Dakota discusses how strategic partnerships and brand collaboration have been key to scaling their business and winning RFPs in the growing community solar industry. By co-submitting proposals with trusted partners, they’ve secured major deals—such as a recent municipal contract—while boosting brand value and creating new revenue streams. He emphasizes the concept of “partnership velocity” as a catalyst for sustainable growth and invites others to explore collaboration opportunities.
0:02 – Introduction & Purpose of the Podcast
Dakota Malone, co-founder of Community Solar Authority, opens the episode by sharing a snapshot of the company’s achievements—namely, unlocking access to over $20 million in future electricity savings. He explains that the podcast serves as an accessible way to understand their business. This episode focuses on the power of partnerships, particularly how brand collaboration helps them win RFPs (Requests for Proposals) and RFQs (Requests for Quotes). Dakota emphasizes his belief in synergy as a driving force behind business growth.
0:28 – Defining Synergy and Vision for Community Solar
Dakota delves deeper into the concept of synergy, defending it as more than just a buzzword. For him, synergy represents the highest form of operational efficiency. He ties this to the company’s broader mission: nationwide adoption of community solar. Rather than competing, Dakota believes in collaborating strategically to build something that benefits everyone. This shift in mindset has helped the company scale meaningfully.
0:57 – Building Strategic Partnerships Over Six Years
Over the past six years, Community Solar Authority has worked closely with a wide range of partners. Their approach offers a “bolt-on” community solar partnership, which provides added value to clients. This model increases client lifetime value, builds goodwill, and enables partners to win more business. It also creates a new vertical for revenue sharing. Dakota mentions a growth playbook designed to support these partnerships over the long term, aiming for mutual success in a rapidly growing industry.
1:32 – Advanced Collaboration: Co-Submitting RFPs
Dakota introduces a more advanced partnership strategy from their playbook: co-submitting RFPs with long-term partners. This approach is typically reserved for collaborators who already understand the value of brand synergy and have a solid working relationship with Community Solar Authority. Without this trust and alignment, Dakota notes, the strategy would be unsustainable.
1:55 – Success Story: Winning a Municipal RFP
Dakota highlights a recent RFP win over the summer that was the result of a co-submission with a strategic partner. The deal involved a large municipality seeking access to community solar. Due to the scale of their energy usage, the municipality needed to work with industry experts. The strength of the combined brands in the co-submission was a key factor in securing the win. This real-world example demonstrates how powerful and effective this partnership strategy can be.
2:30 – Brand Growth, Case Studies, and Momentum
Co-submissions not only win business—they also enhance brand awareness and reputation. Dakota explains that each success story becomes a case study that helps attract more clients and build momentum. As these strategies are scaled with partners, they form the backbone of sustainable growth.
2:49 – Introducing “Partnership Velocity”
As partners become more efficient and engaged, Dakota introduces the concept of “partnership velocity.” It’s a compounding growth strategy where one deal leads to three, then to nine, and so on. This is why 20% of their partners drive 80% of their business—they’ve reached a higher level of synergy and scalability through deep collaboration.
3:06 – New Opportunities and a Call to Action
With new markets and capacity emerging in the community solar space, Dakota encourages listeners to seize the moment. He invites those interested in a “bolt-on,” done-for-you community solar solution for large clients to visit communitysolarauthority.com/partner and book a call. The timing, he says, is perfect for forming powerful partnerships.
3:33 – Closing Remarks and How to Connect
Dakota wraps up by expressing excitement about the upcoming press releases for recent RFP wins. He invites listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dakotamalone for further questions or partnership discussions. He signs off promising more insights in the next episode.
🟢 Final Takeaway:
Community Solar Authority’s success is deeply rooted in strategic partnerships, with an emphasis on collaboration over competition. Through co-submissions, revenue-sharing models, and long-term commitment, they’re not just building a business—they’re building a movement in clean energy.
To listen to the full episode… go to Spotify to listen.
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Q: How did an American manufacturer save $25 K per year through community solar?
A: Community Solar Authority analyzed the manufacturer’s utility data, qualified the site for an off-site solar allocation, and enrolled the company into a verified program, producing $25 K in yearly savings with zero capital investment.
