With spring in the air, flowers blooming and trees coming back to life, we’re thrilled to bring you the second round of our Residential Solar Energy Sponsorship! This time, we aim to support three to four projects at 50% of the installed cost, broadening our impact on promoting clean energy and reducing carbon emissions.
Our last sponsorship was a great success, and we have fully funded two systems that are cranking out a ton of power to relatively dirty grids. Here’s everything you need to know about the rules, application process, selection process, installation process, and payout. We’re excited to do it over again!
We are looking for complete applications, and will then pick two to four of the best for a 50% sponsorship based on the following criteria:
- Carbon reduction per dollar spent – so if you’re located in an area with high renewable grid energy already it may not be worth applying – you can find out approximately how clean your grid is here: https://www.epa.gov/egrid/data-explorer
- Systems over 5kW only – below 5kW the economies of scale aren’t really there
- South facing, mostly un-shaded roofs, again for the first point of maximum Carbon reduction per dollar spent
- A recipient who lives a low-carbon lifestyle and is actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Because this will act as an investment multiplier – if you inspire and motivate others to drive an EV and install a solar roof, that has a huge impact on our return on investment.
Rules:
You must be an existing MPP customer as of March 29th, 2023, to be eligible for this sponsorship. We want to ensure that we’re supporting genuine MPP customers who are passionate about green energy, rather than those who might purchase from us solely for the chance of winning a solar roof.
The system must be connected to the grid in a net-metering capacity, and must not be clipped/shunted. In other words – the system must always be outputting its total power potential.
You must own a Tesla or another electric vehicle as your primary car and actively work to reduce your carbon footprint.
You agree to maintain the solar system and keep it operational for its lifetime. If the system is not properly maintained, you grant us permission to publicly express our disappointment.
You agree to send us periodic updates on the system’s performance, allowing us to analyze our return on investment and optimize the program for future iterations.
You will only be paid for the system once it is online and producing power – so you’ll have to forward the installers the deposit for the system.
A permit must be applied for and approved within 3 months of the application being approved, otherwise, we will move onto the next applicant.
The system must be installed and fully functional within a maximum of six months from the application approval. Extensions beyond six months will result in a reduction of sponsorship by $500/day until the rebate is gone. Ensure your contractor is aware of this and guarantees it won’t be an issue to avoid potential risks.
Application Process:
The application process is fairly simple. We don’t want you to collectively have to put excessive effort into this. I will stress that if you’re in an area with a high-carbon electrical grid, it makes sense to apply. Our last sponsorship didn’t get a ton of applications, so you have a high chance of winning!
Step 1 – Send us an email to let us know that you’re interested and going to start the application process.
Step 2 – Acquire two quotes to install a solar roof on your home that is over 5kW in size.
Step 3 – Using the application checklist below, send us an email that contains the two quotes, the carbon intensity of your grid, to the best of your ability, along with a Google Maps view of your roof. Include why you think we should select you aside from the output. How will you promote green energy to your community? Do you think you’ll be able to encourage neighbors and friends to also invest in EVs and clean energy generation?
Download the 2023 application checklist here
Selection Process:
Applications will be accepted until July 15th, 2023.
We will select the top six applications based on the cost per unit carbon reduction, and then do our due diligence to ensure the projected energy production and installation costs are accurate, and that the installers are reputable and well-reviewed. From there, assuming we believe the applicant is a real ambassador for clean energy, this application will be selected. If not, we will move down the list.
Installation Process And Payout:
The sponsorship is actually more of a “rebate” if you will. Once you have the system installed and online, we will send a transfer 50% of your out-of-pocket costs for the system (note this is AFTER any regional or federal rebates). This is a necessity to reduce the risk to us of giving money away only to have a solar system not be installed at all. If requested, we can put the funds in escrow at the expense of the applicant. Any tax implications are your responsibility – the sponsorship will include the cost of sales tax, but any income/property tax changes will be your responsibility.
What If I Don’t Live In A House? Or I Am Not An MPP Customer?
We understand that not everyone’s situation is ideal for this sponsorship opportunity. While we’d love to accommodate everyone, it’s logistically more efficient for us to focus on providing solar roofs to homeowners with suitable, south-facing roofs. Our primary objective is to quickly and effectively generate clean energy through these solar installations.
If you’re not an MPP customer yet, don’t worry; there’s a possibility we’ll run similar sponsorships in the future. However, please keep in mind that our goal isn’t to attract new customers through these initiatives. We believe our existing customers are the ideal candidates for solar roofs, as they tend to be passionate early adopters who are committed to combating climate change. If your sole intention is to purchase an MPP product for a chance at a free solar roof, you may not be the best fit for this sponsorship.
For Most Of You Who Won’t Win:
Of course, the odds are that you will not win. But if you apply, and you get a few solar quotes, keep in mind that this is a great investment. You’re helping the environment, making a statement with clean energy, and financially the payoff is usually less than 10 years. So you can always move forward with a solar roof even if you don’t win!
Thank you all for reading. Please share it around and let’s get this sun party started!
