Tesla’s SolarCity expands in Florida through its partnership with Airbnb

Tesla and Airbnb, a home-sharing platform, have been getting closer through partnerships over the last year. First directly between the two companies when they announced a new program to install charging stations at Airbnb host homes and then through SolarCity after the announcement of the merger with Tesla. The solar installer partnered with Airbnb to install solar arrays at a $1,000 discount for hosts.

Now that Tesla is expanding SolarCity’s market to Florida, it opens up the partnership to several more eligible hosts.

Airbnb confirmed that the program is now available in the Greater Orlando area in Central Florida.

Following the election, SolarCity expanded in Florida after a long battle against local utilities. Despite its “Sunshine State” nickname, Florida ranks among the lowest states for solar power deployment thanks to anti-solar regulations backed by local electric utilities.

Recent popular support and the rejection of the anti-solar Amendment 1 during the election encouraged solar installers to come to the state.

SolarCity, which is now part of Tesla, started by opening a local installation center in Clermont to serve customers of Duke Energy and Orlando Utilities Commission in the greater Orlando area.

Today, Airbnb said that it estimates that nearly 12,000 Airbnb listings in the region are now eligible for this program with SolarCity.

The incentive has a deadline, but they say that they plan on renewing the program if it proves successful. The $1,000 discount is applicable on a SolarLease, SolarPPA, or Purchase Agreement through 3/31/2017, and the discount goes down to $750 through 12/31/2017. Airbnb hosts can apply here to get the discount. Though it’s important to note that SolarCity does not offer solar lease options in Florida.

During the original announcement in October, Toby Corey, SolarCity’s President of Global Sales and Customer Experience at SolarCity, said that he expects the partnership will help them reach young millennial homeowners who represent a significant demographic for Airbnb.

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