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.

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.