Solar Energy International’s Solar Forward program collaborates with Solar United Neighbors to convey extra energy choices to San Miguel County
TELLURIDE, CO- There are two nonprofit solar group buy-in packages in Colorado, Solar Forward and Solar United Neighbors (SUN), and when San Miguel County wished to mitigate greenhouse gasoline emissions and spur financial growth, they reached out to each organizations.
“San Miguel County has a longstanding goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning the energy consumption within the county to renewables wherever possible. We are excited to partner with Solar Forward and SUN to provide residents and businesses across the entire county with the chance to more affordably install solar on their homes,” shared Sheamus Croke, the COVID-19 Recovery Funding Coordinator for the County.
Solar Forward is an outreach program from Solar Energy International (SEI), an academic non-profit based mostly in Paonia, Colorado. SEI empowers college students, alumni, and companions to increase a various, inclusive, well-trained and educated solar electrical energy workforce. SEI’s Solar Forward program promotes this work in rural communities by schooling, workforce coaching, and helping communities to implement solar group buy-in packages. Program Manager Ellen Ross brings Solar Forward’s instruments for outreach and schooling to the San Miguel neighborhood by working with the sustainability non-profit, EcoAction Partners.
“I am always eager to work with a dedicated sustainability organization like EcoAction, because they are already tied in with so many stakeholders and promoting holistic measures for greenhouse gas mitigation like energy efficiency.” stated Ellen Ross, “And getting to pair Solar Forward’s educational efforts with SUN’s group buy-in model, means that the San Miguel community is getting a multifaceted, dynamic solar campaign.”
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) has been working in Colorado since 2019 to assist communities go solar collectively and leverage their group shopping for power as a solar co-op. SUN solar co-ops are free to affix and as soon as the group is giant sufficient, it’s going to solicit bids from space solar installers. A range committee evaluations every bid and selects the one which finest serves the wants of the group. The chosen installer will then develop a customized proposal for every member based mostly on that bid value. Members overview their bid and resolve individually in the event that they wish to transfer ahead with an set up. Streamlining the method of going solar helps clients really feel assured of their choice to buy renewable energy for his or her home.
“At Solar United Neighbors, we seek to educate and empower communities in the process of going solar. Rural communities present unique circumstances and it’s important to us that they receive information and opportunities that will help inform their journey to going solar. We envision a clean, equitable energy system that directs control and benefits back to local communities, with solar on every roof and money in every pocket.” shared Sarah Solomon, of Solar United Neighbors.
SUN had a profitable 2021 solar co-op with the Town of Mountain Village in San Miguel County, leading to 15 new solar installations and 72kW of unpolluted, distributed technology for these houses. Hot on the heels of that first profitable solar co-op the Town of Mountain Village noticed the potential to assist extra owners profit from the economics of a bunch buy-in program. SUN and Mountain Village have been capable of pilot a rebate for deed-restricted housing, making $5,000 obtainable for every of these 9 deed-restricted households which can not have been capable of entry solar in any other case. The second solar co-op, underway, will supply the identical rebate for deed-restricted households in Mountain Village.
Rebates are additionally obtainable for this present spherical, see the Uncompahgre Solar Co-op web site for extra particulars. The co-op is actively signing up members with no obligation to go solar, however an invite to obtain a free quote whereas SUN facilitates a headache-free solar shopping for course of. Solar Forward, in the meantime, is planning schooling and outreach occasions across the county to make sure that everybody: kids, agricultural producers, residents and companies, English language learners, and numerous backgrounds within the county are included within the dialog about energy and effectivity.
Contact Ellen Ross at [email protected] for extra details about Solar Forward.
Contact Sarah Solomon, Colorado Program Associate of Solar United Neighbors at [email protected]
About Solar Forward
Solar Forward empowers nonprofits and neighborhood teams in rural areas throughout Colorado with instruments and experience to kickstart solar markets. The program helps communities meet native sustainability targets, obtain financial growth advantages, & create jobs within the solar business.
News highlights for Solar Forward:
About Solar United Neighbors
Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit group that works in Colorado and nationwide to symbolize the wants and pursuits of solar house owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are a part of the group’s mission to create a brand new energy system with rooftop solar on the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds occasions and education schemes to assist individuals develop into knowledgeable solar shoppers, maximize the worth of their solar funding, and advocate for truthful solar insurance policies.
News highlights for Solar United Neighbors:
