Bringing More Accessible, Affordable Solar Energy Power to Local Property Owners in Columbia and Boone County Via Group-Buying Program
COLUMBIA, Mo. — A new local public-private coalition representing Columbia is seeking competitive bids from solar installation contractors for a new group purchasing program aimed at making solar energy more affordable for homeowners, businesses and nonprofits locally.
Known as Solarize Columbia, the coalition issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on May 15th to encourage area solar-energy companies to compete for involvement in a 2025 campaign within Columbia and Boone County. The deadline for bidders to respond is June 13, 2025.
This community-based group-purchasing program is being developed by a community coalition consisting 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 Columbia.
Objectives of the program are to:
- Make solar energy more affordable by lowering the cost of solar energy through the power of group-purchasing and reduced acquisition costs.
- Make solar energy more accessible through predetermined, highly-vetted materials, pricing, and selection of contractor(s) through a competitive bid process;
- Provide education and community engagement through outreach activities such as town hall meetings, workshops, solar “open house” gatherings, and other local community groups and events;
- Promote solar-positive policies that encourage local governments to adopt streamlined solar energy permitting policies and fair utility distributed generation policies. In addition, the Coalition seeks to advance greenhouse gas reduction goals, clean-energy production, workforce development opportunities, and other community policy objectives.
By creating volume discounts on materials and installation services, Solarize campaigns are driven by community group purchasing. The more participants who take part in purchasing, the greater the economic savings for all.
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 the area.
A public launch of the campaign is planned for July 2025.
Solar energy can help to achieve energy independence and stimulate local economic growth. Going solar can also reduce energy and economic burdens. Among the local campaign’s goals are to create a citizen-led method for a number of qualified low- and moderate-income residents to receive new energy systems that reduce their household energy costs.
Bid Meeting
Campaign organizers will hold a virtual bid conference via Zoom on May 26 at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. Prospective bidders are encouraged to attend in order to receive an overview of the campaign and participate in a Q&A session. Registration here is required.
One or more installers for residential and/or commercial properties will be selected based on criteria put forth by the coalition. Details about the requirements, including a preference for selection of an area- or state-based installer, are contained in the RFP.
Once an installer is chosen, a series of energy education and outreach events will be offered within Columbia and Boone County, including both in-person and online activities. The goal is to increase awareness and participation through an understanding of rooftop solar components, suitability assessment considerations, and contract provisions.
Solarize Columbia is already accepting advance registrations for the forthcoming campaign. Interested residents may go to SolarizeColumbia.com to learn more about the program and sign up in advance to be first in line for a free evaluation.
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 will launch in June 2025..
Contact:
Ken Haldin
For SolarCrowdsource
(404) 405-2924
