GoodLeap solar leases and PPAs: A leading $0-down option in a post-tax-credit market

The residential solar market looks very different in 2026 than it did just a year ago. With the federal tax credit for homeowners expired, loans and cash purchases no longer come with the 30% incentive that once made ownership the obvious financial winner. As that math has changed, third-party ownership (TPO)—including solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPA)—has returned to center stage.

That’s where GoodLeap comes in.

Best known as a prominent solar loan provider, GoodLeap has financed more than $32 billion in sustainable home projects since 2018. In 2024, the company expanded into leases and PPAs, and those $0-down products are now a growing part of its strategy.

Let’s break down how GoodLeap’s lease and PPA offerings work, what makes them different, and when they make more sense than owning your system.

GoodLeap offers both solar leases and PPAs, giving homeowners a $0-down path to solar with long-term payment predictability and additional consumer safeguards.

With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount to use the system on your roof. With a PPA, you pay for the electricity the system produces at a set per-kilowatt-hour rate. GoodLeap uses a “balanced billing” approach for its PPA, smoothing payments over the year instead of allowing seasonal swings based on production. That added predictability can make budgeting easier than a traditional month-to-month PPA.

Both products run for 25 years and may include an annual escalator, though 0% escalator options are available. GoodLeap also allows homeowners to buy out the system after five years at fair market value, offering a path to ownership if you want that. 

“We offer a range of escalators, usually between 0% and 2.99% annually. But depending on the state, rates can be slightly higher—into the 3% range—in markets with higher energy prices,” Christopher Hansen, director of marketing at GoodLeap, told EnergySage. He said escalator rates are largely influenced by state-level electricity prices.

GoodLeap also emphasizes consumer education and contract transparency, building explanatory materials directly into its agreements and incorporating additional verification steps for certain homeowners. In a market built around long-term contracts, GoodLeap’s focus on clarity and process is a meaningful differentiator.

GoodLeap vs. other solar financing options

Consumer protection is a core focus

GoodLeap places significant emphasis on consumer education and transparency. The company builds educational materials directly into its agreements so you understand exactly what you're signing up for before you commit. GoodLeap also takes extra steps to protect higher-risk customers, such as elderly homeowners, through additional verification and outreach during the sales process.

Scale and financial stability

GoodLeap is one of the largest financing platforms in the residential clean energy space, facilitating more than $32 billion in financing for sustainable home improvements since 2018 and serving over a million homeowners nationwide. That level of scale carries weight when you’re committing to a 25-year agreement—you want confidence the company will be around for the long haul.

Active in solar policy

Beyond financing, GoodLeap plays an active role in shaping the policy environment for residential solar. In early 2025, the company joined the board of directors of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the solar and storage industry. According to GoodLeap’s vice president of public affairs, the board seat provides an opportunity to work with industry peers and policymakers to “sustain and grow the American solar industry” while delivering “meaningful energy bill savings and reliability benefits to millions of households.”

GoodLeap’s policy involvement goes beyond corporate positioning. GoodLeap actively participated in larger industry efforts to preserve the residential solar tax credit (25D) and the commercial investment tax credit (Section 48E). While the residential solar tax credit was cut for systems installed after 2025, the commercial tax credit remains available through at least 2027 for installations placed in service before the deadline. This credit helps GoodLeap pass savings on to homeowners through lower monthly payments. Without it, the economics of leases and PPAs would look very different.

You want to own your system

With a GoodLeap lease or PPA, the panels on your roof remain the company’s property. If ownership is your priority, consider a solar loan (GoodLeap offers these as well)—or a pre-paid TPO product if you want eventual ownership while still taking advantage of the 30% tax credit.

You want to maximize long-term savings (and avoid escalator surprises)

Leases and PPAs deliver immediate savings, but they typically don’t provide the same lifetime return as owning your system outright. If maximizing long-term financial gain is your main goal, ownership remains the stronger path.

If you do go the TPO route, pay close attention to the escalator. Some contracts increase your rate each year, and even a modest annual increase compounds significantly over time. Before signing, model your projected costs in years 10, 15, and 20, and compare them to the expected utility rate growth in your area. If a 0% escalator option is available, it can help improve long-term savings.

GoodLeap isn't available in your area

GoodLeap is still expanding into new states, so its TPO products aren’t yet offered everywhere. If the company doesn’t serve your area, there are other reputable TPO providers worth considering.

GoodLeap’s solar leases and PPAs are a strong option for homeowners who want $0-down solar with predictable payments and minimal maintenance. Its balanced-billing PPA structure helps smooth out seasonal swings in electricity costs, and the company’s scale adds confidence in its long-term reliability.

The trade-off is long-term savings. Because you don’t own the system, you won’t capture the full financial return that comes with ownership, and some PPAs include annual escalators that can increase your costs over time. Whether a GoodLeap lease or PPA is right for you depends on your financial goals, your comfort with long-term contracts, and how long you plan to stay in your home.

The best way to find out if a GoodLeap lease or PPA is right for you is to compare multiple quotes on the EnergySage Marketplace, where you can see TPO options alongside ownership options and find the deal that works best for your specific home and budget.