Floridians Forming Solar Co-ops

Residents boost solar energy options by forming co-ops

Tracey McManus, September 9, 2017 (Tampa Bay Times)

“…[The St. Pete Solar Co-op, led by The League of Women Voters Florida with FL SUN, helps residents band] together and hire a single company to install systems on all of their homes, resulting in a 20 percent bulk discount and moral support to navigate a complicated process…[One homeowner used the 30 percent federal tax credit and co-op discount to get]15 panels installed for $6,800 on the roof of her 1,264-square foot home…[Her electric bill in August was] $5.49…As interest in solar energy grows in the state, more resident-driven co-ops are sprouting…[Two FL SUN co-ops to be launched Sept. 25 will join]the dozen running across the state…Florida currently ranks 13th nationally for solar capability even though the Solar Energy Industries Association estimates the Sunshine State as having the third-highest potential... The number of customer-owned solar energy systems increased nearly 40 percent in 2016, reaching 15,965 compared to 11,600 in 2015…[but that's] only a fraction of the state's 7.9 million utility customers…” click here for more

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