Prairie Rivers Network is a proud sponsor of two solar group buys this year, the 5th annual Solar Urbana-Champaign program and the inaugural Solarize Southern Illinois program. The Solar U-C program is offered throughout Champaign and Piatt Counties, and for the first time this year, also Vermillion County. The Solarize Southern Illinois program is offered to Jackson, Perry, Franklin, Williamson, and Union counties in southern Illinois. Programs are typically sponsored by local municipalities and organizations in cooperation with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.
There is also a Grow Solar Metro East program and a Solarize Chicagoland program.
What is a solar group buy?
Solar group buys take the guess-work out of going solar! A solar group buy is an education and group purchasing program for solar on homes and businesses. The more participants that go solar through the program, the more everyone saves!
What makes a Solar Group Buy Special?
Program sponsors use a competitive request for proposals to select a solar installer. Through this process, program participants are ensured a competitive price and the simplicity of working with a single installer. Most individuals purchasing a solar system through a group buy will receive a lower price per watt than what they would pay on the open market. As more people buy in and various benchmarks are achieved, prices go down even more. These additional savings are realized at the end of the program in the form of a group buy rebate. Participants are welcome to consider all their options before signing a contract to ensure they are receiving the best price available for their system.
Solar group-buys are only available for a short time! You will have until September 30, 2020 to become a part of the Solar Urbana-Champaign Group Buy and until August 31, 2020 to join the Solarize Southern IL program.
Why is solar so affordable right now?
In addition to the savings you would realize through the group buy’s reduced pricing offers, savings may also be realized in three ways by: 1) claiming the federal tax credit, 2) selling solar renewable energy credits (SRECS), and 3) utilizing net metering.
The federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit is currently 26%. So if you have a sizable income tax bill, you can claim a tax credit up to 26% of your solar expenditures.
SRECS are financial incentives that were created by Illinois law and are intended to foster growth in solar power. You will receive cash payments based on projections of future energy production for your solar project. Your installer will help you sell these SRECs.
Further savings can be realized through a process called net metering. If your system is connected to your utility’s grid, there will be times when excess energy not used by your home or business is sent back to the grid. Through net metering, your utility provider will keep track of that electricity and in exchange you’ll receive bill credits on your electric bill. Those credits then help offset the cost of electricity when your panels aren’t producing electricity. Be sure to check with your utility company to learn more about their net metering policy.
You can see project cost examples of how these savings add up by attending a Virtual Solar Power Hour, described below.
How do I learn more?
Community outreach and education are crucial to the success of these programs. The program sponsors work with local organizations to facilitate a number of 1-hour-long “Solar Power Hours.” These educational events cover the basics of solar, costs and financing, your property’s solar readiness, and how to participate in the group buy. This year, in the interests of safety, the Solar Power Hours will be held online.
Solar U-C Solar Power Hours can be found here and Solarize Southern Illinois Solar Power Hours can be found here.
A few more fun facts about these solar group buys!
The Solarize Southern Illinois group buy program creates an opportunity to train new solar installers and establishes a Low Income Renewable Energy Fund to assist buyers typically left out of the solar market.
The Solar Urbana-Champaign group buy program will include Community Solar this year, with options for low-income households.
Remember, these programs are limited time offers, learn more by attending a Virtual Solar Power Hour or by visiting the websites for more information!
Amanda Pankau coordinates our campaign to bring information to communities about the benefits of renewable energy and the costs of non-renewable sources, such as coal.
Kim Knowles leads our efforts to promote resilient rivers and communities through the protection and restoration of natural floodplain functions, and through the promotion of renewable energy, with a particular focus on low income solar programs.
