Solar

The City of Tampa is working on several policy and program updates to support solar and renewable forms of energy. The City of Tampa is U.S. Department of Energy SolSmart Bronze recipient, meaning the city thoroughly reviews ordinances and building codes to make faster, easier, and more affordable for homes and businesses to install solar. The City currently assessing city-owned real estate and roof space to add solar arrays in support of Mayor Castor’s pledge to transition City operations to 100% renewable energy.

For more information about installing solar on your home, visit https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/

Switch Together Tampa

Switch Together is an educational and solar group buying program offered in partnership with the national nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN). The City of Tampa has partnered with SUN for several years to offer residents a resource to learn about and access solar in a co-op model (See our past 2024 co-op). The 2026 program continues to offer residents and small businesses the opportunity to determine whether solar is the right fit for them through free educational resources and information sessions with no obligations. Those interested in taking the next step to installation will also have the opportunity to take part in Switch Together’ s group-buying program. Switch Together’s group-buying model offers participants guidance from the expertise of nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, more competitive pricing (similar to buying from a bulk warehouse rather than a traditional supermarket), and consumer protection with quality products and licensed installers. Switch Together ensures that participants have access to the resources they need to make an informed decision about whether solar is the right fit for their home or business. Batteries and EV chargers are also available through this program. As a note, batteries are often required if you would like your solar investment to provide energy when the local utility grid is not operational, such as during power outages caused by natural disasters.

Education

This program offers free educational webinars and in-person events to explain the process and answer any questions you may have about solar energy. To see the latest list, please see the Florida tab here. Solar United Neighbors’ also offers pro bono consultations through Helpdesk year-round.

Important Dates

May 2026: City of Tampa and SUN partner to launch the 2026 Program
Saturday May 30, 2026: visit SUN’s booth at the City of Tampa’s 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Expo
Saturday June 27, 2026 11 am – 12:30 pm: SUN and the Sustainability & Resilience Team at the City of Tampa will host an in-person solar information session to give an overview of solar energy, Solar United Neighbors (SUN), and provide details about the Switch Together program. Attendees can be at any stage of their solar journey and do not have to be interested in installation to attend. This is meant to be a beginner-friendly session. Sign up here
Deadline September 2, 2026: Those interested in exploring installation through Switch Together can sign up for free at SwitchTogether.com/Solar/Tampa by September 2 2026. There is no obligation to install solar through this program or accept the provided offer.

Still have questions? Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.

How does Switch Together work?

Switch Together organizes groups of residents who are interested in going solar. By organizing a group purchase of solar panels, Switch Together can get a better deal for everyone in the group.