{"id":10110,"date":"2018-01-22T15:20:02","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T20:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/?p=10110"},"modified":"2022-01-12T12:11:00","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T17:11:00","slug":"new-solar-co-ops-launch-orange-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/2018\/01\/new-solar-co-ops-launch-orange-county\/","title":{"rendered":"New Solar Co-ops Launch in Orange County"},"content":{"rendered":"

Orange County is building on the momentum of the state\u2019s largest and most successful solar co-op by again partnering with Solar United Neighbors of Florida<\/a> to bring two additional solar co-ops to residents and business owners in 2018.<\/p>\n

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, representatives from Orange County Government and Solar United Neighbors of Florida came together on Jan. 22 at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Orange County Extension<\/a> to launch two new solar co-ops \u2013 one in East and West Orange County. The East Orange County Co-Op. will run through April 2018 and the West Orange County Co-op will launch in April 2018 and run through June 2018.<\/p>\n

Solar co-ops provide bulk discounts \u2013 between 15 and 33 percent \u2013 for a group of homeowners interested in purchasing solar panels. As part of a solar co-op, each participant signs an individual contract with the group-chosen installer, and all participants benefit from the discount. All homeowners who reside in Orange County, including in city jurisdictions, are eligible to participate in their respective co-op.<\/p>\n

Orange County launched its first solar co-op in the summer of 2016 with 515 participants. Of those households, 79 installed solar through the co-op, accounting for 702.83 kW of new solar capacity in the County. In addition, $1.3 million was invested in solar with this co-op with a total energy savings over a lifetime of solar array of $3.5 million. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and her family were among the 79 households who joined this first solar co-op.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband Bruce and I were so excited to join Orange County\u2019s solar co-op in 2016. Not only is solar energy good for our environment, it contributes to Orange County\u2019s overall sustainability efforts,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said. \u201cWe love the solar co-op experience, which allows us to take advantage of the beautiful year-round Florida sunshine to help power our home. Bruce is addicted to checking the app to see how much energy we\u2019re generating! I encourage all residents to explore a co-op. Not only does the co-op make solar energy more affordable, it makes our community more sustainable \u2013 now and for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solar power also supports Jacobs\u2019 goals in her Sustainability Initiative, \u201cOur Home for Life<\/em><\/a>,\u201d which seeks to reduce barriers to alternative energy and increase renewable energy production by 10 percent in 2020 and 25 percent by 2040.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrange County Government partners with Solar United Neighbors of Florida because they have a proven track record of being a local nonprofit that operates in 17 Florida counties and has more than 2,700 solar co-op members,\u201d said Renee Parker, environmental programs administrator of Orange County Environmental Protection Division.<\/p>\n

Joining a co-op does not obligate members to purchase panels. The exact price of a Photovoltaic (PV) system is dependent on homeowners\u2019 preference in system size and their home\u2019s energy consumption. Homeowners have the option to install the size PV system that fits their budget.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince 2015, Florida solar co-ops Solar United Neighbors of Florida co-ops have helped more than 700 homeowners go solar,\u201d said Solar United Neighbors of Florida State Director Angela DeMonbreun. \u201cThe value co-ops offer to homeowners who want to add solar power to their homes is that they can be educated about the process, feel confident that the installers are professional and meet specific qualifications, and the work is done at a discount.\u201d<\/p>\n

The partnership is also supported by the Florida League of Women Voters of Orange County.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Solar Energy Industries Association estimates that Florida\u2019s sunshine gives it the potential to be among the top three states in America for solar power,\u201d said Leesa Bainbridge, co-president of the Orange County League of Women Voters. \u201cBy joining in solar co-ops Central Floridians can start planning for the sun to help pay their electric bills.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of this initiative, Orange County streamlines the permitting process for solar installations. New solar permits can be processed in a single day.<\/p>\n

To learn more and register for an information session, visit www.solarunitedneighbors.org<\/a> or email FLteam@solarunitedneighbors.org<\/a>. Upcoming information sessions are as follows:<\/p>\n