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You are here: Home / Energy / Solar Financing & Support

Solar Financing & Support

Solar Financing & Support

With utility rates on the rise in Eastern Kentucky, solar is helping many businesses, faith groups, schools, nonprofits, and local governments save money.

We are proud to now offer solar loans to help support these projects.

For eligible businesses and organizations, we can provide

  • Loans up to $500,000 at 4 percent interest fixed for up to 20 years*
  • Technical support during system design, throughout system install and beyond
  • Grant application support for eligible businesses and organizations
  • Information on tax credits, write-offs, cash flow, and impacts of any state policies on your investment

*All loans subject to approval; personal residences are not eligible

“For us, as a non profit, annually rolling $2,469 back into the organization to help us achieve our mission is huge.”

Seth Long
HOMES Inc.

Assistance Beyond Financing

In additional to low-interest loans for solar projects, we provide technical expertise to facilitate the project, including system design support, review of contractor proposals, answering any questions you may have about your investment, and more.

We also help businesses and organizations determine if they are eligible for any federal or state grants. For example, the USDA administers the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to provide financial assistance to rural small businesses and agricultural producers to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements to non-residential buildings and facilities, use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption, and participate in energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. The amounts range from $2,500-$500,000 for renewable energy systems. For example, we recently worked with Print My Threads to apply for grant funding. They were awarded a REAP grant of ~$20,000 for a solar installation on their facility near Ashland, KY as well as a second grant of ~$19,500 for energy efficiency upgrades.

The USDA also has a Community Facilities grant program for energy projects at community oriented facilities, and the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy has a program for on-farm energy projects. We work with several farms each year who have successfully received funding for their energy projects through this state program.

Get Started:

The first step is to apply for an energy audit, by clicking the below link. The audit will include a solar assessment. Through that process you can discuss financing and grant opportunities with our team. If you’ve already worked with our team and are ready to apply for a loan, please click the “apply for a solar loan” button below.

Apply for an energy audit
Apply for a solar loan

Success Stories

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Riverside Christian School Standing Through the Storms

Lost Creek, Kentucky, sits deep in the hills of Breathitt County, and Troublesome Creek runs through the heart of the area. Along its banks, Riverside Christian School began more than a century ago. Since 1905, the school’s story has…

Read Riverside Christian School Standing Through the Storms

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Sharing Power, Strengthening Community: EV Charging at Kentuckians for the Commonwealth 

The Mountain Association’s Energy Team has been working closely with businesses, nonprofits and local governments on Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for the past few years and how to make…

Read Sharing Power, Strengthening Community: EV Charging at Kentuckians for the Commonwealth 

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Finding a Good Contractor for Your Home or Business

Our Energy Team frequently gets questions about how to find reliable contractors. They created this resource to help guide you. They also created a separate resource on what to consider…

Read Finding a Good Contractor for Your Home or Business


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HVAC: Planning Ahead for Replacement

Our Energy Team frequently gets questions about HVAC replacement. There’s a lot to know about this topic so they have created this resource, along with another about how to choose…

Read HVAC: Planning Ahead for Replacement

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What the Kentucky Power Ruling Means for Residents & Commercial Customers 

The Kentucky Public Service Commission’s recent ruling on Kentucky Power’s rate case is a mixed bag in terms of wins and losses for 165,000 customers served by the investor-owned electric…

Read What the Kentucky Power Ruling Means for Residents & Commercial Customers 

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New Data Center Protections & New Issues in Kentucky

Last November, we wrote about the possibility of large data centers coming to Kentucky. Utilities like LG&E and KU had projected a major increase in electricity demand and won approval…

Read New Data Center Protections & New Issues in Kentucky

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Established in 1976. Prior to 2020, we were known as the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED).

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BEREA
(859) 986-2373
433 Chestnut Street
Berea, KY 40403

Meetings by appointment only

info@mtassociation.org

We are happy to make any accommodation
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HAZARD
(606) 439-0170
420 Main St
Hazard, KY 41701

PRESTONSBURG
(606) 264-5910
268 E Friend St, Ste 101
Prestonsburg, KY 41653

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