Betsy and Dave – State College, Pennsylvania

But any amount of solar, even if it is less than your whole energy usage, will yield savings!

Betsy and Dave – State College, PA

2021 Centre County Solar Co-op

System size – 13.14kW

Why did you decide to go solar? 

The co-op unquestionably helped us come to the decision, and a huge part of that was a better understanding of the economics – system cost, the federal tax credit and SRECs. That said, the payback period on our system is about 12 years; on a strictly economic basis, there are arguably better ways to spend that money.

Really, the choice to go solar was aligned with our values. We feel responsible to do our part in reducing GHG emissions, and this was one big way to step up to that responsibility. Understanding the economics let us know this particular action was within our means.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about getting solar?

Look critically at that goal of replacing all of your power because it may be very expensive to do so. But any amount of solar, even if it is less than your whole energy usage, will yield savings!

What advice would you give to people who are considering going solar through the co-op? 

Go to the resource that the Centre Region Council of Governments has set up, and simultaneously go to Solar United Neighbors. People come all the time from my neighborhood to approach me about our solar!