FAQ:

The Registered Installer Program is designed for solar installation companies that want to offer Clean Energy Credit Union’s loan products directly to their customers. Registered Installers gain access to our financing platform, loan portal, and support resources to streamline the clean energy financing process. The purpose of the Program is to ensure high-quality service for both our members and their contractors/installers, Clean Energy Credit Union requires that solar loan applicants work with approved solar dealers ensuring an efficient lending process.

Yes, in order to become a Registered Dealer for our solar loans, they must go through a formal application, evaluation, and selection process. Our intention with this vetting process is to help improve the quality, longevity, and customer experience for our Members’ solar projects. That being said, Registered Dealers are independent contractors and are not affiliated with Clean Energy Credit Union. Clean Energy Credit Union does not endorse or make any representations or warranties with respect to the quality of work provided by Registered Dealers, and it is the responsibility of our Members and prospective Members to interview and select a solar dealer that meets their needs.

No, there are no required “dealer fees” (or “seller’s points”) for buying down a Customer’s loan rate, and instead, this
is completely optional. However, Contractors must pay a technology fee for each loan that is closed/funded via the
Blueprint online dealer portal (which is deducted from the loan disbursement to the Contractor). Currently, the
technology fee is $35, but this amount is subject to change. Also, Contractors may optionally access an early loan
disbursement (outlined above) for a net $250 fee.

We will do our best to send periodic emails to update you on your status as we work through our review. If you have pressing questions, you can reach us by sending an email to energyteam@cleanenergycu.org.

• Time in business: Registered Installers must have been operational for at least 3 years to meet the requirement of submitting 2 years of financials.
• Installing solar: Our priority is to work with solar installers rather than other 3rd party organizations.
• Financial stability: Businesses must demonstrate financial stability and show no risk of going out of business.
• Staff Requirements:
  • At least one NABCEP certified installer on staff.
  • At least one Master Electrician on staff.
  • At least four employees.
  • Customer centric business practices:
• Customer centric business practices:
  • Transparent pricing
  • Avoids high pressure sales

Once you have completed the initial application, our team will begin our review. From there the process includes:

1. Complete the application on the Clean Energy CU website.
2. A mutual NDA will be sent to you via email. Please complete it so we can move forward with the application process.
3. If your company’s application is approved, you’ll then complete the remainder of our Registered Installer application which requires submission of company financials, business formation documents, tax returns and more.
4. Once those documents have been reviewed, we will schedule a meeting with your team so that we can get to know each other better and allow for Q&A in both directions.
5. If accepted to become a Registered Installer your company will sign a dealer agreement and we will begin providing instructional materials and training for your team and portal logins.
6. Once onboarding is complete and your team can begin initiating loans with your customers in our Installer portal.

The wait time varies based on our team’s capacity to effectively manage the needs of current dealers and onboard new dealers. We receive applications daily and try to move them through the process as efficiently as possible. Upon our review of your initial application, we will send out an email notification updating you on next steps.

Yes, you can “invest” in Clean Energy Credit Union by either making a checking, savings, or money market account deposit or by purchasing a “clean energy CD.” Any such deposits or CDs are insured by the federal government up to $250k per person or per organization. The Credit Union does not have “owners” or “investors” in the same way that a for-profit bank would. Instead, the Credit Union is democratically owned by all of its members. Members then elect the Credit Union’s volunteer Board of Directors on a one-vote-per-member basis and earn “dividends” or interest on their deposits.

In addition, the federal government requires that all banks and credit unions be capitalized with $1 in “net worth” or “net assets” for every $14 that they can accept in federally insured deposits. As 501(c)(1) not-for-profit organizations, federally chartered credit unions like ours can only build their net worth or net assets in two ways: (1) via retained earnings (i.e. profit); and (2) via donations from supporters. Making a donation to a credit union is very similar to making a donation to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the first few years, we intend to raise over $5M in donations and accept $50M in deposits. Click here if you’d like to make a donation.