New solar marketplace opening to provide advice, options for consumers
New solar marketplace opening to provide advice, options for consumers
New solar marketplace opening to provide advice, options for consumers
KMBC 9 News continues to investigate solar panel scams in Kansas City, where homeowners have paid thousands of dollars for systems that fail to work or companies that disappear.
Corey McDonald, who runs MC Solar KC and has decades of experience in Kansas City’s solar industry, has developed a new online marketplace that he believes will protect consumers.
The site will offer free advice to solar consumers, allowing them to choose solar installers and financing companies McDonald vets. It will also allow people to use artificial intelligence to design solar panel systems on their homes, without high-pressure sales tactics.
“People are being taken advantage of,” McDonald said. “That’s not cool.”
KMBC has spoken with dozens of people affected by solar scams, many of whom are stuck paying loans worth tens of thousands of dollars for systems that don’t work as promised.
“There are good companies,” he said. “There are reputable companies who would like to earn your business, not steal your business.”
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has also taken notice of KMBC’s investigation.
KMBC has referred victims of costly solar loans to her office, and she is working to hold solar companies accountable.
“When we can get recovery for an actual human being and make their life just a little bit better, that that’s a great day around here,” Hanaway said.
One of the most important steps is to file a formal complaint with the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. These complaints help investigators identify patterns and can lead to enforcement action.
You can file a complaint online here.
And for those still considering solar systems: “My hope is that I can provide a platform that can help a homeowner make a better decision,” McDonald said.
If you have a solar loan you are struggling to pay, email investigates@kmbc.com.
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