Required Community Solar is Coming to California

Between all of the wildfire damages, blackouts, and ever-rising electricity prices, there is no shortage of reasons why Californians have come to believe that utility companies don’t have their best interests in mind. When it comes to policy, the state’s utilities have proven that they will invest their efforts in legislation that actually makes it harder for residents to access cleaner, more stable, and more affordable energy. 

This is why bill AB 2316 was developed. The bill requires utility companies serving over 100,000 customers to “enable ratepayers to participate directly in offsite electrical generation facilities that use eligible renewable energy resources”. Community solar projects fit this description to a tee. 

Newsom Greenlights Community Solar Requirement

On September 16th, 2022, Governor Newsom signed AB 2316 into law. Now, California’s largest utility companies must provide community renewable energy programs to their customers. These programs must also:

• ensure at least 51% of capacity serves low-income customers

• prohibit its costs from being paid by nonparticipating customers

• require that the construction of its community renewable energy facilities comply with specified prevailing wage requirements

• provide bill credits to subscribers

• prioritize the maximum use of state and federal incentives

• accelerate implementation to ensure that time- or quantity-limited federal incentives can be obtained for the benefit of subscribers

These are a long list of perks coming to California communities, and the bill’s emphasis on project acceleration means that we can expect a surge of projects on the horizon. 

Solar Lead Companies Can Help Contractors Access More Projects

While we wait for these community solar projects to come into development, California’s contractors can secure more work via solar lead generation companies. Top agencies can help contractors connect to residents that are serious about solar and ready to discuss the details of an installation. 

Grid Freedom is one of these solar agencies, delivering fully screened and prepared leads to contractors at fair rates. All leads come with their first appointment already scheduled, meaning contractors can jump right to planning a system with their new customers. No contracts or purchase minimums are required, keeping terms as favorable as possible for contractors.

Get More Opportunities via America’s Top Solar Lead Company: www.GridFreedom.com

Fed Up: California's Power Crisis is Driving Solar Installation Leads

California just survived an unprecedented heat wave. For a full week, record temperatures were reached throughout the state. Sacramento saw scorching 116° days, and Death Valley topped out at 127°. Even the normally-cool Bay Area sweltered: San Francisco reached 97°, and San Jose baked at 109°. 

These temperatures always cause tension for the residents who have to suffer through them, but utility companies’ calls for power conservation during this period sparked serious discontent. Californians were asked to minimize energy usage at hours when temperatures hit their peak - a request seen as not only inhumane but offensive considering these companies’ underwhelming efforts to improve the state’s energy crisis. 

Californians Can’t Count on Big Energy to Fix the Grid

California’s big utilities may have invested more in infrastructure maintenance and electricity generation, but they’ve pushed hard against opportunities for residents to take power into their own hands. 

As of February 2022, PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E had together funneled $1.7 million toward the Affordable Clean Energy for All coalition, which is behind the push for the pending NEM 3.0 update. These changes are set to seriously reduce the financial benefits of going solar, keeping residents more dependent on grid energy. Though this is at odds with the goal of reducing strain on the state’s energy grid, it’s well in line with the intent to keep profits as high as possible. 

This combined with other lobbying efforts has proven that California’s top utilities hardly see grid sustainability as a priority. Citizens will continue to face ill-timed calls for conservation and the threat of rolling blackouts if they remain reliant on these corporations. 

As they realize this, more homeowners aim to remove themselves from the equation. They want the independence and peace of mind that comes with solar, even in the face of lowering incentives. This attitude is pushing an increase in solar installation leads for contractors. 

Help New Solar Leads Seize Their Power

Disgruntled homeowners are coming into the solar market with major emotional motivation right now. Their anger toward big utilities and frustration with the energy supply has put many in a frame of mind where they want to install solar ASAP.

Contractors can jump on these solar sales leads most effectively by partnering with the right generator. Working with an agency that screens lead fully before delivery ensures that contractors connect with homeowners that are truly serious about solar adoption. 

Grid Freedom is one of the only agencies in the industry that puts all leads through intensive phone screenings with live agents. Our process ends with the scheduling of their first consultation, perfectly preparing highly-suitable leads for the final pitch. We make certain that you’re meeting with homeowners who have demonstrated real enthusiasm and readiness to take action.

Find Solar Installation Leads at www.GridFreedom.com 

Maryland Aims to Expand Low-Income Community Solar Incentives

Incentives for community solar have been rapidly growing, especially in America’s Northeast. This includes Maryland, where legislators have finalized two bills supporting community solar. The effort is a part of a recent push to expand the state’s community solar pilot program. Maryland has been working to increase the program’s capacity and widen access to low and middle-income communities. 

Two Bills Boosting Community Solar

HB 1039 and HB 440 are the two bills that have successfully passed. 

HB1039 creates a property tax exemption for community solar projects, applying to both municipal corporate and county taxes. To qualify, projects must supply at least 50% of their generated electricity to low and middle-income families. Moreover, the rate at which this electricity is provided must be at least 20% lower than the base electricity rate such households would normally pay. 

HB 440 increases the maximum capacity of community solar projects. Limits would rise from 2 MW to 5 MW, more than doubling the potential capacity of the state’s sites. The bill also simplifies land requirements for project sites.

The bills have been fully confirmed by Maryland’s General Assembly. They are now being passed to Governor Larry Hogan for the signature that will put this legislation into law. There is currently no estimated date of signing, but Maryland’s solar industry is eagerly awaiting news. 

Growing Maryland’s Solar Energy Leads

Expanding the state’s community solar program is great news for contractors looking for new installation work. But it’s not enough for those who focus on residential solar. Those that are having a difficult time finding all of the rooftop solar customers they need can get support through Grid Freedom. 

Pre-screened, fully exclusive leads are supplied to contractors with no binding contracts or minimums. Grid Freedom’s installer-friendly terms have made it a go-to source for companies that need solar energy leads in Maryland, as well as other states. Membership is free, and contractors can have full assurance knowing each lead is safe from competition. 

Find Exclusive Solar Opportunities at www.GridFreedom.com

Diverse Solar Contractors Can Gain an Edge Via SEIA's Diverse Suppliers Networking Event

As a rapidly expanding industry, more and more solar businesses are arising under diverse ownership. This is creating a wealth of economic opportunities for underrepresented groups, both in terms of career options and community representation. 

Encouraging diversity in solar has become a priority in the industry, especially under the current presidential administration. Leaders are taking action to cultivate opportunities for diverse individuals and businesses throughout the solar sector.

One of these is the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). As part of their latest effort to help boost Solar's diverse companies, SEIA will be hosting its Diverse Suppliers Virtual Networking Event on June 23rd at 2PM EST.

What Does This Digital Networking Meeting Have to Offer?

There will be three key speakers at the event, addressing the importance of pursuing more diverse partnerships in the industry. These speakers include:

• Dana Sleeper, The Sleeper Group

• Tom Donahue, President, Donahue & Sons

• Monique M. Dyers, P.E., Principal & CEO, Ensight Energy Consulting, LLC

The event will also shine a light on SEIA’s Diverse Suppliers Database, a recently-launched resource that helps supply chain buyers find diverse-owned businesses to collaborate with. This resource has become a highly useful tool for solar businesses, as tracking and improving solar diversity is becoming a necessary part of compliance in certain markets. If you have yet to be listed in the DSD, you can add your business information here. 

Attending This Zoom Event

This event is open to anyone who represents a diverse-owned business or is looking for guidance on how to find diverse-owned suppliers. It will facilitate connections between members throughout the solar supply chain, laying the foundation for relationships that strengthen diversity industry-wide.

If you’re interested in attending this virtual networking event, you can register here. It will take place on June 23, 2022, at 02:00 PM in Eastern Time (the US and Canada) via ZOOM. 

Solar Lead Companies Improve Opportunities for All

Diverse installers can find more sale opportunities and reduce competition pressures by partnering with the right solar lead companies. Agencies that work to deliver only the most valuable, viable leads can help installers increase the efficiency of their lead sourcing, and close more deals every month. This can be a vital leg up in establishing your business's financials and reputation.

Grid Freedom is one of the most trusted suppliers for contractors who need leads they can count on. We put all of our leads through an in-depth screening process that sorts out which homeowners are really ready to install. Contractors from all over the USA can access as many leads as they need, at any time. 

Grow Sales Numbers at www.GridFreedom.com

How Biden's Solar Tariff Pause Will Impact the Industry

Earlier this spring, the U.S. Department of Commerce kicked off an investigation into possible evasion of import tariffs by South Asian solar manufacturers. This was sparked by claims that these producers were circumventing AD/CV duties by hiding the fact that they used Chinese parts.

Immediate backlash erupted following the announcement, with many in the solar industry forecasting serious disruption to the supply chain and solar projects. Their grim predictions came true, as countless companies saw order cancellations soon after the investigation began. 

Almost 80% of the industry’s supply was effectively cut off as manufacturers went on the defensive. Some of the nation’s largest projects were faced with delays of more than a year, hindering the Biden administration’s goals to achieve a decarbonized energy grid by 2035. With tariffs expected to be raised up to 250%, even retroactively, America’s contractors feared that a stiff increase in panel pricing would come soon. 

Re-Opening the Flow of Solar Imports

Strong encouragement came from both sides of the political aisle to call off the DOC’s investigation, citing the harm to both the solar industry and the administration’s clean energy efforts. 20 governors, 22 U.S. senators, and 85 members of the House of Representatives spoke out.

In response to the overwhelming calls for action, President Biden announced that all tariffs applied to Southeast Asian solar cell products would be paused for a period of 24 months. So while the DOC investigation will still be active, these manufacturers can shelve their worry and get back to supplying America’s contractors. Projects that were threatened with disastrous delays can get back on track, and the industry as a whole can rest easy over possible price hikes. 

Biden’s actions included a spur to domestic solar production, invoking the Defense Production Act to fund American manufacturing of clean energy technologies. This move will help the U.S. build up its own resources, working to relieve the dependency on Asian production. 

Removing a Threat to Solar Panel Lead Generation 

Solar projects small and large were endangered under the looming consequences of tariff increases. With limited product availability and predicted price jumps, contractors were seeing customers shrink away from greenlighting their solar projects. 

Now, that threat has been sidelined. For the next two years, contractors and their customers can have peace of mind knowing that their solar products and project budgets are safe. 

Nevertheless, the tumultuous economy still presents difficulties for contractors seeking new opportunities. Top agency Grid Freedom is working to connect installers with homeowners who have already been screened and selected for their intent to go solar. Every lead has been vetted via live phone calls with our agents and offered with complete exclusivity.

Sign Up Free to Access Full-Service Solar Panel Lead Generation

Get Instant Business Buying Residential Solar Leads

When your business has hit a slow period, there’s not much time before cash flow can become a problem. You need to secure new leads fast, but using the standard marketing methods may not get you, customers, in the short time needed. 

For this reason, many solar contractors in your shoes go straight to buying residential solar leads. Instead of risking a lengthy period during which marketing yields no solid prospects, they ensure that they get concrete opportunities before finances are at risk. 

In this post, we review why buying solar leads creates a fast track to sales, giving you instant business the moment they’re acquired. 

Skip the Lead Generation Process

The first way that buying leads shaves time off the sales journey is by allowing you to skip the solar lead generation process entirely. Absolutely no marketing work is required from your team since the lead has already been produced by a third-party agency. That effort is absorbed by their staff completely, freeing up your people to focus on actually making sales. 

Qualified Leads Eliminate Need for Screening

When you make sure to buy high-quality leads, you cut the risk of leads fizzling out. Agencies that meet the highest standards of lead integrity put them through an intensive screening process before they ever reach your hands. 

That means that you not only get the security of pursuing solar leads already verified as dependable, but you can check off screening from your list of pre-sale duties. 

Pre-Set Appointments = No Nurturing Required

Depending on which agency you choose to source from, even the final step of lead preparation can be taken care of for you. The best agencies only deliver leads who have already been scheduled for their first consultation appointment with you, the purchasing contractor. 

Your team won’t have to convince a customer to agree to a meeting, and there won’t be any need for coordinating what date works for them. All of that is already settled, leaving only the matter of making your pitch and closing the sale. 

Grid Freedom Connects You with Ready Customers

Purchasing your leads from Grid Freedom gives you a direct path to the moment of sale with serious, pre-screened homeowners. Our process eliminates all but the most eligible and enthusiastic customers, passing them on to you only after they’ve been secured for their first consultation. 

You can skip all of the preliminary work required in traditional lead production, saving you valuable time when you need to land sales quickly. Our agency has become the go-to source for leads that provide instant value and ROI. 

Get Your Immediate Customer Appointments at www.GridFreedom.com   

Convincing Retirees that Solar is a Smart Investment

 

Retirees are a huge portion of the homeowner population. Baby Boomers account for 42% of homeowners nationwide, and for many members of the generation, the pandemic pushed them into early retirement. 

Given the prevalence of retirees among homeowners, it’s important that contractors consider how effective their marketing methods are in appealing to this demographic. In this post, we review some of the common trends you’ll see among retirees, and evaluate how they can be leveraged in your sales pitch. 

Use Financial Strategy to Alleviate Affordability Concerns

With only their savings, pension, and/or social security to rely on for funding the rest of their lives, retirees can feel uneasy about making a big purchase like solar. As a contractor, you’ll need to walk them through the financial moves that can help them afford it and maximize their returns. 

Government incentives and traditional financing may not be enough for these buyers. Zero-down loans will be far more helpful, than even those that offer zero-payment, deferred-interest periods. 

Talk About Home Value Boosts 

Whether retirees aim to sell their home, or they’re planning on making it a part of their estate, the boost solar will give to their home’s value is a key point to discuss. Retirees may be a lot more amenable to solar if they have the assurance they can recoup their investment when they put their homes on the market. 

Many will also see solar as a wealth-building investment for the inheritance they pass on to their loved ones. Their home will only appreciate in value as solar becomes more of an essential item for real estate buyers. 

Speak to the Desire for an Elevated Lifestyle

It’s also interesting to note that many entering retirements actually look to upgrade their homes. While a large portion of retirees tend to downsize, about 22% express an intention to move up. This is motivated by a desire to finally live the lifestyle they’ve always wanted, in the type of home they’ve always dreamed of. 

These retirees want ample space, in a home that has no shortage of luxuries. They want to finally have a home that has all the bells and whistles. For these customers, adding a sleek new solar installation can be quite a draw. 

Though this particular subset of retirees will be less concerned about budgetary constraints, they will still find appeal in lowering their energy bills. This type of buyer will also find great satisfaction in the self-sufficiency solar systems provide them. 

Empower Your Solar Panel Lead Generation

Converting retirees into enthusiastic solar buyers is made a lot easier by leveraging the points above. But by and far, the quickest path to purchase comes when your leads have already been hand-selected for their viability. 

Here at Grid Freedom, we specialize in attracting and pre-screening leads, and helping contractors find customers worth pursuing. All of our leads are supplied with their first appointment already scheduled, leaving you fully prepped for the sale. 

The reliable ROI of our leads has made Grid Freedom one of the most trusted agencies in the country. Join free to see the caliber of leads you can acquire on a regular basis. 

Get Meetings with Homeowners at www.GridFreedom.com

Preparing for Installation Season: A Solar Marketing Company Can Help

The arrival of March is awakening spring weather, sending sunbeams and growing warmth throughout the country. If you’re a solar contractor, you know that this shift is what heralds the coming of the high season for solar installations. With ideal conditions and a more active mindset, spring marks the time that homeowners start to seriously consider purchasing rooftop panels. 

While this period may seem like a natural boon for contractors, the truth is that it can be difficult for smaller firms to capitalize on the rising interest. Titan companies are often more effective at marketing to prospective customers, and they can more easily afford to offer low quotes. This competition frequently leaves more modestly-sized firms with few viable leads to pursue. 

In this scenario, turning to a solar marketing company can help even the playing field for small to mid-sized contracting teams. Below, we review how agency assistance can allow you to effectively prepare for the coming busy period and ensure you get your fair share of sales. 

Filling Out Your Calendar

Organically generating a sufficient number of leads on your own can be extremely difficult when you have limited resources and manpower. Combine that with the fact that most interested customers will likely gravitate toward the big competitors, and it’s likely that your spring calendar may end up having a few bare patches. 

A solar marketing company can provide you with the leads you need to fill out those empty days. The most effective track, in this respect, is to choose a company that delivers leads that have already been scheduled for their first consultation. This guarantees that you will have booked appointments ready. Now, with a full schedule of prospects to pitch to, you’ll be laying the groundwork for a highly productive installation season. 

Improving Lead Quality

Of course, having leads in hand isn’t a guarantee that you’ll end up with the sales you need. That’s why it’s imperative that the quality of your leads is as high as possible. Choosing an agency that only delivers leads that meet certain standards is a great way to confirm that every customer you pursue presents a solid chance of purchase. 

Such standards can include pre-screening by an agent via a live conversation with the lead, as well as in-house inbound generation, appointment scheduling, and lead exclusivity. The latter is an especially important point since you don’t want to invest in leads that may still be swiped away by the competition. 

Minimizing Your Workload

Having a small solar installation business usually means that you don’t have the staff or funding to power giant marketing campaigns. Most of your employees are probably busy with installations, and you may only have a few office workers to field calls and follow up with leads. 

Pushing hard on lead generation can therefore easily result in a tired, stressed-out them that’s been stretched too thin. And without the right marketing skills and techniques to leverage, all of that effort may not even yield proportional results. 

By outsourcing the task of lead generation to a solar marketing company, you can practically eliminate the entire workload when it comes to marketing and nurturing leads. This leaves your team feeling fresh, unburdened, and ready to take on all of the new installations coming your way. 

Make This High Season a Success with America’s Top Solar Marketing Company

The benefits of partnering with an agency are clear. But how can you make sure you find one that’s dependable in time for spring’s activity? 

Contractors across America have already decided upon Grid Freedom as the ultimate choice for solar marketing. This is because no other agency offers the same level of exceptional value: 100% exclusive leads that have been generated in-house, thoroughly pre-screened, and scheduled for their first appointment. 

You’ll never have to contend with binding contracts or unfavorable terms. Just buy the number of leads that you need, whenever you need them. 

We work hard to provide you with customers that will help your business thrive. Our team is already putting in the extra effort to secure the season’s growing number of new prospects. 

Get All of the Quality Leads You Need at www.GridFreedom.com

How Solar Contractors are Dealing With Supply Chain Troubles

It’s no secret that America’s solar industry relies heavily on manufacturing from China and other Asian nations. Even though solar PV cell technology was developed in America, China was quickly able to dominate the market with unbeatably-low prices thanks to cheap labor of dubious ethicality. Now, China has a firm grip over 80% of the global polysilicon supply.

Straining Contractor Budgets

This has left America’s solar contractors in a precarious position. Already, import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration had elevated costs for PV panels. While this policy was formulated with the intent to re-spark American manufacturing, it required placing a greater cost burden on the shoulders of contractors. 

It came not long before the start of the pandemic, which practically shut down the Chinese supply chain for months. Even after the initial turmoil, logistics have still suffered greatly, continuing to drive up pricing and delay shipping fulfillments. 

A survey of Chinese manufacturers showed a 20-40% price increase for solar panels over the first half of 2021. In the first quarter of the year, America’s contract prices for solar experienced a 15% jump over last year’s position. 

Contractors are struggling to afford the panels and racking equipment they sell. Many have had to increase the prices on solar systems as a result, but price hikes during the pandemic’s economic fallout only further depress already-meager sales numbers.

Recruiting Help for Lead Generation

How are some contractors pulling ahead despite all of these setbacks? Refining their lead generation process has proven to be an effective method for finding customers that are capable and willing to pay the current rates for solar systems. 

Actually implementing this change is tough to pull off alone, however. That’s why countless contractors across the country have chosen to outsource the work to agencies that specialize in quality lead curation. 

Grid Freedom is one of the top choices in the industry. Offering unbeatable screening, appointment-setting, and complete exclusivity, the agency is able to deliver customers that have the highest level of sale security for contractors. No obligations such as purchase minimums or contracts also keep terms in the favor of installers. 

Boost Your Customer Supply at www.GridFreedom.com