Montpelier, VT – June 5, 2015 – Vermont’s solar industry is lauding Governor Peter Shumlin’s proclamation of the third Saturday in June as “Celebrate Solar Day” in Vermont.
The solar proclamation, announced at the Whitcomb Farm in Essex, coincides with this June 20th, when solar projects in communities throughout Vermont will be open for public tours. June 20 is the weekend of the Summer Solstice.
Like open sugarhouse weekend in the spring and open art studio weekend in the fall, the inaugural summertime tours will give Vermonters the opportunity to get an up-close view of solar systems to learn about the technology, solar economics, and the benefits of solar to our community. Solar customers, host farmers, and owners will be on-hand to speak with the public.
More than 50 systems across all regions of the state will be participating in Celebrate Solar Tours and a map of open tours can be found here. Many participating sites will host refreshments, music, or other entertainment. Other planned solar events include community walking tours of residential solar installations, miniature golf, a self-guided bike tour, and on-site yoga.
The Governor’s proclamation notes that “solar energy represented 99% of new electrical capacity in the state in 2014 and more than 5,000 Vermont customers have installed solar” through Vermont’s net metering program.
Further, it cites that the Vermont clean energy industries employ over 15,000 Vermonters, with solar providing “a broad spectrum of employment opportunities, helping retain and attract Vermonters working in manufacturing, installation, and sales, among other careers.”
The Whitcomb family is host to a 2.2 Megawatt solar farm that provides energy for Vermont’s SPEED program.
Among the solar sites open to tour June 20: iconic and sweet Vermont attractions like Cold Hollow Cider and Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, high-tech attractions like Draker and Small Dog Electronics, agricultural farms like Champlain Orchards, shared community solar arrays, and some of Vermont’s highest producing solar farms.
At the announcement of the solar tours, Paul Brown, owner of Cold Hollow Cider in Waterbury Center, which has a 150kW system powering its operations, said of the event, “Folks know us and visit us for our cider and donuts. But we are thrilled to open up the field behind our cidery to share the benefits of solar technology to our business and our community. We’ll of course also be serving up some sweet treats for those who come by.”
About Celebrate Solar Tours – June 20
The first annual Celebrate Solar Tours on June 20 will feature public tours of more than 50 solar systems of varying size throughout the state. The public will have the opportunity to get an up-close understanding of the technology, economics and benefits to the community. Open systems will be designated with roadway signage and many will feature music, refreshments or other entertainment.
State of Vermont Executive Department
A Proclamation
WHEREAS, solar energy represented 99% of new electrical capacity in the state in 2014 and more than 5,000 Vermont customers have installed solar through Vermont’s net metering program; and
WHEREAS, the Vermont clean energy industries employ over 15,000 Vermonters and Vermont is among the top states for solar jobs per capita in the country; and
WHEREAS, the Vermont solar industry provides a broad spectrum of employment opportunities, helping retain and attract Vermonters working in manufacturing, installation, and sales, among other careers; and
WHEREAS, solar energy is helping Vermont home owners, businesses, schools, towns, and other institutions save money and stabilize energy costs, while keeping our energy dollars local; and
WHEREAS, solar is part of creating a more resilient, smart, and efficient electrical grid of the future; and
WHEREAS, solar is helping save ratepayers money and is contributing — along with energy efficiency — to the local distributed generation which has allowed the deferment of more than $400 million in transmission upgrades; and
WHEREAS, solar at state facilities is projected to save taxpayers more than $2.5 million with no public investment; and
WHEREAS, climate change poses an enormous threat to our state and the emissions associated with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, including all life cycle manufacturing, transportation, installation, and operation are on average approximately 95% less than coal-fired power plant emissions and 90% less than natural gas-fired power plant emissions; and
WHEREAS, many Vermont farmers and communities are hosting solar projects to support the renewable energy production we will need as a state in the future; and
WHEREAS, the third week of every June marks the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, making available the most sun shining on our state to cleanly and affordably generate solar energy;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Peter Shumlin, Governor, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday in June as
CELEBRATE SOLAR DAY
in Vermont, and encourage Vermonters to visit, tour and learn about solar energy systems at open houses throughout the state Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont on this 20th day of May, A.D. 2015.
Peter Shumlin
Governor
