SunCommon Installs 1000th Home Solar System and Celebrates Contribution to Vermont’s Economy
BARRE, Vermont – Business leaders, elected officials, SunCommon staff, and friends gather to celebrate SunCommon’s 1000th residential solar installation and the positive economic impact the company has made to Vermont’s economy. Located at the 1000th installation itself, at the home of Micki and Stephen Woodruff in Barre Town, Peck electricians installed the final panel on the family’s 6 kW array.
“SunCommon launched two years ago with a mission to tear down the barriers to solar, making it easy and affordable for all Vermonters,” said James Moore, co-founder of SunCommon, “Vermont homeowners are building our clean energy future on their roofs, all the while keeping their energy dollars in the local economy. This is a rooftop revolution, and we are proud to be a part of it.”
One in ninety homes in SunCommon’s operating area boasts a SunCommon array. For Vermont, this has had a significant economic impact. Patricia Moulton, Secretary of Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development, was there to share the economic development and job creation statistics that these 1000 SunCommon solar installations represent. “From farming to tourism, we’re proud of Vermont’s diverse economy. Vermont has the highest percent of green jobs per capita and SunCommon alone has created nearly 100 of these green jobs.” Secretary Moulton went on to discuss the movement of green energy dollars to Vermont, “through the installation of these 1000 home solar systems, SunCommon has brought 30 million dollars into the local, green energy sector that would have otherwise been spent on dirty or out-of-state energy.”
Jeff Peck, president of Peck Electric, the installer of all SunCommon’s rooftop solar arrays, was there to celebrate the expansion of his own business. “We have been an electrical company for decades. Creating a partnership with SunCommon has allowed our solar business to expand. This means more jobs for electricians, roofers and engineers.“
In addition to the direct creation of jobs, SunCommon regularly supports over 100 local businesses, including Ecofasten based in Morrisville. Ecofasten is a manufacturing company that leads the industry in attachment products for roof-mounted solar arrays, shipping all over the United States. “We celebrate our location in Vermont and are happy to support the solar industry in many ways. We use other local manufacturing companies, too, to help meet the growing demand for our products.”
Chris Pierce, the owner of SunCommon’s first ever solar installation said, “It’s no surprise to me that SunCommon serves 1000 homeowners. The program is truly a no-brainer. Solar is great for so many reasons, but when you get down to brass tacks and start saving Vermonters money, the only question is: why not?”
