SunCommon launches into Northeast Kingdom Vermont
Ellen Gershun, Solar Community Organizer at SunCommon, announces the company’s arrival in the Northeast Kingdom during an event at solar customer Kristina Michelsen’s Hardwick home on Tuesday May 12, 2015. Over 200 area residents have contacted SunCommon seeking solar.
SunCommon launches into Northeast Kingdom with Innovative Partnership
ST JOHNSBURY, Vermont – Celebrating St. Johnsbury’s commitment to innovation, SunCommon announced its arrival in the Northeast Kingdom on Tuesday by bringing clean, affordable and accessible solar energy options to local residents. Business leaders, local officials, SunCommon staff, and friends gathered at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, which enjoys a 24% share of a SunCommon Community Solar Array.
“By joining a Community Solar Array, we are able to work towards energy independence while supporting our mission to educate the community about renewable energy,” said Adam Kane of Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium.
SunCommon’s programs, which enable Vermonters to go solar at no upfront cost with a monthly payment that replaces their electric bill, provide long-term savings. For those who had been held back from going solar due to historically high upfront expenses now have an option. Nearly 200 Caledonia County residents have already signed up with SunCommon to learn more about solar through word of mouth alone.
“When we started, there were 1,500 total solar systems built in Vermont over the prior decade. 
In a little more than 3 years, SunCommon has added 1,200 residential systems and served 300 Community Solar members,” said SunCommon President and Co-founder Duane Peterson, “We’re really excited to make a difference, and we do the work community by community. In Milton, we multiplied the number of solar installations fivefold. In Barre, we’ve quadrupled the amount of solar. We expect to bring 100 residential solar systems to the southern reaches of the Northeast Kingdom within the first year.”
An increase of solar means a boost in local green energy jobs, a fact celebrated by Tara Robinson Holt of the St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce. SunCommon’s NEK launch brings an initial six jobs to the area ranging from community education to solar installation. Holt noted the town’s commitment to exploring options that support local business. “Welcoming SunCommon sends the message that this community is proactive in how we think about our energy production and use,” said Holt, “When I see solar panels I see progress. We need to be responsible in understanding where our power comes from. While our convenience culture has led to an increased demand on energy, we can now turn to a new, affordable and convenient solution: solar power.”
Hardwick Town Manager Jon Jewett celebrates SunCommon’s arrival into the Northeast Kingdom saying the added solar options are beneficial to both homeowners and businesses alike.
Local businesses and homeowners alike can benefit from SunCommon’s solar energy options. “As a sales executive from FedEx I travel all around the state of Vermont. While on the road I keep seeing solar panels popping up and I thought to myself: ‘Why am I waiting so long to go solar and why aren’t I doing this?’ I have always had an interest in doing the right thing for my community by using renewable energy,” said Gary Ducott, a Danville solar homeowner, “SunCommon took care of me through the whole process and I’m proud to be one of their first solar homes in Caledonia County.”
Danville solar homeowner Gary Ducott holds his first negative electric bill since installing a SunCommon solar system over the winter. Community members gathered at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury on Tuesday May 12, 2015 to celebrate the arrival of SunCommon to the Northeast Kingdom.
As part of SunCommon’s Caledonia County launch, and in concert with local partners, SunCommon will be offering a series of workshops in communities around Caledonia County covering solar basics, its solar heating and cooling program, and community solar. Dates, times, and venues include:
| Solar 101 Workshop | Cobleigh Library, Lyndon | May 19th 1-3pm |
| Sustainable Energy Fair | Craftsbury Library | May 20th 7-8:30pm |
| Springfest | Atkins Field, Hardwick | May 23th 11-4 |
| Solar 101 Workshop | Lunenburg Town Hall – Community Room | May 27th 6:30pm |
| Solar 101 Workshop | Cobleigh Library, Lyndonville | May 28th 7-8pm |
| Solar 101 Workshop | Kiwanis meeting at Kiwanis Pool, St. Johnsbury | June 1st 6:15-7:30pm |
| Solar Info Session and Bouncy House! | First Friday, Hardwick | June 5th |
| Solar 101 Workshop | Jeudevine Library, Hardwick | June 10th 7-8pm |
| Solar Info Session and Bouncy House! | RubyLee’s Ice Cream, E. Burke | June 6th 1-3 pm |
| Solar Info Session and Bouncy House! | Pets on Parade, Father Lively Park, St. Johnsbury | June 13th 11am – 1pm |
| Solar Information Session | Lyndon Outdoor Home Show, Lyndon | June 19th 6-9pm |
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. In just two years, SunCommon has helped over 1,200 Vermonters move toward energy independence by going solar.
Wanna see our launch event from Hardwick? Tune in here!
