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League of Women Voters to start new solar co-op

Jim Waymer
FLORIDA TODAY
jim Fenton ,Ph.D.,executive director of FSEC addresses the gathering. Florida Solar United Neighborhoods (FLSUN), partnering with League of Women Voters for the Space Coast Solar Co-op Press Conference held Monday, Oct. 24, at the University of Central Florida's Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) in Cocoa. Their goal is assistance in achieving widespread adoption of solar energy in Brevard County.

COCOA — The League of Women Voters announced a new program Monday in which homeowners and businesses can join together to bring down the cost of solar panels by 20 percent or more.

Homeowners commit to buying solar together to get bulk discounts. The co-op uses competitive bidding to select companies to install the solar systems. Then participants sign their own contracts with installers, selecting from one or two companies.

"I think we need to recognize this is a tremendous opportunity," James Fenton, the director of the Florida Solar Energy Center, said Monday during a news conference at the center. "We've passed over the price point where solar on your roof is a cheaper option than buying electricity out of the wall."

But the upfront cost of solar installations keeps many from taking the leap.

The cost of solar typically ranges from $6,000 to $27,000 for panels that last 20 to 25 years. There's a 30 percent federal tax credit, which can be spread over three years. The return on investment is five to eight years, FL SUN officials said.

To bring the cost down, the League of Women Voters of Florida joined with the Community Power Network, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, to create Florida Solar United Neighborhoods (FL SUN), a non profit group that gives free technical help to solar co-ops.

Signing up for the solar co-op doesn't mean homeowners must buy solar systems, only that they're interested in learning more.

The Space Coast Solar Co-op is open to all Brevard County homeowners. Co-ops usually need 30 participants to get solar discounts. FL SUN's goal is 300 participants, with 30-50 percent opting to go solar. The co-op deadline will be in January.

Businesses also can sign up for the co-op, as long as they can do their solar system on the same timeline as others in the program.

Dan Bennett of the Brevard Federation of Teachers speaking at the podium.Florida Solar United Neighborhoods (FLSUN), partnering with League of Women Voters for the Space Coast Solar Co-op Press Conference held Monday, Oct. 24, at the University of Central Florida Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa. Their goal is assistance in achieving widespread adoption of solar energy in Brevard County.

FL SUN already has signed up almost 400 homes and businesses statewide, including in Orange County, St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Roughly half opt to go solar.

"The co-op really helped us understand the solar project costs and benefits," said Michael Cohen, who participated in the first co-op in Orlando. 'I realized that the questions I had were the same ones that my neighbors had, and I had confidence in the information provided by the contractor selected by the co-op."

Cohen estimates he saves $100 to $140 per month on his electric bill, so his $11,000 upfront investment should be recouped within the next five or six years, he said.

Angela DeMonbreun, program director at FLSUN.  Florida Solar United Neighborhoods (FLSUN), partnering with League of Women Voters for the Space Coast Solar Co-op Press Conference held Monday, Oct. 24, at the UCF Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa. Their goal is assistance in achieving widespread adoption of solar energy in Brevard County.

To recruit participants in the program, the League of Women Voters has teamed up with the Brevard Federation of Teachers; Satellite Beach; Rockledge Gardens; Space Coast EV Drivers; The Green Marketplace; Turtle Coast Sierra Club; Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard; and WFIT-FM 89.5.

FL SUN will hold information sessions about the co-op on Nov. 1 at the Schechter Community Center in Satellite Beach and on Nov. 2 at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa.

The Community Power Network also runs co-ops in Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia.

"We're not inventing anything new here," said Lorraine Koss, a board member with the League of Women Voters. "This is a proven model...This was an opportunity to make a quantifiable difference."

Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com Follow him on Twitter@JWayEnviro and at facebook.com/jim.waymer

Learn more 

Number of solar systems in Florida — 11,626 of the 7.9 million utility customers in the state (less than 1 percent), according to the Florida Public Service Commission

To learn how to sign up for the co-op, visit www.FLSUN.org/SpaceCoast or email solarteam@floridasun.org

7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the David R. Schechter Commmunity Center, 1089 S. Patrick Dr., Satellite Beach;

7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa