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Rooftop solar's dark side

Planet Money

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Financial Strategy Adaptations in Solar Industry

Solar companies adopted a similar financial strategy as banks during the financial crisis by bundling income streams from solar panel leases, PPAs, and loans to sell them as securities to investors. This approach allowed the companies to receive upfront cash instead of waiting for payments over several years. However, concerns arise about the transparency of passing tax credits to other companies or bundling payments into asset-backed securities. Customers feel neglected post-sale, implying they are viewed as income streams rather than valued clients. Despite leveraging tax credits and securities, these financial tactics did not entirely solve the financial challenges faced by solar companies.

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