Companies from different solar segments form alliance supporting small-scale PV

A group of solar manufacturers, software makers, service providers and a community bank has formed a new coalition called the Strong Tail Solar Alliance. Its goal is to help small and medium solar installers lower costs, especially after the federal tax credit for homeowner-owned residential solar systems (known as 25D) was repealed. Without that credit, many installers had shifted toward third-party-owned solar projects, which still qualify for a separate commercial tax credit (48E). The new alliance wants to make it easier and cheaper for installers to go back to selling systems that homeowners actually own.

Founding members include Bodhi, Climate First Bank, Scanifly, JA Solar, Damaris Solutions and Krannich Solar, with the group run by OneEthos, a subsidiary of Climate First Corp. By pooling their purchasing power, these companies plan to offer approved installers discounts on equipment and software — savings the alliance estimates at around 25 cents per watt or more — along with marketing help. The idea is to let smaller, local installers compete with big national companies on price without losing what sets them apart: personal service and long-term accountability to their customers.

For homeowners, this news doesn't change any rebate or tax credit directly, but it could mean more competitive pricing from local solar installers going forward, since the alliance is designed to help those companies offer owned-system solar deals again after losing the federal tax incentive that used to support them.