Local Coalition Selects Installer Through Competitive Bidding; Opportunity for Gwinnett Property Owners To Buy Solar with Unique Group-Purchasing Discount
LAWRENCEVILLE — A newly formed local renewable energy coalition is launching a unique Gwinnett-focused community campaign that seeks to make solar energy more affordable and easier to buy for homeowners, businesses and nonprofits located in the county.
Solarize Gwinnett is a community-based group-purchasing program for solar energy, battery storage and other clean-energy technologies. This public campaign is aimed at helping homeowners, businesses and nonprofits in Gwinnett 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 involve community group purchasing. The more participants who enroll for free then contract to buy solar energy or battery power, the greater the savings for all.
Coalition organizations involved in developing and partnering together to ensure Solarize Gwinnett is a success include Sustainable Gwinnett, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Environment Georgia, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter - Greater Gwinnett Group, Gwinnett Citizens Climate Lobby, GreenShortz and Solar Crowdsource, along with valuable contributions from other volunteers and individuals.
The Solarize Gwinnett launch event will take place in the Community Room at Rhodes Jordan Park Community Recreation Center, 100 East Crogan St., Lawrenceville from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9. This free, open-to-the-public event will feature:
- Representatives from the coalition that created Solarize Gwinnett;
- Experts in solar energy, including the locally selected installer firm chosen via competitive bidding;
- Details about the benefits of solar energy and battery storage and buying via Solarize;
- Information about enrolling for a free solar-energy assessment of their residence or place of business
Solar energy is clean, makes homes and businesses more climate-resilient and can stimulate local economic growth. Going solar can also help reduce energy and economic burdens for property owners. It also supports Drawdown Georgia’s statewide plan to accelerate Georgia Progress’ goal of increasing solar and reducing emissions by 1 million metric tons through installing 295,000 new 5-kW solar roofs.
“Let’s bring rooftop solar and battery storage to Gwinnett! Let’s use some sunshine to power our homes and businesses,” said Scott Presson, Clean Energy Volunteer with Sierra Club Georgia Chapter’s Greater Gwinnett Group. “Bring on cleaner electricity, cleaner indoor and outdoor air, improved health, lower energy costs, and added value. Join us to be part of a more sustainable, livable future for Gwinnett!”
“At Sustainable Gwinnett, we are focused on implementing climate solutions for a just climate transition in Gwinnett County, and we are thrilled to make rooftop solar and battery storage more accessible to our diverse communities through the Solarize Gwinnett campaign,” said Jill Wu of Sustainable Gwinnett. “We are especially excited to get the word out about all the federal incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act for Gwinnett families to go electric. Our communities are ready for electrification at scale and we can't wait for residents, nonprofits, and businesses to take advantage of this group purchasing campaign to become more energy resilient.”
Beyond more affordable electricity bills and increased renewable energy adoption, among the campaign’s goals are to create career on-ramps through increasing community based opportunities to connect with and develop green and sustainability skills needed for high-wage trade and professionals. These jobs are a reinvestment back within their community by increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy burdens and costs for underserved and low- and moderate-income communities and members.
“At Georgia Interfaith Power and Light we help faith communities, and members of faith communities, implement sustainable solutions to lower their carbon footprint and reduce the cost of their energy bills,” said Hannah Shultz, Program Director, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL). “Through providing a vetted solar installer and a group purchasing model, Solarize Gwinnett allows individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to easily explore renewable energy options. We’re excited to be part of this campaign and help communities take the next step in combating climate change!”
Don’t miss a chance to install solar energy infrastructure at your home or business – you’ll save more than ever with the combined purchasing power of other Gwinnett residents and a new federal tax credit.
Solarize Gwinnett is open to all property owners in Gwinnett. The campaign is based upon a model that has been successful in more than 300 other communities in the U.S. as well as several elsewhere in Georgia.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, the Solarize Gwinnett coalition chose Better Tomorrow Solar to provide local property owners with this volume purchasing opportunity. Better Tomorrow Solar is a locally-owned and operated full service solar design and installation company that provides clients with solar panel installations tailor-fitted to each individual’s unique lifestyle, schedule, and budget. A representative from the company and other local solar advocates will be among the participants in this special launch event.
“Solar power is not just the cleanest form of energy, but is now also the cheapest and fastest growing in the world,” said Kaveh Kamooneh, co-founder of Better Tomorrow Solar. “We are honored to have been selected to provide Gwinnett residents and business owners access to solar power at the lowest possible cost.”
Once the campaign opens on May 9, home and business owners will have a limited time to access the special prices made available through the campaign. Valuable federal tax credits are available and can provide significant additional savings in 2023.
The goal of Solarize Gwinnett’s launch and the overall campaign is to help local residents save money by becoming familiar with these incentives and programs, learn the benefits of solar energy and battery storage systems, and get a free, customized solar evaluation and estimate from a trusted source.
Solarize Gwinnett will offer a series of clean-energy education and outreach events with a goal of increasing participation through a better understanding of rooftop solar components, suitability assessment considerations, and contract provisions. All solar and battery installations are expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2024.
Solarize Gwinnett is now accepting advance registrations for the upcoming program. Interested residents may go to solarizegwinnett.com to learn more about the program and sign up in advance to be early in line for a free solar evaluation as well as register for the May 9 launch event.
About Solarize Gwinnett: Solarize Gwinnett is a campaign forged and supported by a local public-private coalition involving Sustainable Gwinnett, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Environment Georgia, Sierra Club Georgia Chapter - Gwinnett Group, Gwinnett Citizens Climate Lobby, GreenShortz and Solar Crowdsource as well as valuable contributions from other volunteers and individuals.
Reducing the cost of solar-energy and battery-storage installations through the power of bulk purchasing, reducing contractor customer acquisition costs, and transferring those savings to residential and commercial residents is the goal of the campaign, which will launch in May 2023.
Contact:
Jill Wu
Sustainable Gwinnett
jillforgwinnett@gmail.com
(404) 721-3437
Ken Haldin
SolarCrowdsource
(404) 405-2924
