Bonnell Motors, a family owned and operated Ford dealership in Winchester, MA, recently invested $1 million to install a solar power system.
The 352-kilowatt system is comprised of 352 solar panels, designed to produce 96% of the energy Bonnell Motors uses, meaning the business will be producing almost all of its power.
Founded in 1925, Bonnell Motors is a trusted new and used car dealership in the Greater Boston metro area. As EVs’ share of the new-car sales market continues to grow, Bonnell Motors made the investment to install charging stations for the dealership and the public to use. Installing a solar system was a natural next step for Bonnell’s transition to clean energy.
The investment was financed through a 10-year loan by commercial solar loan platform Sunstone Credit Inc., which said traditional bank financing can prevent businesses from going solar due to high upfront costs. But by working with Sunstone, Bonnell Motors quickly received the $1 million in financing it needed to pay for its solar system.
Bonnell Motors and Sunstone Credit worked with 621 Energy, a Concord, MA-based builder, owner, operator and servicer of solar photovoltaic systems for businesses and nonprofits, to complete the installation process in just three months.
“We considered a number of solutions to reduce our carbon footprint and save on utility costs, and going solar seemed like the perfect answer. By partnering with Sunstone Credit, we were able to make the switch much sooner than we imagined,” said Steven Bonnell, president of Bonnell Motors. “From financing to installation, the process couldn’t have been any easier, and we instantly started saving thousands on our electric bill.”
Bonnell Motors originally connected with Sunstone through 621 Energy, a member of Sunstone’s nationwide network of channel partners.
Duncan Hinkle, Sunstone Credit COO, said solar can help dealerships, which use a lot of power for everything from showrooms to floodlights, reduce overhead by changing the way they do business.
“Additionally, with the rise of electric vehicles, there's a growing interest in where that electricity comes from,” Hinkle said. “If a solar system powers not just a business but also a car, it effectively turns the roof into a gas station. This synergy between the auto and solar industries will likely increase as more people electrify their vehicles.”
