Celebrating StJohnsbury’s commitment to innovation, SunCommon announced its arrival in the Northeast Kingdom on Tuesday by bringing clean, affordable and accessible solar energy options to local residents. Business leaders, local officials, SunCommon staff, and friends gathered at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, which enjoys a 24 percent share of a SunCommon Community Solar Array. SunCommon's Jericho Community Solar Array is a 150 KW array serving the Fairbanks Museum and over two dozen Vermont households. Users subscribe to a community array to which they are not directly connected and their net benefit is reflected on their electric bills.
“By joining a Community Solar Array, we are able to work towards energy independence while supporting our mission to educate the community about renewable energy,” said Adam Kane of Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium.
SunCommon’s programs, which enable Vermonters to go solar at no upfront cost with a monthly payment that replaces their electric bill, provide long-term savings. For those who had been held back from going solar due to historically high upfront expenses now have an option. Nearly 200 Caledonia County residents have already signed up with SunCommon to learn more about solar through word of mouth alone.
“When we started, there were 1,500 total solar systems built in Vermont over the prior decade.In a little more than 3 years, SunCommon has added 1,200 residential systems and served 300 Community Solar members,” said SunCommon President and Co-founder Duane Peterson, “We’re really excited to make a difference, and we do the work community by community. In Milton, we multiplied the number of solar installations fivefold. In Barre, we’ve quadrupled the amount of solar. We expect to bring 100 residential solar systems to the southern reaches of the Northeast Kingdom within the first year.”
An increase of solar means a boost in local green energy jobs, a fact celebrated by Tara Robinson Holt of the St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce. SunCommon’s NEK launch brings an initial six jobs to the area ranging from community education to solar installation. Holt noted the town’s commitment to exploring options that support local business. “Welcoming SunCommon sends the message that this community is proactive in how we think about our energy production and use,” said Holt, “When I see solar panels I see progress. We need to be responsible in understanding where our power comes from. While our convenience culture has led to an increased demand on energy, we can now turn to a new, affordable andconvenientsolution: solar power.”
Local businesses and homeowners alike can benefit from SunCommon’s solar energy options. “As a sales executive from FedEx I travel all around the state of Vermont. While on the road I keep seeing solar panels popping up and I thought to myself: ‘Why am I waiting so long to go solar and why aren’t I doing this?’I have always had an interest in doing the right thing for my community by using renewable energy,” said Gary Ducott, a Danville solar homeowner, “SunCommon took care of me through the whole process and I’m proud to be one of their first solar homes in Caledonia County.”
As part of SunCommon’s Caledonia County launch, and in concert with local partners, SunCommon will be offering a series of workshops in communities around Caledonia County covering solar basics, its solar heating and cooling program, and community solar. Dates, times, and venues include:
Solar 101 Workshop
Cobleigh Library, Lyndon
May 19th 1-3pm
Sustainable Energy Fair
Craftsbury Library
May 20th 7-8:30pm
Springfest
Atkins Field, Hardwick
May 23th 11-4
Solar 101 Workshop
Lunenburg Town Hall – Community Room
May 27th6:30pm
Solar 101 Workshop
Cobleigh Library, Lyndonville
May 28th7-8pm
Solar 101 Workshop
Kiwanis meeting at Kiwanis Pool, St. Johnsbury
June 1st6:15-7:30pm
Solar Info Session and Bouncy House!
First Friday, Hardwick
June 5th
Solar 101 Workshop
Jeudevine Library, Hardwick
June 10th7-8pm
Solar Info Session and Bouncy House!
RubyLee’s Ice Cream, E. Burke
June 13th
Solar Info Session and Bouncy House!
Pets on Parade, Father Lively Park, St. Johnsbury
June 13th11am – 1pm
Solar Information Session
Lyndon Outdoor Home Show, Lyndon
June 19th6-9pm
Source: SunCommon 5.12.2015