Get Involved

Whether you want to support the research mission, save on your electricity bill, or invest in the project’s future, there’s a meaningful path for you.

Common questions

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes. Mirasol Agrivoltaics is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-2341870). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Am I buying solar panels?

No. The solar infrastructure is financed separately through project investment and tax credit structures. Donations support the nonprofit’s public-benefit work: research, education, and community programming.

What risks does the project face?

Like any infrastructure project, the path to construction involves permitting, final engineering, and financing. We’ve already completed preliminary engineering, secured an interconnection agreement with DMEA, and committed a construction partner. The primary remaining step is assembling the final capital stack.

Why is timing urgent?

Construction must begin by July 4, 2026 for the project to qualify for the Investment Tax Credit — a key component of the financing structure. This is a real and immovable deadline.

Can I visit the project?

Yes. Once operational, Thistle Whistle Farm will host field days, farmer trainings, community tours, and research demonstrations. Add your name to our mailing list to be notified.

02 — Become a Subscriber

Save on your electricity bill while supporting local farms

Community solar subscribers receive a 15–20% reduction in electricity costs (or equivalent financial benefit) by subscribing to a share of the Thistle Whistle Community Solar installation. No rooftop panels required — your subscription is administered through your existing DMEA account.

The subscriber program prioritizes farms, farmworker households, agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations, with weighting toward low- and moderate-income participants.

Express Interest

Subscriber enrollment opens when the project reaches construction. Register your interest now to be notified first.

What to expect

1
Register interest
Fill out the member interest form. You’ll be added to the notification list for when enrollment opens.
2
Subscribe through DMEA
Once operational, subscribers enroll through their existing Delta Montrose Electric Association account.
3
Receive savings on your bill
Your bill reflects a 15–20% reduction based on your subscription share of the solar generation.
4
Stay connected
Subscribers receive project updates, invitations to field days, and access to research findings from the CSU partnership.
03 — Partner With Us

Mission-aligned capital and institutional partnership

The Thistle Whistle Community Solar project has a total capital requirement of $2.98 million. The project qualifies for a 50% Investment Tax Credit — captured as Direct Pay because of nonprofit ownership — covering approximately $1.49M. The remaining $1.49M is the financing target.

The ITC is structured as a 30% base credit plus a 10% adder for serving low- and moderate-income subscribers and a 10% adder for location in a designated Energy Community — reflecting the North Fork Valley's coal transition history.

Bridge financing is needed to cover construction costs ahead of ITC direct pay disbursement. We welcome conversations with foundations, CDFIs, rural development lenders, impact investors, and organizations interested in supporting rural clean energy equity in Colorado.

Get in Touch

Capital stack

  • ◆ITC Direct Pay — ~$1.49M (50% tax credit via nonprofit Direct Pay election)
  • ◆Bridge financing — construction loans at 4–6% target rate to cover timing gap before ITC disbursement
  • ◆Grant funding — Congressionally Directed Spending, Colorado Department of Agriculture, foundations
  • ◆Mission-aligned lending and CDFI financing

“These projects demonstrate how rural communities can lead the way in innovative clean energy solutions that preserve farmland, benefit residents, and integrate with local livelihoods.”

Pete Kolbenschlag — Colorado Farm & Food Alliance
Community voices

What the community is saying

“I believe this project will benefit not only our market’s offerings, but our greater producers’ community by generating practical knowledge about agrivoltaic growing systems, improving crop reliability, and supporting more consistent access to culturally relevant specialty crops for Colorado communities.”

Beth Coop — Gunnison Farmers Market Manager

“The Gunnison Valley Producers’ Guild supports this work because it generates research-backed best practices for agrivoltaic systems, which our members can use to make informed decisions pertaining to their own cultivation methods in this challenging growing environment.”

Max Sawyer — Gunnison Valley Producers’ Guild President

“The Western Slope of Colorado is a difficult place to successfully grow crops due to a relatively short growing season, variable climatic events, and marginal soils. As agrivoltaic installations become more widespread, we will need to gain new knowledge about what vegetables, herbs, and small fruits thrive in this niche environment underneath solar panels.”

Brad Tonnesen & Alissa Sarno — CSU Rogers Mesa & Orchard Mesa Research Centers

Stay connected as we build

Add your name to our mailing list to receive project updates, field day invitations, and news as we move toward construction. You can also express interest in becoming a community solar subscriber.