The regionwide group-buying program Solarize the Triangle has entered another tier of lower prices based on additional property owners in the Triangle purchasing new renewable energy systems.
This week, the community-based campaign entered Tier 4 of progressively lower-priced tier levels. The program enables residents and businesses to save on the ordinary cost of solar energy and battery power through combined buying with others within 12 communities in the Triangle.
Federal income tax credits of 30 percent make this form of clean energy even more affordable. Acting to enroll for free and without obligation prior to Sept. 30 ensures access to the lowest-price tier achieved. Rebates provide everyone the same final price regardless of when a contract is completed before the final deadline later this year.
The Triangle Sustainability Partnership, a local government partnership of 12 communities that forged the program, continues to offer local educational and informational opportunities for those in the region seeking to know more about purchasing solar energy and battery storage for their home, business or non-profit organization.
The Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) Net Energy Metering 2.0 changes are frequently asked questions. That topic and more will be discussed in detail in an upcoming free Webinar panel session scheduled for noon on Tuesday, Sept. 12. This informational event will be co-hosted by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) and feature panelists from DEC, Southern Environmental Law Center, and Yes Solar Solutions. To attend this free Webinar, register in advance here.
Other upcoming public events featuring representatives of Solarize the Triangle ’23 with information include:
- Holly Springs’ Farmers Market:
- Saturday, Sept. 2, 8 a.m.-noon
- Durham Bulls Athletic Park
- Mystic Distillery Art & Soul Market
- Sunday, Sept. 10, 12-4 p.m.
- Southern Ideal Home Show: Booth 432
- Friday-Sunday, Sept. 15-17
- North Carolina State Fairgrounds
Via the Solarize concept, the more residents and business owners who contract for solar installations through the program, the more savings accrue for all participants. The 4th price tier in Solarize the Triangle ’23 ($2.92/watt) was reached through initial contracts totaling 357 total kWs so far.
Once these installations are activated, over 670,000 lbs. of CO2 in the Triangle region will be annually avoided. That’s the equivalent of 670,133 miles driven in a year by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle.
All homeowners who purchase during the campaign, regardless of when, will be provided with the lowest-price ($2.65/watt) if Tier 8 is reached. Already 440 property owners have enrolled to receive a free, no-obligation evaluation.
Interested property owners can visit solarizethetriangle.com to find out more about the program.
The deadline to sign up at no cost is Sept. 30, 2023. All residential solar and battery contracts must be completed by Dec. 31, 2023. A separate deadline for commercial/non-profit contract completions is Feb. 28, 2024.
The 2023 regional program focuses on:
- Making solar energy more affordable: lower the cost of solar energy through the power of group-purchasing and reduced acquisition costs. Savings are passed to residents of the Triangle region;
- Making solar energy more accessible: contractor(s), materials and pricing highly vetted for best practices using a competitive bid process;
- Education and community engagement: widespread community engagement, education and outreach activities through town hall meetings, workshops, solar “open house” gatherings, and outreach through local community groups and events;
- Promoting solar-positive policies: encourage local governments to adopt streamlined solar energy permitting policies and fair utility distributed generation policies; and
- Giving back: Solarize the Triangle and selected contractors will use a portion of campaign proceeds to donate a solar energy system to a deserving local nonprofit organization and/or help to underwrite solar-energy systems for qualified low- and moderate-income families with high energy burdens.
Helping to facilitate the program on behalf of the members is The Triangle J Council of Governments and Solar CrowdSource. For the program’s second year, the installer selected through a rigorous vetting process remains Yes Solar Solutions, a Cary-based, fully-licensed NC general contractor with more than 1,600 projects installed.
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About Solarize the Triangle: Solarize the Triangle is a campaign developed via the Triangle J Council of Governments. Communities involved include: Chatham County, City of Raleigh, Durham County, City of Durham, Town of Cary, Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Hillsborough, Town of Carrboro, Town of Apex, Town of Morrisville, Orange County and the Town of Holly Springs. Lowering the cost of solar-energy and battery-storage installations through the power of bulk purchasing, reducing contractor acquisition costs, and transferring those savings to residential and commercial residents is the objective of the 2023 campaign, which resumed this spring.
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