Grow Solar St. Louis — Affordable Solar for All
Grow Solar St. Louis, part of Grow Solar Gateway Region, is a public education and group purchasing program for residential and small commercial solar. Offered by the Missouri Botanical Garden, Washington University in St. Louis, and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, property owners throughout the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County may participate in this program to help pool their buying power to secure significant discounts that make installing solar more affordable.
Live across the River? Check out Grow Solar Metro East!
How to Participate
Start by attending a Solar Power Hour. Our free virtual information session teaches you the basics of solar, its financial implications for your property, and how the Grow Solar St. Louis program works.
Then, get a free, no obligation solar consultation from our competitively-selected installer, Nelnet Renewable Energy.
Have questions about your site assessment and cost estimate? Reach out to Nelnet at or at 312-859-3417 and mention Grow Solar St Louis.
Do you represent an organization or municipality looking to further its sustainability goals? Become a local partner of our next program and bring affordable solar to your community!
Contact our local program partner Katherine Golden at the Missouri Botanical Garden to get details on how your organization can support our next solar group buy program.
Have questions about going solar?
Knowledge is power and education is the first and most important step when beginning your solar journey. With the tools below, you can ensure the quality and protection of your investment.
Grow Solar’s Consumer Guide breaks down the process in a simple guide. Where as MREA’s Community Resources allows you to dive deeper to understand the technology, provides step-by-step of going solar, FAQs and more!
Upcoming Solar Power Hours & Events
Remaining Solar Power Hours
Virtual Solar Power Hour: Wednesday, September 27, 6:00-7:00 p.m on Zoom (click here to register) – Co-Hosted by the City of Webster Groves
In-Person Solar Power Hour: Tuesday, October 3, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Urban Chestnut Grove Bierhall: 4465 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis – Co-Hosted by the City of St. Louis
In-Person Solar Power Hour: Thursday, October 5, 5:00-6:00 p.m. at the Webster Groves Recreation Center, 33 E. Glendale Road, Webster Groves, MO – Co-Hosted by the City of Webster Groves
In-Person Solar Power Hour: Wednesday, October 18, 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Bar K, 4565 McRee Ave, St. Louis – Co-Hosted by the Green Dining Alliance and the Sustainable Backyard Network
Help spread the word! The only way this program is successful is through community- led outreach. Please considering sharing with your networks because the more people who go solar through the program, the lower the price for all.
One Program, Big Impact
Since 2019…
1,161 people attended Solar Power Hours
170 properties added solar
1,118 kilowatts of solar have been installed
Every year, that’s like avoiding:
2,539,078 miles driven by the average passenger vehicle
1,116,665 lbs. of coal burned
OR like 42,988 trash bags recycled rather than landfilled
Grow Solar St. Louis in the News
Realtime Real Estate – Community – Residential Solar Power – 07/23/2021
FOX 2 Now – Grow Solar St. Louis explains benefits of adding solar panels to homes – 07/09/2021
Yale Climate Connections – Missouri Botanical Garden helps local residents go solar – 05/08/2020
Washington University in St. Louis – Sustainability doesn’t stop – 04/22/2020
Earthworms Podcast with Jean Ponzi – Grow Solar is Charging up Metro St. Louis, MO and IL – 08/28/19