

Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) is a program of Prosperity Indiana to provide access to solar energy technology to Indiana communities at highly competitive prices, in a simple, easy process while providing information and limited funding to qualifying community organizations within the Duke Energy service territory.

Our program will focus on helping to provide solar technology to organizations that serve low income residents through project funding. SUN funding recipients must be Duke Energy customers. The funding portion of this program is provided by a settlement agreement reached between Duke Energy Indiana, Citizens Action Coalition, Save the Valley, Sierra Club, Valley Watch, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the Duke Industrial Group, and Nucor Steel. Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED), dba Prosperity Indiana, was named in the settlement agreement as the administrator of the funds. Funding is available, via the settlement, for the purchase and installation of solar installations of less than 0.5MW for community, educational, religious, and nonprofit organizations that serve low income individuals in the Duke Energy Indiana service territory.

Download Funding Application

Prosperity Indiana and its partners will also facilitate solarize programs in multiple Indiana communities in the Duke Energy service area. In each selected community, SUN will establish a competitive bidding process for a group buy of solar installations for residential and non-residential customers. Community solarize program participation is available to all Indiana residential Duke Energy customers, as well as surrounding residents who are not customers of Duke Energy. All participants will enjoy a discounted price for installed solar energy systems from the solarize program.

Finally, as part of the group purchase agreement, solar installers and solarize program participants will provide donations equivalent to 5% of the total community solarize project to fund solar installations for low income households. A win-win-win scenario!

View our program press release here.

How do I participate?

Individuals, businesses, and nonprofits can participate in group purchases to reduce the costs of going solar. Qualifying community organizations and low income residents may be eligible for limited funding. If you or your organization is interested in participating and taking advantage of the benefits provided by the SUN program, please provide initial information using our SUN Interest form.

After we collect your information, we will send you updates about SUN information sessions within your community to help familiarize you with our program and what you will gain through participation. Visit our FAQs for more information and additional resources.

Upcoming SUN Events

REGIONAL MEMBER MEETING - SOUTHEAST INDIANA

27 Jun 2017 12:00 PM • New Hope Services, 725 Wall Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Allyson Mitchell, Director of Sustainability, will discuss SUN and how your organization can participate.

SOLAR UNITING NEIGHBORS (SUN)

28 Jun 2017 2:00 PM • Webinar

Attend to learn about SUN and the funding application process.

Community Organizations Serving Low Income Residents

Community, educational, religious, and nonprofit organizations that serve low income populations and are customers of Duke Energy are eligible for limited SUN funding. If you believe your organization qualifies, please download and complete the application to apply for funding.

SUN is seeking community volunteers to help facilitate the spread of solar technology in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a passion for solar energy and would be interested in volunteering as a Solar Ambassador, please fill out and share our Solar Ambassador form.

Individual Homeowners

For homeowners who are interested in installing solar panels on their residence, SUN will be facilitating community Solarize programs in regional communities throughout the state. Our Solarize program, carried out with the help of SIREN, makes going solar an easy and affordable process for participants. Prosperity Indiana and SIREN are vetting solar contractors and organizing a competitively priced group purchase of solar panel installations, meaning individuals will avoid the hassle of finding a contractor and will pay less for their solar array. With the help of Indiana Solar for All, Prosperity Indiana is working to make solar a feasible energy option for all Hoosiers, regardless of economic status. Low income residents may be eligible for limited SUN funding for their solar installations. If interested in participating in SUN, please fill out our SUN Interest form.

Businesses and Organizations

Businesses and organizations can benefit from participating in group purchases of solar panels through the Solarize component of the SUN program. Our Solarize program, carried out with the help of SIREN, will make going solar an easy and affordable process for participants. Prosperity Indiana and SIREN are vetting solar contractors and organizing a competitively priced group purchase of solar panel installations, meaning businesses and organizations will avoid the hassle of finding a contractor and will pay less for their solar array. If interested in participating in SUN, please fill out our SUN Interest form.

Municipalities

Partnering with municipalities is a great way to make use of existing community resources to encourage solar adoption in your locality. SUN is currently in the process of selecting communities to participate in regional solarize efforts. For more information about municipal partnerships, please reference our municipality SUN program summary.

Why "Go Solar" Now?

Benefits of Solar

The benefits of going solar are numerous, for both individuals and organizations.

Save money: Solar panels will reduce monthly energy expenses and increase the value of your property
Help the environment: Solar provides affordable, pollution-free energy that benefits the environment and public health

Support local businesses: Solar installations support local businesses, attract solar development, and increase state competitiveness

The Phaseout of Net Metering in Indiana

Installing solar panels is more urgent than ever with the passage of Senate Enrolled Act 309 during the 2017 legislative session. The new state law will reduce and eventually eliminate the benefits of net metering, which is a billing mechanism that provides fair compensation for solar energy that feeds back into the electricity grid. Retail rate net metering will be grandfathered until 2047 for individuals and organizations that install solar panels before December 31, 2017. For solar panels installed between 2018 and the end of 2021, net metering will be grandfathered until 2032. Solar panels installed beginning in 2022 will receive significantly reduced rates of compensation for the energy they contribute to the electricity grid.

In order to maximize savings and rate of return on solar panels, it is ideal to purchase and install solar arrays prior to the end of 2017. Our program reduces the costs of solar energy adoption and provides information, resources, and support to make going solar simple and convenient in a time frame that allows you to make the most of your solar array!

Our Partners

SIREN (Solar Indiana Renewable Energy Network) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Hoosiers "Go Solar!" Since 2008, SIREN has been a leading educator and promoter of renewable energy and energy conservation in the state of Indiana.

Indiana Solar for All is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rapidly increasing solar installations in the state of Indiana for all households, including those with limited incomes.

Prosperity Indiana

202 East Market Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone // 317.454.8533 Fax // 317.454.8534

Email // info@prosperityindiana.org