US Solar

What US Solar does

US Solar is a Minneapolis-headquartered private solar developer, owner, operator, and financier focused on regulated community solar programs in the United States. Founded in 2014 by John Carter (CEO & Founder), the company operates across Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, and New Mexico with additional offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia, and reports a portfolio of 200+ MW of completed projects alongside 2+ GW in construction and development as well as 5,000+ active subscribers across MN, IL, and CO. US Solar's regulated-program footprint is reinforced by geographic restrictions (Florida is not served), state-specific community solar programs, and joint utility partnerships such as USS Itasca Clean Energy LLC with Minnesota Power and Grand Rapids Public Utilities.

US Solar's core technology combines utility-scale photovoltaic generation, optional distributed energy storage, and specialized agrivoltaics deployments (crop research, pollinator habitat covering 680 acres, beekeeping, and sheep grazing) with a self-service "Sunscription" subscription platform at my.sunscription.com that bills subscribers monthly or annually and integrates with utility billing systems to deliver bill credits. The company holds registered trademarks on "Sunscription" and "See Solar in a New Light," operates the Sunscription Partner Program for employer-sponsored employee subscriptions, and maintains a long-standing research partnership with NREL through the InSPIRE project and ASTRO group. Product lines span Sunscription for Homes, Business, Governments, Landowners, and Utilities, plus a dedicated Energy Storage offering supporting peak demand reduction, energy shifting, supply firming, capacity contribution, and demand response.

The business model layers recurring residential and commercial Sunscription revenue (typical savings of $30-$60/month per residential subscriber, $250-$300/year for LMI households under Minnesota's LMIA CSG program), long-lived asset ownership economics on its operating fleet via PPAs and grid distribution, and large enterprise/employee partnership agreements including 8 MW with Wells Fargo across five Colorado CSGs and 14 community solar gardens with T-Mobile in Minnesota. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales ([email protected], [email protected]), an online self-service enrollment portal, and channel partner distribution through employer-based programs and Community Action Partners (Prairie Five, UCAP). Revenue and funding rounds are not publicly disclosed, and the operating model is complemented by development-stage asset divestitures, exemplified by the March 2026 sale of the 250 MW Wolf Creek Renewable Energy Center to Sol Systems.

Name

US Solar

Legal name

United States Solar Corporation

Website

https://us-solar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

US Solar is a Minneapolis-headquartered community solar developer that finances, builds, owns, and operates solar gardens, offering a "Sunscription" subscription service that delivers utility bill credits to residential, commercial, government, and utility subscribers across Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, and New Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Solar Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK)

Keywords

• Community solar gardens
• Solar subscription services
• Solar project development
• Distributed energy storage
• Agrivoltaics solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Community Solar Subscriptions (Sunscription): Residential and commercial customers pay US Solar for the energy produced by their Sunscription. Customers receive bill credits from their utility based on the solar garden's output, resulting in net savings on electricity costs. No upfront cost to subscribers; US Solar finances, builds, and operates the solar gardens.
2. Solar Project Development and Ownership: US Solar develops, owns, operates, and finances solar generation and storage projects. Revenue generated from energy production sold to utilities through power purchase agreements or grid distribution.
3. Corporate Partnership Programs: Enterprise clients like Wells Fargo and T-Mobile subscribe to large MW capacity for employee benefit programs, providing predictable subscription revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

US Solar (United States Solar Corporation) develops, owns, operates, and finances utility-scale community solar gardens and storage projects across emerging state markets (Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico). Its flagship "Sunscription" offering lets residential, commercial, government, and utility customers subscribe to a share of a local solar garden and receive bill credits on their electricity bills from their utility, with no upfront cost and no equipment installed on their property.

Product overview

US Solar operates a unified community solar platform centered on its Sunscription service, which enables residential, commercial, governmental, and utility customers to subscribe to locally-generated solar energy without installing panels on their property. The core offering consists of Solar Gardens—utility-scale solar installations that US Solar finances, builds, owns, and operates—paired with the Sunscription subscription model that delivers bill credits to subscribers. Additional products include Energy Storage systems for grid flexibility, Agrivoltaics programs combining solar with agriculture, and the Sunscription Partner Program for employer-sponsored sustainability initiatives. The company serves customers across Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, and New Mexico through state-specific programs, with individual project entities (USS [Name] Solar LLC) representing each solar garden location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sunscription: Community solar subscription program allowing customers to subscribe to solar energy through community solar programs, purchase renewable energy credits, and receive utility bill credits.

Products and services

• Sunscription Subscription product allowing residential, commercial, governmental, and utility customers to subscribe to a share of a US Solar community solar garden and receive monthly bill credits from their utility, without installing panels on their property.
• Solar Gardens Utility-scale community solar projects that US Solar develops, finances, owns, and operates; generation feeds the local grid and is allocated to subscribers through Sunscriptions.
• Energy Storage Distributed energy storage offering for utilities, businesses, and communities seeking peak demand reduction, energy shifting, supply firming, capacity contribution, and demand response capabilities.
• Agrivoltaics Program that combines solar generation with agricultural use of project land, including crop cultivation, beekeeping, sheep grazing, and pollinator-friendly habitat across solar sites.
• Sunscription Partner Program Employer-sponsored channel through which companies can offer community solar Sunscriptions to their workforce, with co-branded marketing and full-service program management by US Solar.
• Equity Solar Illinois (Joint Venture) Joint venture focused on equity-focused community solar development in Illinois, expanding clean energy access to underserved communities through state-specific CSG programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residential subscribers save $30-60 per month on electric bills
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prairie Five and United Community Action Partnership (UCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025Community Action Partners that help US Solar reach income-qualified households for the Minnesota LMIA CSG program. These partnerships enable enrollment of low-income subscribers who save $250-300 annually on electric bills.
• T-MobilecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 June 2022T-Mobile partnered with US Solar on 14 community solar gardens in Minnesota, enabling the telecom company to offer renewable energy benefits to its workforce and meet sustainability objectives.
• Wells FargocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 April 2022Wells Fargo subscribed to 8 MW of community solar capacity across five solar gardens in Colorado, serving nearly 100 retail and corporate locations. The partnership includes employee Sunscription offerings with guaranteed discounts and donations to Energy Outreach Colorado for low-income energy assistance.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit coalition that facilitated partnerships between US Solar and Community Action Partners to advance clean energy access for low-income households.
• NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partnership through the InSPIRE project and ASTRO group. US Solar collaborates with NREL on agrivoltaics research, including the Big River Farms partnership that combines solar with agriculture.
• Big River Farms / The Food GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgrivoltaics partnership at the Big Lake site where US Solar provides land access for emerging farmer incubator program while conducting crop research under solar panels.
• Connexus EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota electric cooperative partnered with US Solar and NREL on the Big River Farms agrivoltaics pilot project.
• Minnesota Power and Grand Rapids Public UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for USS Itasca Clean Energy LLC - a 2.0 MW solar garden in Grand Rapids, MN serving customers of both utilities.
• Equity Solar IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with Chicago business leaders to advance Illinois clean energy goals and expand equitable access to community solar, including state-first CSG projects in the Equity Eligible Contractor category.
• Energy Outreach ColoradominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor every Wells Fargo employee who completes their Sunscription, US Solar donates to Energy Outreach Colorado to support low-income Coloradans' energy costs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Nautilus Solar Energy: Community solar developer and owner/operator active in multiple US states. Directly comparable in community solar subscription model, subscriber acquisition, and asset ownership strategy.
• Clearway Community Solar: Community solar subscription business owned by Clearway Energy Group, operating community solar gardens in multiple states. Directly competes with US Solar in the Sunscription-style community solar subscription market.
• Sol Systems: Independent solar developer, owner, and operator with deep community solar and utility-scale development. Most direct comparable — Sol Systems acquired US Solar's 250 MW Wolf Creek project, confirming direct competition for project origination and capital.
• Borrego Solar: US-based solar developer and EPC with commercial, community, and utility-scale project experience. Comparable operating model across project development, ownership, and subscription services.
• Summit Ridge Energy: US community solar developer and owner-operator with one of the largest community solar portfolios in the country. Direct competitor in community solar subscription markets in IL and other shared geographies.
• Cypress Creek Renewables: One of the largest community solar developers in the US, with operations in many of the same states as US Solar (MN, IL, CO). Directly comparable community solar subscription model and customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Avantus (formerly 8minute Solar Energy): Large-scale US solar developer with utility-scale and community solar development across multiple states. Significantly larger pipeline and competes for the same interconnection queue positions and utility offtake contracts.
• Lightsource bp: Global utility-scale solar developer with US operations developing community solar and utility-scale projects. Significantly larger capital base and competes for the same development sites and offtake contracts.
• ENGIE Distributed Solar: Utility-affiliated solar and storage developer with a substantial US community solar portfolio. Operates at much larger scale than US Solar and competes for utility RFPs and community solar program capacity.

Emerging players

• Arcadia: Clean energy data platform that enables community solar subscription management and household clean energy access. Partial overlap as a community solar channel, with technology rather than asset ownership as its core business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/USSOLAR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ussolar
• Facebookfacebook.com/USSOLARcorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ussolarcorporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ussolarcorp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about US Solar