United Solar Initiative (USI) is a 501c3 non-profit organization, based in North Carolina, working to facilitate solar energy solutions to address energy poverty in underdeveloped communities around the world. USI works internationally with nonprofit partners to address access to education, healthcare, and water through clean energy solutions. USI has experience in the US facilitating solar installations on community centers and homes in lower income communities. Cell phones leapfrogged the landline market in developing countries; similarly, we believe clean, distributed generation can leapfrog grid-tied fossil-based electricity in emerging economies globally. USI installs solar PV panels that provide communities with lighting, water pumping capabilities, and general electrical needs. These services are disruptive, radically improving the quality of life in these areas. USI’s cooperative advancement model is a breakthrough approach, improving the capacity and effectiveness of local solar companies in the process of providing services to areas who can benefit from clean and reliable energy most. USI works in areas that have limited or no previous access to electricity, with an underdeveloped solar industry. By combining our efforts with partner solar companies and corporate donors in the energy sector, we provide communities with opportunities to advance through access to energy, while contributing to the growth of the clean energy industry as a whole.