Four Solar Co-ops launch across Florida, from the Panhandle to Miami

By Ben Delman on January 11, 2018

Solar is hitting the ground running in 2018 as neighbors in Leon, Manatee, and Miami-Dade Counties have formed solar co-ops to save money and make going solar easier. The Leon County Solar Co-op marks Solar United Neighbors’ expansion into the Florida panhandle, while the Manatee County Solar Co-op is the first group in rural and suburban areas. The Western Miami-Dade and The Beaches Solar co-ops are the final two co-ops of six which will serve Miami-Dade residents.

Leon County, Manatee County, and Miami-Dade homeowners interested in joining their respective co-op can sign up online and attend an info session to learn more (details below). The co-ops are free to join and joining the co-op is not a commitment to purchase panels. Once the group is large enough, Solar United Neighbors will help co-op participants solicit competitive bids from area solar installers.

Co-op members will select a single company to complete all of 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 on the cost of their system.

Solar United Neighbors is excited to work with a broad array of partners in this effort. Partners include: the Florida Conservation Voters Education Fund, League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, Rethink Energy Florida, Sustainable Tallahassee, Sierra Club Big Bend Group, League of Women Voters of Manatee County, South Florida Museum, Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, Sierra Club Manatee-Sarasota Group, Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Manatee County Audubon Society, League of Women Voters Miami-Dade, The Green Corridor Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) District, Earth Ethics Institute, Miami Dade College, Tropical Audubon Society, Rise Up Florida, CLEO Institute, Citizens Climate Lobby Women’s March Miami, Miami-Dade County, Miami Springs, Town of Surfside, and North Miami Beach.

Leon County Info session (sign up)

Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 6:00 pm
UF IFAS Leon County Extension Office
615 Paul Russell Road
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Manatee County Info Session (sign up)

Wednesday, January 24, 6 p.m.
Central Library
1301 Barcorrota Boulevard West
Bradenton, FL 34205

Western Miami-Dade Info Session (sign up)

Wednesday, January 17, 7 p.m.
Rebecca Sosa Theater – Miami Springs Community Center
1401 Westward Drive
Miami Springs, FL 33166

The Beaches Info Session (Sign up)

Tuesday, January 23, 7 p.m.
Surfside Community Center
9301 Collins Avenue
Surfside, FL 33154