News > Phoenix and Tucson: Expanding Arizona’s solar access

Phoenix and Tucson: Expanding Arizona’s solar access

• Solar accessibility

March 28, 2025

• Krupa Bharodiya

Arizona is one of the sunniest states in the U.S. — yet, for many families, the benefits of solar energy remain out of reach due to high upfront costs. Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is working to change that. Through initiatives in Phoenix and Tucson, SUN is making rooftop solar more accessible to families who demonstrate financial need based on their income level. Families who may not have otherwise been able to afford solar can now reduce their electricity bills, take control of their energy future, and increase their energy resilience These programs not only provide direct relief to homeowners but also serve as models for the upcoming statewide Solar For All initiative, launching later this year. 

Phoenix program highlights

Between 2023 and 2024, 10 income-qualified families in Phoenix received free solar installations through the Phoenix Solar Energy Assistant Program, a partnership between the City of Phoenix and SUN. With a total capacity of 63.11 kW, these installations are already helping families cut their energy costs dramatically.

“Our electricity bills the summer before we got solar panels were between $420–$450 every month. We haven’t had a bill yet this year, and the electric company actually has owed us money every bill since we’ve had the panels installed,” said Sondra Cevelin, a Phoenix homeowner who went solar through the program. Sondra’s 6.93 kW array, installed at no cost, has eliminated her winter electricity bills and also provided her family with a sense of energy security, and independence.

The program’s impact exceeded expectations. Arizona Public Service (APS) customers saw, on average, a 78% reduction in monthly electricity costs, while Salt River Project (SRP) customers saved about 58% monthly. Over the 25-year lifespan of the systems, participating families will save between $21,656 and $42,066, depending on their utility provider. The systems will offset 845.9 metric tons of CO2 cumulatively, contributing to Arizona’s solar energy transition. 

“Our goal was that anyone who got solar through the Phoenix Solar Energy Assistance Program would experience about a 50% decrease in their annual electricity cost,” said SUN’s Arizona Program Director, Adrian Keller. “The fact that we exceeded that goal shows how impactful these programs can be.”

Tucson program expansion

SUN has operated a similar income-qualified solar assistance program in Tucson since 2021. In 2024, five eligible households each received stipends of $7,000 for their solar installations.

For solar owners Jess and Timothy, affordability was a key factor. “I knew I wanted to figure out how to do solar,” Timothy said. “I thought it would take a couple years to figure it out. I didn’t think I’d do it in the first year we moved in.” His curiosity led him to interview various solar companies, but none seemed to provide the transparency and affordability he wanted.

That changed when he found Solar United Neighbors. “I’m really into cooperative models, so I was actively searching for one,” Timothy explained. Like many homeowners, one of their biggest concerns was cost. Since their system was turned on, the family’s electric bill has been zero. Jess and Timothy have been vocal advocates for the co-op. “We’ve told everyone about it,” he said. “Our friends who’ve bought houses around us — we encourage them to look into SUN.”

Interconnection

These programs are about more than cost savings. They also drive community awareness and advocacy. Many participants, including Sondra, have expressed a newfound sense of pride in solar energy. “We’re a middle-class neighborhood, and most people think they can’t afford solar panels,” she said. “But now that I have them, my neighbors are asking questions, and I tell them it’s possible.” The powerful ripple effect of these programs is clear: Neighbors connecting to neighbors, families advocating for energy solutions, and entire communities reaping the benefits of solar energy. 

The success in Phoenix and Tucson serves as blueprints for Arizona’s Solar For All initiative, launching later this year. The statewide program will bring solar access to thousands of households, further breaking down financial barriers to solar energy adoption.

As Arizona continues to add solar energy, programs like these are ensuring that no one is left behind in the solar energy transition. “Thanks to Solar for All, we now have an opportunity to give anyone who wants to go solar the ability to do so, regardless of income or homeownership status,” said Yesenia Rivera, SUN’s Vice President of Solar Access and Affordability. 

What’s next

SUN’s work in Phoenix and Tucson is more than just a series of solar installations, it’s a model of how solar energy can be scaled to benefit entire communities. Community-driven solar programs like these demonstrate the power of collective action in making solar energy solutions accessible to all. By removing financial barriers and educating homeowners, these programs prove that solar energy isn’t just an environmental choice; it’s an economic one.

As Arizona prepares for the statewide rollout of Solar For All, now is the time to join the movement. Whether you’re a homeowner interested in solar or a community member wanting to advocate for energy equity, there’s a role for everyone in shaping Arizona’s solar future. The sun shines on all of us, let’s make sure its benefits do too.