Community Initiative Led the Nation in Participation and Installations, Generates $4.6 Million in Local Clean Energy Investment

Asheville, N.C. — Solarize Asheville-Buncombe, which publicly encouraged local group purchasing of solar energy in Asheville and Buncombe County, concluded its 2021 community campaign by adding 1.45 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the community.

A total of 180 property owners signed contracts to advance toward owning a system through the community-led discount solar energy purchase program. That’s the equivalent of 2,009,732 kWh produced annually and an estimated $251,215 in annual utility bill savings for owners of their new rooftop solar energy systems.

Campaign’s Key Dates Include Signing Up by Aug. 31 and Completion of Residential Contracts by Oct. 31

Asheville, N.C. — Aug. 31 is the deadline for local residents and commercial building owners to enroll for a free evaluation under the Solarize Asheville-Buncombe campaign, which offers group purchasing on solar energy and battery storage to all Asheville and Buncombe County residents and businesses.

Already, more than 635 residents enrolled for an evaluation since early April and 115 homeowners have signed contracts to advance toward owning a system through this community discount program. Solarize Asheville-Buncombe was developed and launched by a coalition of local organizations, community members, and government to help make this form of renewable energy more accessible and affordable to all.

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. — Solarize St. Thomas, the community-based group purchasing campaign, is hosting an Open House over three days in Red Hook to bring the message of solar power’s value and benefits to St. Thomas residents and business owners.

The campaign, which launched locally in January, has attracted nearly 100 homeowners to sign up for a free solar power evaluation for their properties. Already, seven contracts for solar installations have been completed, resulting in 78,567 lbs annually of avoided CO2 in the
Virgin Islands.

Campaign Reaches 100-contract milestone + sets fund-raising event at Hi-Wire Brewing for July 15

Asheville, N.C. — In the three months since its 2021 public launch, the Solarize Asheville-Buncombe campaign has assisted 100 local homeowners in contracting for discounted solar power systems. In addition, the local coalition behind the campaign has administered installations of rooftop solar for several deserving local families through its related low- to moderate-income program.

Solarize Asheville-Buncombe’s coalition will celebrate all of its progress to date as well as raise additional funds for its Neighbor to Neighbor Solar grant program at Hi-Wire Brewing on July 15. Billed as “Pints for A Purpose,” the special fund-raising event will take place from 5-8 p.m. at the brewery’s Big Top location.

Homeowner Contracts Result in Lowest Price Tier Available; Financing Workshop Set for May 26

Asheville, N.C. — After just over a month since its launch, the Solarize Asheville-Buncombe campaign has already reached the lowest-cost tier for group-discount purchasing. The community-based group-purchasing solar campaign entered Tier 8, which represents the lowest price for solar energy under the program.

In addition, the campaign has awarded its first three contracts to local residents who qualified for the newly developed Neighbor to Neighbor Solar grant program to receive further financial support toward installing solar power at their homes.

Fund-raising kickoff for Neighbor to Neighbor Solar Highlights Earth Week 2021

The first local homeowner to take advantage of Solarize Asheville-Buncombe, a community-based group-purchasing solar campaign, has signed a contract to power a Weaverville residence with renewable energy.

The resident secured a 8.8-KW system through Solarize Asheville-Buncombe, which seeks to make solar energy and battery storage more affordable for both residences and commercial buildings through a unique bulk-purchasing concept. The more participants, the more costs decline for every property owner who contracts for a system.

Nearly 350 local residents and businesses owners have already signed up to learn more about how Solarize Asheville-Buncombe works. A virtual community launch event held earlier this month also attracted nearly 150 online viewers to a webinar that explained how the campaign’s tiered approach to solar and battery costs enables system discounts.

Asheville, NC — Solarize Asheville-Buncombe, a newly formed local renewable energy coalition, is seeking bids from area solar-energy design and installation companies for its 2021 group-purchasing program for Asheville and Buncombe County property owners. Deadline for bidders is March 2, 2021. 

Solarize Asheville-Buncombe is a community-based group-purchasing program for solar energy, battery storage, and other clean-energy technologies. This initiative will help homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits become more resilient, reduce energy expenses, and save on the cost of renewable-energy systems by obtaining volume discounts on materials and installation services. Solarize campaigns are driven by community group purchasing. The more participants who enroll, the greater the savings for all. 

Online Event Hosted by Community Partners Introduces Pricing and Materials Options to St. Thomas

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. — Solarize St. Thomas, a community-based group purchasing program, will launch its island-wide campaign to assist local property owners to access affordable solar power on Thursday, Jan. 14, via a live online campaign-opening event.

The launch event will introduce and explain how solar power equipment, battery storage and energy-saving technologies are available for the first time locally through a group-purchasing platform supported by community partner organizations collaborating on St. Thomas in 2021.

Local Workforce Development Included in Objectives of Community Partners

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. —  The Coalition for Solar Affordability has chosen a solar installation company to partner in Solarize St. Thomas, a community-based group purchasing program set to launch locally in January.

Following a rigorous evaluation process, the Coalition selected Silver Sun Solar LLC to provide local property owners – both residential and commercial – with solar power equipment, battery storage and energy-saving technologies through a group-purchasing platform supported by community partner organizations collaborating on St. Thomas in the new year. 

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. —  The Coalition for Solar Affordability is preparing to launch Solarize St. Thomas, a community-based group purchasing program, locally during January 2021.

Affordable access to solar energy and battery storage to help all local homeowners, businesses, non-profits become more resilient, reduce energy expenses and save on the cost of renewable energy systems is the goal of this new coalition of community partner organizations.

The more St.Thomas property owners that participate, the greater the savings for all.