{"id":10452,"date":"2018-04-17T13:14:59","date_gmt":"2018-04-17T17:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/?post_type=press-release&p=10452"},"modified":"2018-04-17T13:14:59","modified_gmt":"2018-04-17T17:14:59","slug":"everything-brighter-orange-county-west-orange-solar-co-op-launches","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/media-advisories\/press-releases\/2018\/04\/everything-brighter-orange-county-west-orange-solar-co-op-launches\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything is Brighter in Orange County | West Orange Solar Co-op Launches"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\"\"Orange County, Fla. \u2014 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 a new solar co-op to residents of West Orange County. The new co-op is now open and runs through mid-June 2018.<\/p>\n

Solar co-ops provide bulk discounts of up to 20 percent 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 West Orange County, including in city jurisdictions, are eligible to participate in their respective co-op.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, more than 150 residents of East Orange County formed a co-op and selected Goldin Solar<\/a> to serve the group. Members of that co-op are now in the process of signing contracts with the installer.<\/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

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

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

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