April 16, 2023
After Success in 2022, New Opportunity To Enroll in Unique Discount Solar Energy Campaign
Building on the impact and success of its 2022 Solarize campaign, the Triangle Sustainability Partnership, a local government coalition, again will offer an opportunity for local residents and businesses to purchase solar energy at discounted group rates in 2023.The first Solarize the Triangle program – a group buying campaign conducted last year across 11communities – set a national record as the largest Solarize program in the country with 1,500 people signing up for free evaluations in a single campaign. More than 180 home and business owners ultimately signed contracts to purchase renewable energy systems for their properties through the program, yielding 2.4 million kWh of annual energy production, more than $300,000 in annual utility bill savings, and nearly $6 million in new clean energy development locally.Based upon this success, a decision was made by the Triangle Sustainability Partnership to organize
and offer a 2nd community-based program this year. The 2023 campaign will be unveiled in May with a public opening event for citizens to learn more about how the Solarize program works and lowers the cost of solar energy for participants.
Solarize the Triangle provides an opportunity to install solar energy and battery power at your home,
business or non-profit organization. Through this unique campaign, residents and businesses can save on the ordinary cost of a system through combined purchasing with others in the Triangle plus the availability of a federal tax credit.
Early information about the campaign will be available beginning on Earth Day 2023 at various public
events around the region. The public launch of the regionwide community-based group-buying program will take place Monday, May 15 at Hi-Wire Brewing in Durham.
This free, open-to-the public event is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. at 800 Taylor St., Durham and will
include an unveiling of 2023 solar-energy options for local residents, businesses and non-profit
organizations located in 12 Triangle communities. Attendees can expect to learn how a Solarize
program works and have the ability to ask questions of the solar provider and community partners.
This special launch event will feature"
● Representatives from the Partnership that developed Solarize the Triangle;
● Experts in solar energy from the locally selected installer company chosen via competitive
bidding;
● Details about the benefits of solar energy and battery storage;
● Special prizes, refreshments and drawings for attendees, and
● Information about how one can enroll for a free solar-energy assessment of their residence or
place of business via Solarize the Triangle.
Solarize the Triangle is a community-based group-purchasing program for solar energy, battery storage and other clean-energy technologies. The initiative is designed to serve residents, businesses and nonprofits to 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 the net effect of buying together during a single, defined period.
Based on a tiered “bulk” purchasing concept, the more local residents and business owners who
contract for their solar installations through the program, the more savings accrue to all participating
property owners.
As in 2022, the continuing objectives of the 2023 version of the program include:
● Making solar energy more affordable: lower the cost of solar energy through the power of
group-purchasing and reduced acquisition costs. Pass savings to residents of the Triangle
region;
● Making solar energy more accessible: contractor(s), materials and pricing will be highly
vetted for best practices using a competitive bid process;
● Education and community engagement: widespread community engagement, education
and outreach activities through town hall meetings, workshops, solar “open house”
gatherings, and outreach through local community groups and events;
● Promoting solar-positive policies: encourage local governments to adopt streamlined solar
energy permitting policies and fair utility distributed generation policies; and
● Giving back: Solarize The Triangle and selected contractors will use a portion of campaign
proceeds to donate a solar energy system to a deserving local nonprofit organization and/or
help to underwrite solar-energy systems for qualified Low- and Moderate-Income families
with high energy burdens.
During the first year of the program, Solarize the Triangle’s organizers carefully chose a qualified firm to ensure best-in-class materials are installed by a quality solar firm. Detailed criteria for selecting the
company were used by the Partnership to choose the installer, Cary-based Yes Solar Solutions.
Based upon the success of the 2022 campaign as well as the smooth, effective working relationship
between the Partnership and Yes Solar Solutions, the company was invited to serve again as sole
installer for 2023.
Following the public rollout on May 15, Solarize the Triangle organizers 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.
The deadline to enroll is Sept. 30, 2023. All residential solar and battery contracts must be completed
by Dec. 31, 2023. A separate deadline for commercial/non-profit contract completions is Feb. 28, 2024. Solarize the Triangle is already accepting advance registrations for the upcoming campaign. Interested residents may go to solarizethetriangle.com to immediately learn more about the 2023 program and to sign up in advance of the launch to be first in line for a free evaluation.
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About Solarize the Triangle: Solarize the Triangle is a campaign developed via the Triangle J Council of Governments. Communities involved include: Chatham County, City of Raleigh, Durham County, City of Durham, Town of Cary, Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Hillsborough, Town of Carrboro, Town of Apex, Town of Morrisville, Orange County and the Town of Holly Springs. Lowering the cost of solar-energy and battery-storage installations through the power of bulk purchasing, reducing contractor acquisition costs, and transferring those savings to residential and commercial residents is the objective of the campaign, which will continue in 2023.
Helping to facilitate the program in support of the members is Solar Crowdsource.
About Yes Solar Solutions: Yes Solar Solutions provides solar energy consulting and premium-quality solar power system installation services to homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and government and military agencies throughout the Carolinas. A certified Green Plus company, and the first NABCEP-accredited company on the East Coast and the only one in the Carolinas, Yes Solar Solutions was founded 13 years ago in Cary by owners Stew and Kathy Miller. With more than 1,600 projects installed, the company is a fully-licensed North Carolina general contractor and a past winner of the Cary Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Small Business of the Year Award.
Contacts:
Beth Davis | 929-549-0551 | bdavis@tjcog.org
Ken Haldin | 404-405-2924 | ken@solarcrowdsource.com
