The federal residential solar credit expired. The commercial credit didn’t — and it still applies to systems
owned by a third party. So we own the system, claim the credit, and pass the value back to you as one discounted
prepayment. With a clear path to owning it in Year 6.
Under Section 48E, commercial solar — including third-party-owned residential systems —
still earns the federal credit and accelerated depreciation. As the owner of the system during your lease term, the
leasing entity captures that value and uses it to cut your prepaid rent. It’s a long-established, IRS-recognized
structure used industry-wide, and the paperwork comes from the Amicus Solar Cooperative that we co-own with dozens
of other independent installers.
Five stages, from your prepayment to owning the system outright.
One discounted prepayment covers your first five lease years. No monthly payment, no credit check, no loan.
We design, install, own, insure, monitor and maintain the system at no out-of-pocket cost, backed by a production guarantee.
Take full ownership of the system for its fair market value — a minimal cost by then. Or keep leasing; the window comes back around.
Not ready to own? Continue at a low fixed monthly payment with a guaranteed 0% annual escalator, and we keep servicing it.
Once you own it the payments stop and the savings don’t, under 25-year performance and workmanship warranties.
Enphase microinverters with Tesla Powerwall 3 backup, installed by our own crews — chosen for
domestic content and for keeping your house running when the grid goes down.
Traditional leases are 25-year finance agreements with escalating payments, penalty buyouts, and a lender
in another state. Here’s the difference, line by line.
| SA Impact Prepaid Lease | Finance-company lease | |
|---|---|---|
| Why we lease it to you | To get more Gulf Coast homes on solar now that the residential credit is gone. | To earn a return on financing. |
| Payment structure | One upfront prepayment covering the first 5 years, at up to 30% off. No escalator if you extend. | $0 down, then 20-25 years of monthly payments, often with a 2.9-3% annual escalator. |
| Path to ownership | Buy the system at fair market value starting in Year 6. | Built for the lender to hold 25 years; buyouts are late or penalized. |
| Selling your home | Seamless transfer — the initial term is prepaid, so no buyer credit qualification. | Buyer must financially qualify to assume the lease, or you buy out at a penalty. |
| Who is accountable | One local team. Solar Alternatives designs it, installs it, monitors it and services it. | An out-of-state finance company with subcontracted maintenance. |
| Production guarantee | Yes. | Rarely. |
| Effective cost | A discounted upfront cost that reflects the federal commercial credit. | Total payments over 25 years significantly exceed the value of the system. |
The residential credit (25D) expired. The commercial credit (48E) did not, and it applies to third-party-owned systems. Because the leasing entity owns the system during your term, the project qualifies — and that value comes back to you as a lower prepayment.
Not every home does. The largest discounts go to homes inside a federal energy community, where the project earns bonus credit. Outside those areas it is smaller. We check your address before quoting.
No. Traditional leases are 25-year finance agreements with escalating payments. This is a prepaid lease with a five-year initial term, a 0% escalator, and an ownership window in Year 6.
Enphase microinverters paired with Tesla Powerwall 3 battery backup — chosen to maximize domestic content and keep your home powered through outages.
Send us a recent power bill. We’ll size a system, confirm your energy-community status, and show the prepaid number
next to a cash purchase and a loan. No credit check, no obligation.
Request my proposal
or call 504-274-1958
