REFUGE/DDWS The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Associates of the Refuge launched the state’s first group photo voltaic co-op in 2015 to profit the JN “Ding” Darling Nationwide Wildlife Refuge’s Customer & Training Middle and upkeep storage, together with a number of residential . and business buildings all through the island.
The nonprofit group Photo voltaic United Neighbors (SUN) not too long ago introduced the launch of the Southwest Florida 2023 Photo voltaic Co-op to supply residents and companies in Lee and Collier counties with the collective buying energy to inexpensive renewable power. or photo voltaic power.
The SUN reviews that the current results of Hurricane Ian spotlight the urgency of serving to householders rebuild a stronger group. Rooftop photo voltaic, when paired with battery storage, might help energy properties and life-saving home equipment throughout energy outages.
A short announcement concerning the launch was made on January 17 on the SWFL Local weather & Neighborhood Summit on the Arthex One Convention Middle in Naples. SUN’s Gulf Coast program companions have been current through the summit to reply questions on photo voltaic and share their experiences.
“The co-op permits Southwest Florida householders and enterprise homeowners to affix a rising group of people who find themselves saving cash by utilizing solar energy,” SUN Gulf Coast Program Affiliate Julia Herbst mentioned. “Collectively, we’re constructing a motion to make our electrical energy system cleaner, fairer and share its advantages extra broadly. With the fixed risk of hurricanes, there is no such thing as a higher time to strengthen the electrical energy grid.
Island companions within the co-op embody the town of Sanibel, Sanibel-Captiva Renewable Vitality Working Group, Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, Committee of the Islands, “additionally” Darling Wildlife Society-Associates of the Refuge, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Basis and Bailey’s Common Retailer. Extra companions embody the Lee County Chapter of The Local weather Actuality Mission, Rising Local weather Options, Interact Estero, League of Girls Voters Collier County and All Faiths Unitarian Congregation.
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
The return of a SUN co-op to the area is the results of a collaboration with the Sanibel-Captiva Renewable Vitality Working Group, in accordance with Co-chair Bob Moore. The Sanibel-Captiva Renewable Vitality Working Group is a coalition of organizations working to handle power stability and group sustainability.
“Hurricane Ian is a stark reminder of how essential power safety is to our area and state. Photo voltaic rooftops might be a part of the answer,” he mentioned. “As well as, it should get monetary savings for householders, companies, cities and non-profits, whereas preserving our air clear. It is a no brainer. “
DDWS launched the state’s first group photo voltaic co-op in 2015 to profit JN “additionally” Darling Nationwide Wildlife Refuge’s Customer & Training Middle and upkeep storage, plus many residential and business buildings on the island. Government Director Birgie Miller reported that primarily based on the success of the SanCap Photo voltaic Join marketing campaign, it has religion in group solarization efforts.
“Due to its success, we have been in a position to rework the shelter right into a Customer & Training Middle and photo voltaic upkeep storage. Hurricane Ian, nevertheless, blew away a lot of the photo voltaic panels. Now we’re additionally constructing the brand new The Roost out of doors studying pavilion in an earth-friendly manner,” he mentioned. “It is sensible for us to affix SUN’s efforts, and we encourage all native enterprise homeowners and householders to do the identical.”
“We acknowledge and recognize the management proven by the unique SanCap co-op,” Herbst observed.
The SUN reviews that as Floridians proceed to rebuild and recuperate from hurricane season, rooftop photo voltaic is a technique customers can rebuild stronger communities and put together for the subsequent one. storm Photo voltaic panels can deal with excessive climate occasions and, if the home-owner additionally has battery storage, photo voltaic can hold crucial home equipment and medical units up and working. Techniques put in in hurricane zones are designed to face up to hurricane power winds.
The Southwest Florida 2023 Photo voltaic Co-op is free to affix. Members can study photo voltaic power and use their numbers to buy particular person photo voltaic techniques at a aggressive value and fine quality.
After a bidding course of initiated by SUN, which stays vendor impartial, members will choose a photo voltaic firm for the installations. Participation doesn’t obligate members to buy photo voltaic. As a substitute, they’ve the choice of individually buying panels and electrical automobile chargers primarily based on the corporate’s group fee.
“We’re excited to help this photo voltaic co-op for Southwest Florida,” SCCF Chief Government Officer James Evans, who additionally serves as co-chair of the Sanibel-Captiva Renewable Vitality Working Group, mentioned. “Utilizing power from the solar simply makes good financial sense and ought to be embraced by everybody within the Sunshine State.”
Bailey’s Common Retailer first used the photo voltaic co-op mannequin in 2020.
“We’re excited concerning the alternative to extend our power manufacturing past the 480 panels at present in operation. Rooftop photo voltaic suits properly with our environmental and monetary enterprise technique for financial restoration within the subsequent 24 months,” proprietor Richard Johnson mentioned. ” We have been fortunate with most of our 480 panels surviving the Class 5 winds throughout Ian. As we plan to rebuild, photo voltaic and different renewable power applied sciences will play an essential function in reopening our doorways and getting again to regular.
SUN will host free, digital data classes on co-op and solar energy:
– Jan. 30 from 6 to 7:30 pm: “Florida Photo voltaic 101: Webinar”
To register, go to https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/occasion/florida-solar-101-23-01-30/.
– Feb. 28 from 6 to 7:30 pm: “Florida Photo voltaic 101: Webinar”
To register, go to https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/occasion/florida-solar-101-23-02-28/.
For extra details about the co-op, go to solarunitedneighbors.org/swfl.
SUN hosts 76 photo voltaic co-ops in Florida as of 2015.
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REFUGE/DDWS The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Associates of the Refuge launched the state’s first group photo voltaic co-op in 2015 to profit the JN “Ding” Darling Nationwide Wildlife Refuge’s Customer & Training Middle and upkeep storage, together with a number of residential . and business buildings all through the island.
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SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
