Solar energy is no longer an idea of the future, it’s here and now, and it’s accessible for homeowners and business owners alike. Eau Claire city and county, along with Chippewa Valley Technical College and the city of Altoona have partnered with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association to coordinate a group-buy of solar panels through a new program knows as Solarize Eau Claire.
A group-buy significantly increases the volume of purchasing, which in turn reduces up-front costs of installing solar panels on your home or business. The program will provide residents and businesses the opportunity to invest in their own high-quality renewable energy solar installations with potential savings on installation costs, while also helping businesses reach sustainability goals (that 30% tax credit ends this year folks!). Basically, you have a larger number of people/businesses working together for a great cause with great benefits, both short term and long term.
Solarize Eau Claire is a subsection of Grow Solar, a Midwest-based organization that seeks to build an open and advantageous solar market in order to provide long-term benefits to communities. With the help of Grow Solar, group-buys have been extremely successful in many cities including Portland, Milwaukee, Chicago, and several states from California to Vermont.
Solarize Eau Claire began its program in August of this year and they are offering free education sessions throughout Eau Claire and Altoona during the month of September and into early October. These sessions will provide education as to how solar power actually works, information about pricing options, and offer the ability to sign up for competitive contractor selection. Check out their website for more information or to find a session: https://www.growsolar.org/eauclaire/.