The Arizona Republic
Regarding “Costs of rooftop solar out of reach for many in Ariz.,” Republic, Monday:
I am an energy consultant with SolarCity, the largest residential solar provider in Arizona, and I’ve lived in the Valley since the 1980s. I’ve seen too many lower-income homeowners benefit from rooftop solar to read an article like this and not reply.
Rooftop solar is within greater reach of Arizona’s middle class than ever before. Solar leasing now allows customers to put zero dollars down, install a system for free and replace their current electric bill with a new bill that is lower and fixed. In a tough economy, it’s a powerful tool for families and seniors on fixed incomes.
Buried at the end of the article, former Arizona Corporation Commission Chairwoman Kris Mayes said, “The wealth disparity is not as big a deal with the advent of the leasing model.”
Indeed, solar leasing has been the majority of our business for nearly five years now.
Prior to the advent of leasing, solar really was beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest Arizonans. But the major story line of the past half-decade has been solar’s growing affordability for middle-class homeowners and growing economic contribution to Arizona and other states.
Let’s let the politicians do the spinning and get the reporters back to presenting the facts.
— Christopher Maddox, Gilbert
