Everything is brighter: New Solar Co-ops Launching in West Orange County

From the Orange County Government Newsroom

Orange County is building on the momentum of the state’s largest and most successful solar co-op by again partnering with Solar United Neighbors of Florida to bring a new solar co-op to residents of West Orange County. The new co-op is now open and runs through mid-June 2018.

Solar co-ops provide bulk discounts of up to 20 percent for a group of homeowners interested in purchasing solar panels. As part of a solar co-op, each participant signs an individual contract with the group-chosen installer, and all participants benefit from the discount. All homeowners who reside in West Orange County, including in city jurisdictions, are eligible to participate in their respective co-op.

Earlier this year, more than 150 residents of East Orange County formed a co-op and selected Goldin Solar to serve the group. Members of that co-op are now in the process of signing contracts with the installer.

Orange County launched its first solar co-op in the summer of 2016 with 515 participants. Of those households, 79 installed solar through the co-op, accounting for 702.83 kW of new solar capacity in the County. In addition, $1.3 million was invested in solar with this co-op with total energy savings over a lifetime of the solar array of $3.5 million. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and her family were among the 79 households who joined this first solar co-op.

The final two meetings in West Orange County are listed below:

Orange County West Solar Co-op Information Session

Monday, June 4

6 p.m.

John Bridges Community Center, Building A

445 West 13^th Street

Apopka, FL 32703

Orange County West Solar Co-op Information Session

Saturday, June 23

11:30 a.m.

Jackson Neighborhood Center

1002 West Carter Street

Orlando, FL 32805

About Solar United Neighbors of Florida: Solar United Neighbors expands access to solar by educating Florida residents about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them organize group solar installations, and strengthening Florida’s solar policies and its community of solar supporters. Solar United Neighbors of Florida’s Program Director will actively work to establish co-ops, including issuing a Request for Proposal on behalf of the co-op's and provide technical support.