Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Cherry Street Energy’s vertically-integrated business structure streamlines the incorporation of solar power for businesses and organizations. We design, build, monitor, and maintain industry-leading solar power systems for our customers, owning these systems over their lifetimes and providing the energy produced back to the facility the system resides on - selling it through a power purchase agreement to our customers at a competitively priced cents-per-kWh rate.
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Lower energy costs: Demand on the traditional grid has risen, whereas solar is flat, reliable, predictable and often less expensive than incumbent utility companies.
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Environmental: Solar is clean and renewable, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
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Diversification of electricity: Creates an alternative source of energy from the grid, helping to mitigate single points of failure.
Support job creation: We support a clean energy workforce through our Shine On program. A portion of these jobs directly support the local community.
Cherry Street has established itself as a leader in commercial solar development in the Southeast the past decade. Since our founding in 2015, we’ve successfully completed more than 140 commercial solar projects across diverse sectors including government, education, commercial, industrial, and non-profit organizations. Our vertically integrated structure means we handle every aspect of solar development in-house, from initial design through construction, operation, and maintenance.
Our financial foundation is robust, having raised over $100 million in capital since 2018. This financial strength enables us to confidently enter into and fulfill long-term agreements spanning 20-30 years. The fact that major financial institutions have chosen to partner with us validates the soundness of our business model and approach.
Our technical expertise spans a variety of installation types, from standard rooftop systems to ground-mounted arrays, solar canopies, and innovative solar walkways. This diverse portfolio demonstrates our ability to design custom solutions for virtually any facility type or location challenge. Our in-house engineering, construction, and operations teams ensure quality control at every stage of your project.
Beyond the core solar installation, we provide valuable additional services including complimentary energy usage analyses, sophisticated performance monitoring, and transparent reporting of environmental benefits. These tools help our customers maximize the value of their solar installation and effectively communicate their sustainability achievements.
We’re particularly proud of our customer satisfaction record. This speaks to our commitment to clear communication, quality work, and responsive service. We’re also dedicated to community development through our “Shine On®” workforce program, which trains and employs new solar installers with an emphasis on disadvantaged and minority-owned business enterprises.
A power purchase agreement (PPA) is a contract between an organization and an energy provider that outlines the terms by which the organization will buy energy from the provider. In the solar industry, this agreement allows companies like Cherry Street to sell renewable power to its customers.
In the state of Georgia, this agreement is technically known as a solar energy procurement agreement (SEPA). For a SEPA or PPA model, the best candidates are businesses with large flat roofs or available land. Organizations that have sustainability goals but don’t want to spend capital on a long payback, or those trying to gain some control over their electricity spend, are also good candidates.
Cherry Street will take advantage of the and pass that through to our stable, predictable energy pricing over the 20+ year term, which is enhanced by our ability to monetize tax incentives that would otherwise be unavailable to most non-profit, government, and commercial entities.
The installation timeline varies based on system size and complexity but typically ranges from 4 to 8 weeks for most commercial installations. Smaller systems may be completed in as little as two weeks, while larger or more complex installations might take longer.
We design our installation process to minimize disruption to your operations. Here’s what you can expect:
- Coordinated scheduling: Before construction begins, we work with your team to establish a timeline that accommodates your operational needs. If particular construction windows work better for your organization (such as summer months for schools or slower seasons for your business), we can schedule accordingly.
- Dedicated project team: Each project is assigned a dedicated Cherry Street Project Manager and Site Superintendent who serve as your primary points of contact throughout the installation. They ensure construction proceeds efficiently while respecting your site requirements.
- Minimal interior work: Most of the installation activity occurs on the roof or exterior spaces, with limited need to access interior areas except for electrical connections.
- Compliance with your protocols: As outlined in Section 3.1 of the agreement, we strictly adhere to “any Facility Site-specific policies and procedures governing site access, safety or security” that you provide. This includes following all security clearance procedures, parking restrictions, and noise limitations.
- Safe work zones: We establish clearly defined work areas that are safely separated from your normal operations, with appropriate barriers and signage.
The agreement provides flexibility to address any site-specific concerns you may have. While our standard agreement establishes general parameters for construction, we can adjust these terms to accommodate particular sensitivities or requirements at your facility.
Most customers find that our installation process causes minimal disruption to their daily operations, and many are surprised by how seamlessly the project proceeds from start to finish.
Typically, solar panels can last 25+ years with the proper operations and maintenance.
We are a behind-the-meter solution meaning we work in parallel with your incumbent utility. It is completely seamless, so you won’t be without power at night or when the sun isn’t shining.
We first work with them to understand your energy usage over the course of a year and at 15-30 minute intervals. Once we understand your usage profile, we size our systems to limit backfeeding into the grid. There is an interconnection agreement between the business, the utility, and Cherry Street.
We regularly monitor your energy production and system function. Maintenance of your system is included in our service at no additional cost to you.
You will continue to receive power from your utility with no service interruption. Because you only pay for the energy produced, we bear the risks of equipment failure.
Yes, absolutely. We provide all customers with complimentary access to the same advanced monitoring platform we use to track our systems’ performance. Through our online monitoring platform, you’ll have instant access to real-time data showing exactly how your solar system is performing.
The user-friendly customer portal gives you:
- Real-time and historical production data
- System performance analytics
- Environmental impact metrics
- Customizable reporting capabilities
Yes, we are able to offer battery storage and EV in a similar, no capital model.
Typically we use a ballasted system to avoid roof penetration where average weight is 3-5 lbs/sqft. Most roofs can accommodate 2-3 times this amount. We additionally get a third-part structural stamp on all of our designs.
The installation of our solar system is designed to have no negative impact on your existing roof warranty or building insurance.
Regarding roof warranties, our agreement addresses this concern in Section 5.4.1(iv):“Seller expressly acknowledges and agrees that Seller’s Work shall be performed using such contractors and construction methods (including, without limitation, coordinating any necessary approvals from the manufacturer and/or warrantor of any roof, if applicable) so as to not result in the invalidation of any roof warranties applicable to the Facility Site.”
Before installation, we coordinate directly with your roof manufacturer or warranty provider to ensure our mounting methods and installation procedures comply with their requirements. We obtain necessary approvals and documentation from the roof manufacturer to maintain the validity of your existing warranty. If any special mounting hardware or techniques are required to preserve the warranty, we implement these at our cost.
Yes, you will get a bill from us that is only for kWh. There are no surcharges, tariffs, or other hidden charges.
We typically see energy savings in the first year, but it depends on a few factors like a site’s energy needs and available space. Our team provides a complementary analysis to determine the best site and financial outcomes.
This is a reasonable question for any long-term agreement, though it’s important to note that Cherry Street Energy has established a solid financial foundation over our decade in business. We’ve raised over $100 million in capital since 2018, including significant strategic investment from EBSCO Industries in 2022, and we continue to grow with a business model designed for long-term stability.
That said, our agreement includes protections for customers in unlikely scenarios:
- Financing Party Protection: Solar facilities are valuable assets that serve as collateral for our financing. If Cherry Street were to face financial difficulties, the most likely scenario would involve our financing partners (banks or investors) stepping in to preserve the operation of the systems through their collateral rights under Section 19.1.1 of the agreement.
- Seamless Transition: In this scenario, the system would continue operating without disruption, and your rights and obligations under the agreement would remain unchanged. The only difference would be that you’d send your monthly payments to a different entity.
- System Purchase Option: Depending on the circumstances, you might have the option to purchase the system at fair market value, which could be advantageous depending on how long the system has been operating.
- Termination Rights: If a true bankruptcy occurred and the successor entity was unable to fulfill the maintenance and operational obligations under the agreement, you would likely have penalty-free termination rights based on that material breach.
Most solar systems continue operating regardless of the original developer’s status because the fundamental economics remain attractive to subsequent owners. The solar equipment produces valuable electricity for decades, making these assets worth preserving even if ownership changes.
We design our projects to be “bankable” assets that maintain their value over time, ensuring that even in unforeseen circumstances, the systems will continue to provide you with reliable, clean energy at predictable rates.