Community Gathers for Solar-Powered Picnic
ORWELL – Nestled among a field of solar, area residents gathered Thursday at Vera Blakely’s Orwell home to learn about community solar arrays. Residents were encouraged to tour the array while enjoying a casual outdoor picnic and strawberry shortcake topped with whipped cream. Members of the solar project, with picnic blankets in tow, explored the array up close using the panels as shade for their picnic dinner. The growth of community solar projects has raised questions and excitement, both of which were discussed at the community event hosted by SunCommon.
“We work in community. By hosting public events and solar house parties – like our event here tonight – we aim to spark a community conversation about solar,” said Bryan Carroll, SunCommon Community Solar Project Manager. “Some are considering hosting solar on their land. Others are looking for a community solar option to offset their energy bills. It’s fun to put the pieces together.”
Jori Jacobeit and Jonathan Ives of Shoreham enjoy a solar-powered picnic at SunCommon’s Community Solar Array in Orwell during an educational dinner and tour on Thursday evening May 28, 2015. Ives and Jacobeit are members of a SunCommon Community Solar Array.
A noticeable theme Thursday evening was the appreciation for innovation and education. Residents were curious to learn about solar and how net-metering could allow them to build solar on their own rooftops or support a community solar array as a member.
“I was born into a world with oil lamps, well water pumped by hand and horses for travel. Then the automobile arrived and a telephone in every home led to a cell phone in every hand. And now we have electricity from the sun. I can’t believe it!” said Community Solar land host Vera Blakely.
Vera Blakely stands in her field that hosts SunCommon’s Community Solar Array as fellow community members gather for a solar-powered picnic and educational tour on Thursday evening May 28, 2015.
Blakely, a life-long Vermonter, once raised dairy cows, ran a maple sugaring business and farmed the land with her husband. Imagining a new working landscape, Blakely explored solar to support her future. Planted on a one-acre parcel of Blakely’s land, the 150 kW SunCommon Community Solar Array serves up to 30 households.
“In Addison County alone, over 1,000 households have contacted SunCommon to go solar,” said Els Van Woert, SunCommon Solar Community Organizer, “While rooftop solar is an attractive option for Vermonters, many prefer to enjoy the community solar option. That’s where our Community Solar program comes in.”
Since the company’s launch three years ago, SunCommon has helped over 1,200 Vermonters go solar at home and serves 300 Community Solar members in Vermont through a no upfront cost program that replaces a customer’s utility bill with a low monthly payment.
Els Van Woert, a Solar Community Organizer for SunCommon, explains how Community Solar Arrays work and invites community members to a solar-powered picnic at the Orwell array on Thursday evening May 28, 2015.
To enjoy more photos from the event, click here!
ABOUT US: As a Vermont certified Benefit Corporation, SunCommon believes that everyone has the right to a healthy environment and a safer world – and clean energy is where it starts. Energy from the sun can power our lives, heat our homes and fuel our cars. Our mission is to tear down the barriers to renewable energy. We do that by making it easy and affordable for all Vermonters to go solar.
What are RECs?
Renewable Energy Certificates document the environmental attributes produced by renewable energy sources, and can be sold to contribute funds needed to build a solar project like a CSA. Currently, Vermont does not have a renewable portfolio standard that provides a market to buy or sell RECs within Vermont. So, the RECs may be sold to utilities in neighboring states. Where SunCommon sells RECs associated with a CSA, the buyer of the Renewable Energy Credits may claim the environmental attributes. Given the way electrons flow, the power from the solar array typically flows to neighbors of the array. A CSA Member does not receive solar energy, but receives solar credits in the form of cash on her/his utility bill.
RECs are one of the financial attributes that are bundled together to make it possible to offer CSA membership at a low monthly payment and guaranteed savings. We expect Vermont to adopt our own renewable portfolio standard in 2017, after which the RECs associated with the electricity generated by CSAs will support Vermont’s clean energy goals.