For a second year, nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors is relaunching the Boone County Solar Co-op available to homeowners and small businesses in the county. In 2020, the first year the co-op launched, 69 Boone County homeowners joined the co-op (56 with Zionsville addresses) and 10 Boone County homeowners signed solar contracts (9 with Zionsville addresses).
Part of the Town of Zionsville’s Climate Action Plan includes adopting wiser practices and technology to reduce overall energy use, including promoting enrollment in solar co-ops.
“We are excited to partner with Solar United Neighbors for a second year to empower residents to move forward with clean, renewable energy,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “With the Town’s Climate Action Plan, we’re setting ambitious goals and taking steps toward changes that will protect our town. One of those steps is to promote access to clean energy and energy savings and to work with Solar United Neighbors to encourage all residents who are willing and able to adopt solar technology.”
This is the last year that Duke customers can secure net metering, which allows solar owners to receive a credit on their electric bill for the electricity they send back to the grid at the same rate that they purchase electricity from the utility, under current Indiana law. Net metering serves as the economic foundation for customer-owned solar in Indiana.
Free solar 101 webinars will take place on Wednesday, April 28 at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. The webinars will offer information about solar energy and how the co-op can help homeowners and businesses get the best deal on going solar.
The solar co-op is cost- and commitment-free. Co-op members will learn about solar energy and leverage bulk purchasing to ensure competitive pricing and quality solar installations.
After a competitive bidding process facilitated by Solar United Neighbors, co-op members will select a single solar company to complete the installations. Joining a co-op does not obligate members to purchase solar. Instead, members will have the option to individually purchase panels and electric vehicle chargers based on the installer’s group rate.
Solar United Neighbors has hosted 10 solar co-ops in Indiana since 2019. According to the group’s estimates, the 83 homes and businesses that now have solar panels because of co-ops represent: 730.3 kW of solar power, $2.3 million in local solar spending and more than 26.9 million lbs. of lifetime carbon offsets.
Interested individuals can join the co-op through September 30, 2021 (date is subject to change). More information can be found at www.SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/Boone.
Indiana Solar 101 webinar
Wednesday, April 28
6 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Register
Indiana Solar 101 webinar
Thursday, May 13
6:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Register