CERTs Press Release 7/3/12
Solar Bulk Purchase Program Offers Education & Discounts for Home & Business Owners
Those interested in solar thermal in Southeast Minnesota using this opportunity to declare their freedom from heating fuel & costs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Laura Cina
Minnesota Renewable Energy Society
laurac@mnrenewables.org
612-963-4757
Tue., July 3, 2012, Southeast, MN – This Fourth of July, home and business owners across Southeast Minnesota are celebrating their freedom from energy costs as they take steps to power their lives with solar energy.
An innovative program called Make Mine Solar to help bolster solar purchases is being launched this month by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES). This program is modeled after the highly successful Solarize Oregon campaigns, except it is unique by focusing solely on solar thermal technologies. The program is being supported by a grant from the Clean Energy Resource Team in Southeast MN, where workshops will be held to educate home and business owners on the benefits of going solar.
An innovative program called Make Mine Solar to help bolster solar purchases is being launched this month by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES). This program is modeled after the highly successful Solarize Oregon campaigns, except it is unique by focusing solely on solar thermal technologies. The program is being supported by a grant from the Clean Energy Resource Team in Southeast MN, where workshops will be held to educate home and business owners on the benefits of going solar.
Southeastern Minnesota is being targeted because of their multiple utility rebates through Rochester Public Utilities, Austin Utilities and Owatonna Public Utilities, who all have a rebate of $15 per square foot of collector aperture for their customers. This rebate is $695 for the two-panel Velux solar hot water system that is being purchased for the program.
Southeastern Minnesota also has an abundance of rural customers who are currently using electricity and propane for their water and space heating. Solar thermal systems provide a quick payback for customers using these expensive energy sources. A 30% Federal Tax Credit, which comes to about a $3,000 incentive for the solar hot water system and $2,200 for the solar air heating system, is an important incentive as well.
“The Make Mine Solar program makes it easier and less expensive to install a solar system right now and we think this deal will encourage more people to install them,” said Laura Cina, MRES’ Managing Director.
MRES provides educational opportunities for people who want to learn more about solar thermal. Free workshops on energy efficiency, solar technology and the bulk purchase program will be held in Austin, Owatonna, Rochester, Red Wing and Kiester, MN. These workshops will include solar basics, program details and an installer meet and greet. “The Make Mine Solar program gives residents who’ve been thinking about going solar the education, motivation and financial help to go ahead and do it,” Cina said.
The program is designed to take advantage of bulk purchase discounts on equipment to increase affordability. Participants can choose from two different types of technologies, one to heat hot water and one that heats the air. The systems will be installed by four qualified local solar installers – Applied Energy Innovations, Innovative Power Systems, Aladdin Solar or Solar Connection. Creating green jobs for Minnesota is a high priority for MRES and this program. As part of this program, installers will work with local municipalities to streamline permitting processes in Southeast Minnesota for solar thermal installations.
The program is open to residents, farmers, multi-family and commercial buildings, churches and schools. Contracts must be signed by September 30th, 2012 to be part of the bulk purchase of equipment. Systems will then be installed throughout the rest of 2012 and into 2013 as is convenient for the customer.
For interested parties the first step is to sign up on the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society’s website at www.MakeMineSolar.org for a virtual site assessment. A $20 cost will inform you of your site’s solar potential, your possible costs after rebates and incentives and the payback based on an estimation of your energy use. Good candidates for solar would then purchase an on-site assessment for $100, which would provide a detailed proposal for a solar thermal energy system and contact information for the solar area installers to move forward on the project.
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The Clean Energy Resource Teams connect you with resources to identify and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. CERTs is made up of community members across Minnesota who share a bold vision for Minnesota's energy future: to foster strong communities, to create local jobs, and to develop clean and reliable energy from clean sources.
The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society is a member-run, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in Minneapolis in 1978 and incorporated in Minnesota in 1979 to promote the use of, and to engage in advocacy for, renewable energies in Minnesota through education and through the demonstration of practical applications. MRES is involved in education, awareness, and advocacy efforts for all forms of renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on solar technologies.
Helping Minnesota communities determine their clean energy future
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org
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