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Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

Solar co-op forms on Middle Peninsula

Author:     Frances Hubbard
Source:     The Daily Press
Publication Date:    
Link: Solar co-op forms on Middle Peninsula
Stephan:   This story caught my attention because I grew up in Gloucester, Virginia, and I worked for the paper that published this, The Daily Press. This is Old Virginia, there are more 18th century homes in Gloucester than any other county in Virginia. This was originally colonial land grant property and Jefferson courted the fair Belinda at the beautiful White Marsh estate. Cornwallis surrendered to Washington on the other side of the York River.   This area tends to be conservative, but not Evangelical as Virginia is further south in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. So the fact that Tidewater Virginia,  rural and traditional in a  state notably backward in pursuing alternative energy nonetheless is actively pursuing a model of how a community can incorporate solar I think is very interesting, and encouraging.

“Today is sunny and I’ve got a roof that could generate energy,” Maureen Fairbrother said at her home on Friday.

The Middlesex resident has a long-term goal of converting her home’s energy usage to solar power. She’s hoping other residents will consider it as well.

“The sun is an incredible source of power on this planet,” she said. “This is technology that is doable, long-term and a good investment.”

Fairbrother is working with Virginia Solar United Neighborhoods, known as VA SUN, to form a solar co-op on the Middle Peninsula. The co-op brings together homeowners who are interested in solar power and walks them through the process, according to Aaron Sutch, program director with VA SUN.

Co-ops, Sutch said, address two barriers that come with solar energy conversion: cost and education.

“The goal is so residents are educated consumers,” Sutch said.

The group hosts informational sessions for residents covering the basics of solar power and by soliciting bids for a bulk purchase with an installer, they are able to reduce the cost.

The co-ops aim to have about 100 qualified members, Sutch said. To start, once the co-op has 20 to 30 interested residents, VA SUN screens each roof using digital tools to see if it’s […]

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