SCTY

Solarcity Corporation

A solar energy company that designed, sold, and installed rooftop solar panels for American homes and businesses, popularizing a leasing model that let homeowners go solar with little upfront cost. Founded in 2006 by brothers Lyndon and Peter Rive—cousins of Elon Musk, who served as chairman—the idea was born at the Burning Man festival. The name reflected the founders' dream of a "solar city," and the company grew into one of the nation's largest residential solar installers before Tesla acquired it in 2016.