Community-led Solarize Campaign Urges Local Property Owners to Take Advantage of Limited Time to Boost Renewable Energy In Columbia and Boone County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 3, 2025

Benefits of Solar Energy And Battery Power Available Now Through October
Via Group Purchasing

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Limited time remains to take advantage of a one-of-a-kind community-led campaign that makes solar energy and battery power more affordable in Columbia and Boone County by investing in renewable energy together.

Because federal tax credits for residential solar power will expire at the end of 2025, participants in Solarize Columbia are highly encouraged to sign a residential contract by Friday, Sept. 26, in order for installations to be completed and giving them the best chance to qualify for a 30 percent tax credit that can help reduce the total cost of a new solar energy system. That leaves a short window to enroll now to receive a free, no-obligation proposal then make a decision to purchase with a federal tax credit potentially involved.

Even without that credit, there are multiple reasons to consider acting sooner than later by purchasing a renewable energy system through Solarize Columbia. This unique community-based group-purchasing program was forged by a coalition comprised of Sierra Club - Mid Missouri Group, Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, Renew Missouri, League of Women Voters of Columbia Boone County, and Solar Crowdsource. Its purpose is to make solar energy, battery storage and other related energy technologies more affordable and accessible for homeowners, businesses and nonprofits within Boone County.

Among the advantages for area residents, businesses and property owners:

Group Discount of Up to 20 percent: As the campaign continues and more buyers sign a contract to acquire a system, prices for solar will go lower through the power of group purchasing.
Hedge Against Rising Utility Costs: According to an analysis from Energy Innovation, Missouri households are projected to face the nation’s steepest increase in annual utility costs, expected to rise by an estimated $640 by 2035. In addition, Columbia residents can expect electric utility rates to increase by 2 percent starting Oct. 1, when fiscal year 2026 begins. The Columbia City Council voted unanimously to increase the city’s electric rate. Support for annual rate increases in the future was also voiced
Free and Trusted Evaluations: Those who sign up without obligation by Oct. 31 receive a no-cost custom proposal. All evaluations include projected bill savings over the next 25 years and financial analyses that include payback times and Return on Investment.
Community Support: Via Solarize Columbia, property owners are not left to “go it alone.” Campaign organizers bring over a decade of solar experience to help ensure projects meet expectations.

Solarize Columbia debuted locally in July by offering a way to add solar energy and battery power to homes or businesses at discount prices achievable through bulk buying. The local coalition selected the local firm Dogwood Solar as the vetted installer to provide local property owners with this volume purchasing opportunity.

“The program involves a tiered pricing system — the more people that participate in the program, the less money everyone pays,” said Abby Dickinson, a coalition member who is the development and campaign associate for local clean energy nonprofit Renew Missouri. “Those that sign up when the price per watt is higher get a rebate check from Dogwood Solar at the end of the campaign.”

Already, nearly 160 property owners have enrolled in the program for free. Each will receive a customized evaluation of their property for consideration without obligation to purchase. Solarize campaigns have been adopted in numerous communities around the country since their inception in 2009 as a method to help local residents achieve energy independence together. Solarize Columbia is the first such campaign of its kind in this area.

Opportunities to learn more from coalition members or experts from Dogwood Solar include:

Wednesday, Sept 10: League of Women Voters Lunch & Learn
Sunday, Sept. 21: Peaceworks’ Walk for the Climate
Tuesday, Sept. 30: Solar Workshop for Businesses and Nonprofits
Friday, Oct. 3: First Fridays near Rock Bottom Comics

To participate with no obligation, sign up at no cost by Oct. 31, 2025. Residential contracts must be signed by Jan. 31, 2026 and commercial contracts by April 30, 2026. All solar and battery installations through the campaign are expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. Interested residents may go to SolarizeColumbia.com now to learn more about the program and enroll.

About Solarize Columbia: Solarize Columbia is a program set into motion by a public-private coalition consisting of Sierra Club - Missouri Chapter, Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, Renew Missouri, City of Columbia Office of Sustainability and League of Women Voters of Missouri with facilitation provided by Solar Crowdsource. Increasing clean energy via reducing the barriers and cost of solar-energy and battery-storage installations through the power of bulk purchasing is the objective of the campaign, which launched in July 2025.