Solar projects in communities throughout Vermont will be open for public tours the third Saturday in June. “Celebrate Solar Tours” will take place across the state on Saturday, June 20, the weekend of the Summer Solstice. Like open sugarhouse weekend in the spring and open art studio weekend in the fall, the summertime tours will give Vermonters the opportunity to get an up-close view of solar systems to learn about the technology, solar economics, and the benefits of solar to our community.
Solar customers, host farmers, and owners alike will be on-hand to speak with the public – with many of the sites offering fun events, also.
Among the solar sites open to tour June 20: iconic and sweet Vermont attractions like Cold Hollow Cider and Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, high-tech attractions like Draker Solar Labs and Small Dog Electronics, agricultural farms like Champlain Orchards, multi-customer shared community solar arrays, and some of Vermont’s highest producing solar farms.
SEE TABLE OF EVENTS BELOW
“Folks know us and visit us for our cider and donuts. But we are thrilled to open up the field behind our cidery to share the benefits of solar technology to our business and our community. We’ll of course also be serving up some sweet treats for those who come by,” said Paul Brown, owner of Cold Hollow Cider in Waterbury Center, which has a 150kW system powering its operations.
Left. Morse Farm in Washington County. Top, Pulling in Addison County.
More than 40 systems are anticipated to participate in the day and a growing statewide map can be found here (link is external). Many participating sites will host refreshments, music, or other entertainment. Other planned solar events include community walking tours of residential solar installations, miniature golf and on-site yoga.
“One of the immeasurable values of living in Vermont is the strength of our communities. We now have an opportunity to work together to repower Vermont through shared, group solar arrays, like the one in my backyard,” said Evergreen Erb of Jericho.
The grassroots event is supported by Renewable Energy Vermont, with new sites being added throughout June.
About Celebrate Solar Tours - June 20
The first annual Celebrate Solar Tours on June 20 will feature public tours of more than 40 solar systems of varying size throughout the state. The public will have the opportunity to get an up-close understanding of the technology, economics and benefits to the community. Open systems will be designated with roadway signage and many will feature music, refreshments or other entertainment.
County
Event Name
What Makes this Event Cool?
Time of Day
Addison
Champlain Orchards
Come take a bite out our delicious apples, while soaking in some sun like our solar panel do.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Addison
Ferrisburg Community Solar Array
Come out to the Ferrisburgh Driving Range to Drive For Solar!
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Addison
Ferrisburg Solar Farm Operating Company
Come visit Vermont’s first 1-Megawatt Solar Project!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Addison
Hardscrabble Solar
Come check out what powers 100 Vermont households.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Addison
Pulling Solar Farm
Group net-metered project that you don’t want to miss!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Addison
Robinson School Starksboro
19 Trackers that power the Elementary School and Town Offices. Located in a quaint setting of Starksboro village center.
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Addison
VT Sun Sport & Fitness Center
VT Sun Sport & Fitness Center is powered by the sun, and let them shine a little light on you while you get in shape!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Bennington
834 Dermondy Road
With ground source heat pumps, and solar panels combined, these energy activists are a Bennington must see!
10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
Bennington
NBV Solar
100kW Group net-metered system servicing a convenience store, an apartment, a home and a town library! Wow!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chittenden
26 Colonial Square
A 1950’s Burlington Colonial on its way to low energy!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chittenden
52 Drew LLC
A traditional new build home in Burlington designed with energy efficiency in mind.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chittenden
65 Kilarney Drive
1950’s Burlington Ranch in the new North End on the path to Net-Zero!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chittenden
66 Cherry Lane
Home owners are renewable energy aficionados and Building Energy’s own ‘Solar Guru’. The home is approaching Net-Zero.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chittenden
Draker
Come take a look inside the management side of solar!
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Chittenden
Erb Community Solar Array
Solar Sun Salutations yoga sessions!
Sunday, June 21, TBD
Chittenden
South Burlington Solar Farm
Come check out one of Vermont highest producing solar farms.
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Chittenden
Town Of Williston/Green Lantern Capitol
The Town of Williston is powered by Sun! Come check out the municipal building in the Town of Williston!
TBD
Franklin
St. Albans Solar Walking Tour
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Solar! And Creemees! Walking tour and creemees are on the agenda!
TBD
Orange
Fitzgerald Solar
Solar, heatpumps and hot water heatpumps make this wood shed a true site to see!
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Orange
Perry Solar
This 4.5 KW residential system shines down on the valley below. Come check it out!
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Orange
Thetford Elementary School
Thetford Elementary School’s amazing array that covers 100% of the schools electricity! Awesome!
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Orange
Wolfeden Farm
Electrified by the sun, wind and our electric mower – we the farm of the future!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Orleans
Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Non-profit Net Zero fitness: come cross country ski, mountain bike, trail run or come to the gym! We’ve got it all!
1:00 pm – 3:00 p.m.
Rutland
GMP Stafford Hill Solar Farm
Stafford Hill Solar Farm is the first project to establish a micro-grid powered solely by solar and battery storage, with no fossil fuels.
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Rutland
Sun Salutations at the Energy Innovation Center
GMP’s Energy Innovation Center will hold yoga classes next to our rooftop solar panels – a great place for sun salutations!
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Washington
27 Colonial Drive
Refresh at the Pettersen home – solar thermal and photovoltaic at it’s finest!
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Washington
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Cider, donuts and 66% of our yearly power is solar!
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Washington
Crossett Brook Middle School
Crossett Brook Middle School is a solar site to see! Don’t miss the largest solar system on a school in the state while you are in Waterbury!
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Washington
McKnight Farm
Dairy Farm with 100kW! Mooooo-ve your way over to check it out!
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Washington
Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks
Get sweet on solar at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks!
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Washington
Small Dog Electronics, Inc.
Small Dog Electronics is BIG on solar!
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Washington
Yestermorrow Design/Build School
Knowledge is power! Here at the Yestermorrow design/build school, knowledge is solar power – and more!
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Windham
46 Fairground Rd
Looking for an town, Geothermal, solar PV and Solar Hot Water house? This one’s for sale!
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Windham
Saxtons River Solar Electric
Come check out cows, chickens and community solar all in one spot!
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Windham
Sunnyside Solar Store
Sunnyside Solar Store, and so much more!
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Windsor
The 36th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival
Come up, up and away at the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival!
Gates open at 5:30 am
Why “Celebrate Solar”tours?
Solar is increasingly part of our energy future and fabric of our communities. And much like open sugar houses in the spring and open art studios in the fall, we’d like to open up our solar success stories to community members statewide to learn about these systems powering our neighbors.
Starting this year, the third Saturday of June—right around the Summer Solstice— will become an annual rite of summer passage where our solar community opens up their farms, businesses, and even homes to give community members Vermont solar tours. The Celebrate Solar Tours are an up-close understanding of local solar power, to learn about how it works, how these projects pencil out, and the story behind controlling our energy future with the sun. This year’s Celebrate Solar Tours day will be Saturday, June 20th at various times throughout the day.
Source: Renewable Energy Vermont. 5.28.2015
United States