Solarize Chenango to help area homeowners go solar
CHENANGO COUNTY – Beginning this spring, Solarize Chenango, a community initiative, will be bringing affordable solar power solutions to residents in Chenango County.
Solarize Chenango is a facet of Solarize the Southern Tier, a collaboration between Southern Tier Solar Works (STSW), a program of the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition (BRSC), and local volunteers.
Chenango County volunteers will partner with volunteers in Broome, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga Counties to inform residents about the reality of solar power in this area of the state. This will be achieved through a series of informational meetings beginning in March or April of 2015. These meetings will provide information to homeowners on volume purchasing, tax incentives, and local, competitively selected, solar installers. The goal of Solarize is to educate the community, create familiarity with solar, and to make it easy for homeowners to complete affordable solar projects in a short period of time.
Paige Smith, Oxford resident and Solarize Chenango volunteer, said, “We are five counties trying to take advantage of NYSERDA rebates.” According to their website, “NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) is a public benefit corporation, offering objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975.”
Each of the five counties will have five meetings each, starting this spring. At these meetings, interested homeowners will be able to speak directly to local solar installers. The first step, said Smith, is to have the contractor do a site visit. This will allow the contractor to consult with the homeowner on possible options for installing solar. The contractor will be able to look at available roof space, whether roof panels or ground mounted panels would make more sense, evaluate the property's exposure to sunlight, and discuss on-grid versus off-grid setups. Furthermore, they will be able to talk about pricing, financing options, and tax incentives available.
In some instances, homeowners may have the option of renting their roof space for the placement of solar panels; they may be able to lease panels; or they may be able to buy panels outright. Any of these options will help homeowners offset their electrical costs and will place clean energy into the local grid. All of these different options will be covered between the meetings and the contractor site visits.
According to a spokesperson for Solarize Chenango, “STSW was launched in March, 2014, and its first solarize campaign doubled the number of residential solar installations in Broom and Tioga Counties from the previous year, totaling nearly 50 contracts and generating more than 330 kilowatts of energy. This, in combination with the Solar Tompkins program, which reached an unprecedented 400 contracts for well over three megawatts, allowed program installers to increase staffing by 25 to 50 percent. The Program also boosted business for installers who were not selected through the competitive contracting process by creating an increased demand for solar. So in addition to assisting local electricity customers with their energy costs, it plays a part in invigorating the local economy as well. The goal of STSW in 2015 is to enable 125 new contracts, generate at least one megawatt in the five Southern Tier counties, and create a minimum of 6 new permanent jobs.”
To learn more about Solarize Chenango or to get involved, interested persons can contact Solarize Chenango at solarchenango@gmail.com and visit southerntiersolarworks.org.
Solarize Chenango is a facet of Solarize the Southern Tier, a collaboration between Southern Tier Solar Works (STSW), a program of the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition (BRSC), and local volunteers.
Chenango County volunteers will partner with volunteers in Broome, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga Counties to inform residents about the reality of solar power in this area of the state. This will be achieved through a series of informational meetings beginning in March or April of 2015. These meetings will provide information to homeowners on volume purchasing, tax incentives, and local, competitively selected, solar installers. The goal of Solarize is to educate the community, create familiarity with solar, and to make it easy for homeowners to complete affordable solar projects in a short period of time.
Paige Smith, Oxford resident and Solarize Chenango volunteer, said, “We are five counties trying to take advantage of NYSERDA rebates.” According to their website, “NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) is a public benefit corporation, offering objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975.”
Each of the five counties will have five meetings each, starting this spring. At these meetings, interested homeowners will be able to speak directly to local solar installers. The first step, said Smith, is to have the contractor do a site visit. This will allow the contractor to consult with the homeowner on possible options for installing solar. The contractor will be able to look at available roof space, whether roof panels or ground mounted panels would make more sense, evaluate the property's exposure to sunlight, and discuss on-grid versus off-grid setups. Furthermore, they will be able to talk about pricing, financing options, and tax incentives available.
In some instances, homeowners may have the option of renting their roof space for the placement of solar panels; they may be able to lease panels; or they may be able to buy panels outright. Any of these options will help homeowners offset their electrical costs and will place clean energy into the local grid. All of these different options will be covered between the meetings and the contractor site visits.
According to a spokesperson for Solarize Chenango, “STSW was launched in March, 2014, and its first solarize campaign doubled the number of residential solar installations in Broom and Tioga Counties from the previous year, totaling nearly 50 contracts and generating more than 330 kilowatts of energy. This, in combination with the Solar Tompkins program, which reached an unprecedented 400 contracts for well over three megawatts, allowed program installers to increase staffing by 25 to 50 percent. The Program also boosted business for installers who were not selected through the competitive contracting process by creating an increased demand for solar. So in addition to assisting local electricity customers with their energy costs, it plays a part in invigorating the local economy as well. The goal of STSW in 2015 is to enable 125 new contracts, generate at least one megawatt in the five Southern Tier counties, and create a minimum of 6 new permanent jobs.”
To learn more about Solarize Chenango or to get involved, interested persons can contact Solarize Chenango at solarchenango@gmail.com and visit southerntiersolarworks.org.
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