Virginia’s -First In The Nation- Bulk Solar Buying Cuts Costs and Boosts Adoption

Virginia launched the first statewide bulk-purchasing campaign for rooftop solar to reduce installation costs and lower energy bills.

The Virginia state government, together with Solar United Neighbors (SUN), initiated Switch Together to pool demand for rooftop solar installations and pass discounts to residents, small businesses, and nonprofits. This structural approach aims to make solar power more accessible and reduce strain on the electrical grid.

Since launching last month, the campaign has attracted over 4,300 information requests and resulted in 120 signed contracts, with expectations to reach about 500 by the October 15 deadline. Installation discounts range from 20% to 30%, potentially cutting $2,200 off the average annual utility bill and adding nearly four megawatts of solar capacity. The program also offers access to discounted home batteries, electric vehicle chargers, and heat pumps in some areas. SUN’s local experience, including a Richmond campaign, demonstrates that direct marketing and local government partnerships significantly boost solar adoption.

The campaign will conclude October 15, with plans to expand into extreme southwest Virginia next year.

Montana businesses and residents might consider bulk-purchasing models like Virginia’s to overcome high upfront solar costs in rural or dispersed communities. Given Montana’s geography and dispersed population, pooling demand could create economies of scale that individual installations alone cannot achieve, potentially easing energy expense volatility across the state.

Virginia to cut rooftop solar costs with nation-first bulk-buy program
By @CanaryMediaInc, Canary Media