Residents of the Lewisburg area have formed a solar co-op to save money and make going solar easier, while building a network of solar supporters. The Greenbrier River Watershed Association, the Lewisburg Green Team, and WV SUN are the co-op’s sponsors. The Lewisburg Solar Co-op is currently seeking additional members to join the group.
“The Lewisburg Green Team is excited to help form a solar co-op in our local area,” said Leah Crowe of the Lewisburg Green Team. “Supporting renewable energy and sustainable energy development are part of the Team’s green initiatives. The Green Team was formed last year by the city of Lewisburg to encourage sustainability within the community. Harnessing energy from the sun is about as sustainable as you can get, so we are hopeful that more solar energy projects can be developed in our community.”
WV SUN expands access to solar by educating West Virginians about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them organize group solar installations, and strengthening West Virginia’s solar policies and its community of solar supporters. It has helped more than half a dozen communities across the state develop solar co-ops.
“We’re forming this co-op in Lewisburg to make saving money with solar energy as simple as possible,” said Autumn Long, WV SUN solar co-op coordinator. “Working with the group helps members learn about the technology so they feel confident in their decision to go solar. The co-op is a great opportunity to demonstrate how solar energy can help our communities be more self-sufficient.”
Lewisburg area residents interested in joining the co-op can sign up online at www.wvsun.org/lewisburg. Joining the co-opis not a commitment to purchase panels. Once the group is large enough, WV SUN will help the co-op solicit competitive bids from area solar installers.
Co-op members will select a single company to complete all of the installations. They will then have the option to purchase panels individually based on the installer’s group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, each participant generally saves up to 20 percent off the cost of their system.
For more information, go to www.wvsun.org, or contact Long at 304-608-3539 or autumn@wvsun.org.
