Sunstone Credit

🌞 Sunstone’s Top 9 Commercial Solar Trends of 2024: # 5 USDA REAP Grant Recipients 🌲 🚀 As 2024 winds down, we’re reviewing the top 9 commercial solar trends we saw at Sunstone Credit in 2024. We’ve already covered that 2024 was a huge year for farms at Sunstone, and big reason for that was the USDA REAP grant program. You might think REAP grants are just for farms, but guess what? Non-agricultural businesses in rural areas can also cash in on this amazing opportunity – and they did in a big way in 2024! From manufacturing facilities in Arkansas to tire and auto shops in Illinois, the USDA REAP grant can cover up to 50% of solar installation cost. Now that’s a deal that’s hard to beat! 🙌 💰 Up to 50% Grant Funding: The USDA REAP grant can cover up to HALF of the cost of solar 🏪 Not Just for Farms: A restaurant in Rhode Island, radio station in South Dakota, and daycare in Kansas have all taken advantage of this grant to reduce energy costs and boost sustainability 🔌 Save Big on Energy: Whether its powering refrigeration, lighting, or machinery, going solar with the REAP grant helps businesses reduce hefty utility bills This bowling alley in Newburgh, NY went solar in 2024 with a 230 kW system by Opal Energy Group. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eG6BsWMa One trend we love at Sunstone Credit is seeing solar in unexpected places, and we couldn’t be more excited about solar going big in rural America! #SunstoneTop9 #solar #commercialsolar #solarfinance

🌞 Sunstone’s Top 9 Commercial Solar Trends of 2024: # 4 Farms 🌽 🚀 As 2024 winds down, we’re reviewing the top 9 commercial solar trends we saw at Sunstone Credit in 2024. At Sunstone Credit, 2024 was definitely the year of the farm! Whether they grow crops or raise livestock, more and more farms are recognizing solar energy as a game-changer. Why did so many farms make the switch to solar in 2024? 💰 USDA REAP Grants: Farms can get a huge boost from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which offers grants covering up to 50% of the cost of installing a solar system! That’s a BIG deal when looking to save money with solar. 🔌 Reduced Energy Costs: Farms use a lot of power—pumps, irrigation, refrigeration, and more. Solar can help reduce those monthly electricity bills, leaving more cash for other things (like, say, hiring workers and buying more equipment!) 🌾 Locked-In Rates: With solar, farms can manage operational expenses by stabilizing energy costs even as utility rates continue to climb This alfalfa and hay farm in Fillmore, UT went solar in 2024 with a 299 kW system by RURAL. We are grateful to farmers for putting food on our tables and are thrilled to help so many of them win with solar! #SunstoneTop9 #solar #commercialsolar #solarfinance

🌞 Sunstone’s Top 9 Commercial Solar Trends of 2024: # 3 Homeowners Associations (HOAs) 🏠🚀 As 2024 winds down, we’re reviewing the top 9 commercial solar trends we saw at Sunstone Credit in 2024. Who says solar is just for big businesses? In 2024, we had the pleasure of financing solar projects for hundreds of different kinds of businesses, and HOAs were definitely one of the shining stars! 🌟 There are many reasons for HOAs to go solar including: 🔌Offset Common Area Power Usage: Going solar can help reduce those hefty electric bills for shared spaces and keep costs down for residents. 💸 💵 Boost Property Value: Solar adds appeal to the community while giving homeowners a sense of pride in contributing to a sustainable future. 🌞Achieve Sustainability Goals: HOAs are more focused than ever on eco-friendly initiatives, and solar is the perfect way to make a big environmental impact without breaking the bank This HOA in Apache Junction, AZ is reaping those benefits and more from 93 kW of solar installed by Watthub. We are excited to see more HOAs than ever creating value for their residents and being beacons of green living with solar! #SunstoneTop9 #solar #commercialsolar #solarfinance

Sunstone Credit is now hiring for a super exciting manager of business development role! This is a great position for someone who has ~4 years of experience and interest in the worlds of solar energy and fintech, where there is never a dull moment! 😄 If you care about your work having purpose and meaning, this is the role for you. Every day we are on the front lines of the fight against climate change, supporting businesses of all sizes in their quest to adopt solar energy. And we have all the benefits of a fast growing startup – potential for growth, autonomy (with the support of an awesome team) and a company culture unlike any other I’ve been a part of. Check out the job description and apply here: https://lnkd.in/ecDcrxfr

🌞 Sunstone’s Top 9 Commercial Solar Trends of 2024: # 2 Non-Profits ⛪ 🚀 As 2024 winds down, we’re reviewing the top 9 commercial solar trends we saw at Sunstone Credit in 2024. This year we saw an incredible surge in non-profits going solar, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Thanks to the IRA’s direct pay provision, non-profits have been able to access solar incentives like never before. In fact, Sunstone saw a 20x increase in non-profit applications from 2022 to 2023, and that momentum carried into 2024. 🙌 This year, we saw a lot of schools and religious institutions go solar, including this church in Bakersfield, CA, that installed a 29 kW system with the help of KBC Energy Group. 💡 We’re excited to see more and more non-profits use solar to save money and advance their missions, and we’re here to help make it happen! #SunstoneTop9 #solar #commercialsolar #solarfinance

Its no secret that more and more rural businesses are taking advantage of the USDA REAP grant program to go solar! ☀️ Curious to learn more about the program from an expert? Join our live webinar happening tomorrow at 1pm ET! ⏰ Sunstone will be joined by Nicole Rojas who is the founder of Lasso , a grant writer that specializes in REAP grants across 25 states (and growing). We will cover: 🌽 How to know if your customer is eligible for a REAP grant ✔️ REAP grant scoring 📝 REAP application process 💵 Lasso pricing and process (and special Sunstone discount) 💰 How to incorporate a Sunstone loan into a REAP eligible project Register here: https://lnkd.in/dyqUQzdZ

🌞 Sunstone’s Top 9 Commercial Solar Trends of 2024: # 1 Small Businesses Going Solar 🏪 🚀 As 2024 winds down, we’re reviewing the top 9 commercial solar trends we saw at Sunstone Credit in 2024. To kick things off, our first trend is small businesses going solar. At Sunstone Credit, we’re here to help businesses of all sizes, financing solar projects from $50K to $6MM. Earlier this year, we launched our Express Loan product to make it even easier for small businesses to go solar. 🙌 And it turns out small businesses go solar for the same reasons as everyone else! 💰 Tax incentives 💵 Utility bill savings 🍃 Sustainability ⚡ Energy independence We had the pleasure of working with some amazing small business owners in 2024, including this gas station and convenience store in Cherry Hill, NJ, that went solar with a 20 kW system installed by NJ Solar Power. 💡 Solar is a great deal for businesses of all sizes, and we love to see so many small businesses take advantage of the many benefits of renewable energy! #SunstoneTop9 #solar #commercialsolar #solarfinance

Congratulations to our Sunstone team members that were promoted in 2024! Each of these individuals has played a crucial role in our company's success, and we couldn’t be prouder to have them on the team. Their contributions inspire us all to continue innovating, striving for excellence, and pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve. Jim Barber Alex Kragie Michelle Lipchin Lujia (Lulu) Guo Jack Benzer Aidan Lezynski Conor Tierney

Great as always to represent Sunstone Credit and many thanks to Opal for organizing the event. Loved the discussion with such luminaries (pun intended) across the solar and energy finance space. While recent events have created some regulatory overhang for renewable energy development, its evident that the demand (and cost) for all forms of energy are only going to increase. The level of energy data centers require would necessitate a full-court press from all forms of energy generation, renewable or otherwise. There's a place for all energy sources in the national energy mix over the next few years. Of course, if one prefers a renewable energy source that's available today and not 10 years in the future, do consider solar. With Sunstone Credit now even smaller business owners can go solar through our loan products. If folks are interested in partnering with us to drive distributed solar proliferation across the country, please feel free to reach out! #commercialsolar #solarfinance

Wrapped up a few industrial buildings with solar recently. Thanks to our partner Casey Gilley and SunRenu to build it! Wonderful job Sunstone Credit for managing a less than easy loan! 100% financing is so sweet! WattHub helped the clients sign tenant PPA’s at a discount to their utility, and achieved NEM 2 and VNEM. Systems have been commissioned and tested to be performing above proposal expectations. Chris Leonard great work in running this deal! LONGi Solar panels, Solaredge Technologies inverters and PanelClaw North America - An Enstall Company racking. Here’s a video of the installation of the ~500kW systems developed by Watthub Enjoy!