(Cleveland) - Neighbors in Cuyahoga County have formed a solar co-op to save money and make going solar easier, while building a network of solar supporters.
Cuyahoga County and Solar United Neighbors are the co-op sponsors.
The group is seeking members and will host information meetings on November 14th and 15th to educate the community about solar and the co-op process.
• Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30PM at Church of the Saviour in Cleveland Heights, 2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
• Wednesday, November 15th at 6:30PM at Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Boulevard, Rocky River, OH 44116
“We’re forming this co-op to help residents reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make saving money with solar energy as simple as possible,” said Mike Foley, Director of the Department of Sustainability for Cuyahoga County.
“Working with the group helps members learn about the technology so they feel confident in their decision to go solar.”
Proponents say Solar United Neighbors expands access to solar by educating Ohio residents about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them organize group solar installations, and strengthening Ohio’s solar policies and its community of solar supporters.
Solar United Neighbors of Ohio has worked with nearly a dozen solar co-ops, helping roughly 140 Ohio homes go solar, saving Ohio residents more than $500,000.
“I am excited to be partnering with Cuyahoga County to help expand solar in Ohio,” said Luke Sulfridge, Ohio Program Director. “If you’ve ever thought about going solar before, this is a great opportunity to do so with the assistance of a non-profit.”Cuyahoga County residents interested in joining the co-op can sign up at the co-op website, www.SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/Cuyahoga.
Joining the co-op is not a commitment to purchase panels. Foley says once the group is large enough, Solar United Neighbors will help the co-op solicit competitive bids from area solar installers.
Co-op members will select a single company to complete all of the installations.
They will then have the option to purchase panels individually based on the installer’s group rate.
Foley contends, by going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, participants can save on the cost of going solar and have the support of fellow group members and solar experts at Solar United Neighbors.
Each co-op member gets an individualized proposal that reflects the group discount. By going solar with a group, members will save about 20% off the cost of a typical installation. During the first round of installations the total savings was $98,445.00 and 8,824,117.62 total lbs. of carbon offset.
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