Solar installations aren’t cheap, so in many cases, it’s necessary to secure financing to get your project off the ground.
Fortunately, there are many lenders across the US that are willing to provide the money required to invest in a solar system. And with all the available government tax credits and incentives, you might need to borrow less and could repay quicker than expected.
If you’re searching for a suitable solar lender for your farm or ranch, the following options are at your disposal.
Sustainable Lenders in Colorado
Colorado Clean Energy Fund
The Colorado Clean Energy Fund is a green bank and lender that provides loans to homeowners and businesses for installing renewable energy.
- Clean conversion loan: Up to $1 million, up to 15-year term, fixed below market rate;
- CCEF energy project accelerator loan: Up to $500,000, 2-10 year terms, fixed below market rate;
- Energy service agreement loan: $500,000 upwards, up to 25-year term, no interest rate – payments based on an energy service agreement, 100% tax deductible;
- Bridge loan: Up to $500,000, up to 36-month term, below market rates.
| Call | (720) 340-8232 |
| info@cocleanenergyfund.com | |
| Online contact form | https://cocleanenergyfund.com/contact |
| Address | Golden, CO 80401 |
C-PACE
C-PACE is a Colorado state-enabled financing mechanism for commercial business owners who want to invest in clean energy solutions. The funding is provided by private capital, and building owners pay back the cost at a gradual pace.
- Up to $5 million
- 20-30 years fixed-rate loan terms
- 100% upfront financing for eligible measures
C-PACE providers:
| CoPace | |
| Website | https://copace.com |
| Call | (877) 325-1882 |
| info@copace.com | |
| Online contact form | https://copace.com/contact-us |
| Imperial Ridge | |
| Website | imperialridgecap.com |
| Call | (303) 390.1655 |
| info@imperialridgecap.com | |
| Online contact form | http://imperialridgecap.com/c-pace |
| Nuveen | |
| Website | https://www.nuveen.com/greencapital |
| Call | (203) 875.9500 |
| greencapital@nuveen.com | |
| Online contact form | https://www.nuveen.com/greencapital/get-started-with-c-pace |
Alpine Bank
Alpine Bank provides green energy loans available for sustainable energy, including solar installations.
| Call | (800) 551-6098 |
| None | |
| Online contact form | https://www.alpinebank.com/who-we-are/contact-us.html |
| Address | 39 office locations throughout Colorado |
Colorado Department of Agriculture: Future Loans Program
The Colorado Department of Agriculture offers financing for beginning farmers and ranchers; the lending partner is 1st Southwest Bank.
- Future loan program
- Uses alternative forms of documentation to qualify – good for farmers who wouldn’t qualify for conventional lenders and loans
- Up to $750,000
- 1 – 20 year term
- 4% fixed rate
- Up to 5 years revolving credit
| Call | (303) 869-9021 |
| Info@ColoradoAgLoans.com | |
| Online Contact Form | https://coloradoagloans.com/contact |
| Address | 305 Interlocken Pkwy, Broomfield, CO 80021 |
Large Agricultural Lenders in Colorado
Farm Credit
The USA’s largest agricultural lender consists of a nationwide network of customer-owned financial institutions.
Here’s where you can get Farm Credit loans in Colorado:
AgLending
AgLending boasts six physical offices and one field office, depending on where you are based in Colorado. There is a single universal email address for all branches:
- contact@aglending.com
- Online contact form: https://aglending.com/contact-us
Available Branches:
| Burlington | |
| Call | (719) 346-5324 |
| Address | 549 S Lincoln St., Burlington, CO, 80807 |
| Colorado Springs | |
| Call | (719) 570-1087 |
| Address | 5110 Edison Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, 80915 |
| La Junta | |
| Call | (719) 384-4455 |
| Address | 1302 E. 3rd Street, La Junta, CO, 81050 |
| Lamar | |
| Call | (719) 336-7474 |
| Address | 1301 E. Olive St., Lamar, CO, 81052 |
| Limon | |
| Call | (719) 775-2838 |
| Address | 100 Main Street, Limon, CO, 80828 |
| Monte Vista | |
| Call | (719) 852-3341 |
| Address | 159 Washington St., Monte Vista, CO, 81144 |
| Westcliffe | |
| Call | (719) 304-2517 |
| Address | Field office |
Premier Farm Credit
Premier Farm Credit has four branches across Colorado. There is no email contact address but you can use the online form to get in touch:
- Online contact form: https://premieraca.com/contact
Available Branches:
| Fort Morgan | |
| Call | Call: (970) 867.4966 (Toll-Free: (877) 650.8239) |
| Fax | (970) 867.5221 |
| Address | P.O. Box 1097, 225 E. Railroad Ave, Ft. Morgan, CO 80701 |
| Sterling | |
| Call | (970) 522.2330 (Toll-Free: (800) 585.2338) |
| Fax | (970) 522.1342 |
| Address | P.O. Box 551, 229 S. 3rd Street, Sterling, CO 80751 |
| Yuma | |
| Call | (970) 848.5839 (Toll-Free: (800) 698.5341) |
| Fax | (970) 848.5283 |
| Address | P.O. Box 306, 700 W. 8th Ave , Yuma, CO 80759 |
| Holyoke | |
| Call | (970) 854.3585 (Toll-Free: (800) 585.2338) |
| Fax | None available |
| Address | 143 S. Campbell, Holyoke, CO 80734 |
American AgCredit
American AgCredit is spread across four Colorado locations. There is no email contact available.
Available Branches:
| Greeley | |
| Call | (970) 330-4071 |
| Fax | (970) 330-9220 |
| Address | Address: 4505 W. 29th Street, Greeley CO 80634 |
| Montrose | |
| Call | (970) 249-5274 |
| Fax | (970) 249-8850 |
| Address | 1404 Hawk Parkway, Suite 101, Montrose CO 81401 |
| Grand Junction | |
| Call | (970) 243-1784 |
| Fax | (970) 243-8792 |
| Address | 627 24 1/2 Road, Suite I, Grand Junction CO 81505 |
| Durango | |
| Call | (970) 259-1540 |
| Fax | (970) 259-1573 |
| Address | 850 E. Second Avenue, Durango CO 81301-5426 |
Farmloans.com
A large Colorado-based lender providing multiple different types of financing for farms and ranches. Multiple loan types offered up to $50 million.
| Call | (866) 929 5585 |
| contact@farmloans.com | |
| Online Contact Form | https://farmloans.com/contact |
| Address | 9898 Rosemont Ave STE 202, Lone Tree, CO 80124 |
AgAmerica Lending
A large nationwide lender for farms and agricultural businesses.
Lending conditions:
- Must own or plan to buy at least 25+ acres of land
- Loans offered at $50,000+
AgAmerica does lend in Colorado but it does not have a physical address in this state. The closest branch is in Idaho:
| Call | (844) 516.8176 |
| None available | |
| Online Contact Form | https://agamerica.com/contact |
| Address | 805 W Idaho St, Suite 200, Boise, ID, 83702 |
America Farm Mortgage
A nationwide agricultural lender based in Illinois. Loans are supplied via local brokers, but you can contact their central office to find out which brokers supply its loans in your area:
| Call | Toll-Free: (800) 876-2362 |
| None available | |
| Online Contact Form | https://www.americanfarmmortgage.com/about/contact-us.html |
| Head Office Address | 8901 Greeneway Commons Place, Suite 200, Louisville, Kentucky 40220 |
Colorado Banks for Agricultural Lending
| Bank Name | Location | Phone |
| TBK Bank, SSB | 43 branches in CO | (866) 644-3935 |
| Bank of Colorado | 44 branches in CO | Find numbers in branch locator |
| US Bank | 90 branches in CO | Find numbers in branch locator |
| Bank of the San Juans | 19 branches in CO | Find numbers in branch locator |
| Guaranty Bank and Trust Company | Longmont | (303) 678-4140 |
| High Plains Bank | Bennett Flagler Keenesburg Longmont Wiggins | (303) 644-4900 (719) 765-4000 (720) 702-0123 (303) 776-2265 (970) 483-7334 |
| Farmers Bank | Ault Fort Collins | (970) 834-2121 (970) 221-2020 |
| First Farm Bank | Greeley Yuma Sterling Tribune Springfield | (970) 346-7900 (970) 848-2779 (970) 522-2444 (719) 361-8700 (620) 376-2000 |
| FMS Bank | Greeley Fort Morgan | (970) 867-3319 |
| Farmers State Bank | Calhan Ellicott Falcon Kiowa | (719)347-2727 (719)683-3999 (719)495-3650 (303)621-0100 |
| Wray State Bank | Brush Wray Windsor | (970) 840-3090 (970) 332-4111 (970) 674-1488 |
| First National Bank | Colorado Springs Fowler La Junta Las Animas Monument Ordway Rocky Ford | (719) 955-5577 (719) 263-4261 (719) 384-4433 (719) 456-1512 (719) 481-0008 (719) 267-3531 (719) 254-7831 |
| Points West Community Bank | Fort Collins Greeley Downtown Greeley West Haxtun Julesburg Loveland Water Valley Wellington Windsor | (970) 546-0170 (970) 515-7000 (970) 330-1200 (970) 774-6141 (970) 474-3341 (970) 541-2520 (970) 674-3600 (970) 568-3250 (970) 686-0878 |
| First Pioneer National Bank | Wray Holyoke | (970) 332-4824 (970) 854-2227 |
| The Eastern Colorado Bank | Colorado Springs Burlington Limon Kit Carson | (719) 955-0633 (719) 346-5433 (719) 775-0990 (719) 962-3273 |
| MNB Bank | Burlington | (719) 346-5217 |
| Stockmens Bank | Colorado Springs Akron | (970) 514-2115 (719) 955-2800 |
| FirstOak Bank | Pueblo | (719) 544-2265 |
| GN Bank | EadsLamar | (719) 438-5331 (719) 336-4381 |
| McClave State Bank | McClave | (719) 829-4577 |
| First Southwest Bank | Saguache Center Alamosa Pagosa Springs Durango Cortez | (866) 641-3792 (866) 641-3792 (866) 641-3792 (866) 641-3792 (866) 641-3792 (866) 641-3792 (866) 641-3792 |
| Alamosa State Bank | Alamosa | (719) 589-2564 |
| RG Bank | Alamosa Monte Vista Pagosa Springs | (719) 589.2536 (719) 852.5933 (970) 731.4701 |
| Del Norte Bank | Del Norte Creede Alamosa | (719) 657-3376 (719) 658-0126 (719) 657-4553 |
| Community Bank of Colorado | Arvada Leadville Boulder Denver Highlands Denver Lowry Englewood Greenwood Village | (303) 345.2500 (719) 486.0420 (720) 697.7155 (303) 458.9340 (303) 344.1274 (303) 761.1052 (720) 554.6650 |
| Collegiate Peaks Bank | Buena Vista Salida Denver Tech Center Denver Denver River North Fort Collins | (719) 395-2472 (719) 539-1308 (720) 586-8850 (303) 481-1301 (303) 481-1380 (970) 266-0222 |
| InBank | Boulder Buena Vista Canon City Colorado Springs Denver Tech Center Lamar North Denver Pueblo Regency Park Pueblo Riverwalk Pueblo University Park Pueblo West Trinidad Wiley | (720) 617.0033 (719) 395-5873 (719) 276-2800 (719) 579-9150 (720) 552.8325 (719) 336-4800 (720) 452.7453 (719) 501-1400 (719) 546-0800 (719) 562-1800 (719) 647-1313 (719) 846.1600 (719) 829-4811 |
| United Business Bank | Crawford Delta Denver Fountain Fraser Granby Grand Lake Hotchkiss Kremmling Paonia Westcliffe | (970) 921.4122 (970) 874.5322 (303) 951.4234 (719) 382.5643 (970) 726.0414 (970) 887.1221 (970) 627.9500 (970) 822.4240 (970) 724.9445 (970) 822.4222 (719) 783.9211 |
| Kirkpatrick Bank | Colorado Springs Denver Westcliffe | (719) 866.6300 (303) 474.5000 (719) 783-2030 |
| Four Corners Community Bank | Cortez Durango | (970) 565.8421 (970) 259.0457 |
| The Dolores State Bank | Dolores Cortez Main Cortez East Mancos | (970) 882-7600 (970) 564-1400 (970) 565-5432 (970) 533-7736 |
| Timberline Bank | Grand Junction Aspen Montrose | (970) 683-5560 (970) 920-0112 (970) 240-5489 |
| Grand Valley Bank | Grand Junction 7th St Grand Junction 25 Rd Fruita Palisade Collbran | (970) 241-4400 (970) 241-4400 (970) 858-7555 (970) 464-5701 (970) 487-0202 |
| Mountain Valley Bank | Curve Plaza Wildhorse Meeker Walden Hayden Greeley Fort Collins | 970-870-6550 970-870-9990 970-878-0103 970-723-8221 970-276-9099 970-351-8600 970-472-7900 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Banks Give Loans for Solar Panels?
Banks and credit unions do give loans for solar panels. How much you can borrow for a solar installation will depend on the financial institution and your existing relationship with it, your credit score, and the overall market lending conditions.
Is It Worth Getting a Loan for Solar Panels?
It is worth getting a loan for solar panels, especially since energy bills are rising. Solar panels can provide up to 96% savings on your energy bills, which will allow you to cover the cost of your loan. Therefore, most solar loans can be paid off within five to ten years.
What Type of Loan Is Best for Solar?
A fixed-rate loan is best for solar panels because they generally provide lower rates and longer repayment terms in exchange for you putting your assets up as collateral. Unsecured loans are the least desirable option as these are more expensive overall than fixed-rate loans.
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Solar Loan?
Generally, to secure good repayment terms on your loan, a credit score of at least 600 is required. Some banks won’t accept anything less than 650 or even 700.
It is possible to secure solar loans with a score of less than 600 but your repayment terms will be less favorable.
Do Solar Loans Affect Your Credit?
A solar loan will boost your credit score but only if you make all your repayments on time and never miss a repayment. If you do miss repayments or pay late, this can negatively affect your credit score.