Neighbors and businesses in the greater Roanoke area forming solar co-op to go solar together, get a discount

By Zach Schalk on February 27, 2018

Neighbors in Roanoke (including Botetourt and Montgomery counties) have formed a solar co-op to save money and make going solar easier while also building a network of solar supporters. Solar United Neighbors is partnering with The City of Roanoke Sustainability Department, Botetourt County, Roanoke County, the City of Salem, and Virginia Clean Cities to sponsor the group.

Roanoke solar co-op: unbiased help going solar
The Greater Roanoke Solar Co-op is open to neighbors and businesses in Roanoke and the surrounding area, including Botetourt and Montgomery Counties.

Solar group purchases in Virginia started with the Solarize Blacksburg campaign in 2014, a partnership between the Town of Blacksburg and Community Housing Partners with support from Solar United Neighbors of Virginia (then known as the Community Power Network). Since 2014, Solar United Neighbors of Virginia has supported more than two dozen solar co-ops, helping nearly 650 Virginia homes go solar and saving homeowners more than $2.2 million in the process.

The group, open to both homeowners and small businesses, is seeking participants and will host its first informational meetings on Tuesday, March 6 at the Noel Taylor Municipal Building in Roanoke at 6:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, March 7 at the Blacksburg Public Library in Blacksburg at 6:30 p.m. to educate the community about solar and the co-op process. Full information session details and RSVP links are below.

Roanoke area residents interested in joining the co-op can sign up at the co-op website. Joining the co-op is not a commitment to purchase panels. Once the group is large enough, Solar United Neighbors will help the co-op solicit competitive bids from area solar installers.

Co-op participants will select a single company to complete all the installations. They will then have the option to purchase panels individually based on the installer’s group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, participants can save off the cost of going solar and have the guidance from the experts at Solar United Neighbors.

RSVP for an upcoming information session today!

Tuesday, March 6
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Noel Taylor Municipal Building, Rm. 450
215 Church Ave SW
Roanoke, VA 24011
Click here to RSVP

Wednesday, March 7
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Blacksburg Public Library
200 Miller St
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Click here to RSVP