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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper January 2017 Page 9
Frederick County Solar Co-Op Selects Installer for Solar Panels
The Frederick County Solar Co- the idea that we’d be using an installer organization, Courtesy Photo
op has selected Sustainable Energy right here in Frederick.”
Systems to install solar panels for the Community Power
growing sixty-one-member group. “We at Sustainable Energy Systems Network, MD SUN
The Co-op’s Selection Committee are appreciative of the opportunity has helped facilitate
selected Sustainable Energy Systems to continue our mission of providing the creation of solar
through a competitive bidding that affordable solar to homeowners,” co-ops throughout
included proposals from eleven firms. stated Ryan Nicholson, sales manager the District of
The co-op is open to new residential at Sustainable Energy Systems. Columbia, Florida,
and small business members until “We are even more excited for this Maryland, Ohio,
February 28, 2017, and the group opportunity because it is happening in Virginia, and West
will hold its final public information our hometown of Frederick!” Virginia.
session on January 18, 2017, at 7:00 Joining the
p.m. at the C. Burr Artz Library to Understanding all of the details co-op is not a
educate the community about solar of solar and solar financing can be commitment
and the co-op process. By forming confusing, but co-op members have to purchase or
a group of interested buyers and the support of the group throughout lease panels.
selecting a single solar install that the installation process. This allows The installer, Solar panels were installed on the home of Russ and Cindy Poole in
best meets the interest of the group, members of the co-op to get their Sustainable Thurmont as part of Frederick County’s 2013 Solarize Frederick Initiative.
co-op members can receive lower questions answered and feel confident
prices as a result of economies of scale that they’re getting a quality solar Energy Systems, Poole of Thurmont was happy to
and reduced labor costs for business system. “I am excited to work with will develop personalized proposals, see a new program being offered by
development and marketing. Sustainable Energy Systems and including financing options, for each the county, sharing his experience:
see how much I can save with my co-op member based on installation “We originally investigated and
“Sustainable Energy Systems system,” said Jessica Arbuthnot, a size. At that point, co-op members decided on a solar PV system for
offered the lowest price, met all the member of the co-op. “I appreciate will be able to decide individually if two reasons: environmental and
experience and capacity criteria, and having the support of a group as I go going solar is right for them. economical. Thurmont Municipal
had all the options co-op members through this process.” Similar co-ops in other Maryland Power & Light allows excess
expressed interest in, such as power counties have shown that residents production to be ‘banked’ for use in
purchase agreements, loan options, MD SUN serves as the co-op’s saved up to 20 percent on solar times of lower production. With the
and battery back-up systems,” said consumer advocate. It educates installation through the program. ‘banked’ electricity and the increased
Bonnie Griesemer, a Chesapeake residents about the benefits of Frederick County has seen success in efficiency of our recent additions of
Conservation Corps Member, who distributed solar energy, helps them similar programs, such as the Solarize insulation and geothermal, we are
is helping to coordinate the co-op. organize group installations, and Frederick Initiative, where sixty-six nearly ‘net zero’ in energy use and
“Plus, the Selection Committee liked helps strengthen Maryland’s solar homeowners installed solar electric have significantly lowered our carbon
policies and its community of solar systems. Solarize participant Russ footprint. The Solarize Committee
supporters. Through its parent vetted the installers for the Solarize
Frederick County program so it was
a no-brainer. The additional perks of
lowered costs through bulk buying
was icing on the cake.”
Local residents interested in
learning more about home renewable
energy can attend a workshop hosted
by the Frederick County Office of
Sustainability and Environmental
Resources at the Thurmont Regional
Library on February 2, 2017, at 7:00
p.m. To register, contact Sustainability
Program Coordinator Lisa Orr at
Lorr@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
Frederick County residents, small
businesses, and organizations such as
churches can learn more about the
co-op, register for, or watch a video of
an information session, and join the
co-op by visiting mdsun.org/frederick.
Questions about the program can
be directed to OSER’s Chesapeake
Conservation Corps Member
Bonnie Griesemer at BGriesemer@
FrederickCountyMD.gov.
The Frederick County Solar
Co-op is a special initiative under
the Frederick County Green Homes
Renewable Star Challenge. The
Green Homes Challenge helps
households reduce energy use and
utility bills, adopt environmentally
friendly practices, and use
renewable energy. Interested readers
can explore the Challenge at
FrederickGreenChallenge.org.
Frederick County Solar Co-Op Selects Installer for Solar Panels
The Frederick County Solar Co- the idea that we’d be using an installer organization, Courtesy Photo
op has selected Sustainable Energy right here in Frederick.”
Systems to install solar panels for the Community Power
growing sixty-one-member group. “We at Sustainable Energy Systems Network, MD SUN
The Co-op’s Selection Committee are appreciative of the opportunity has helped facilitate
selected Sustainable Energy Systems to continue our mission of providing the creation of solar
through a competitive bidding that affordable solar to homeowners,” co-ops throughout
included proposals from eleven firms. stated Ryan Nicholson, sales manager the District of
The co-op is open to new residential at Sustainable Energy Systems. Columbia, Florida,
and small business members until “We are even more excited for this Maryland, Ohio,
February 28, 2017, and the group opportunity because it is happening in Virginia, and West
will hold its final public information our hometown of Frederick!” Virginia.
session on January 18, 2017, at 7:00 Joining the
p.m. at the C. Burr Artz Library to Understanding all of the details co-op is not a
educate the community about solar of solar and solar financing can be commitment
and the co-op process. By forming confusing, but co-op members have to purchase or
a group of interested buyers and the support of the group throughout lease panels.
selecting a single solar install that the installation process. This allows The installer, Solar panels were installed on the home of Russ and Cindy Poole in
best meets the interest of the group, members of the co-op to get their Sustainable Thurmont as part of Frederick County’s 2013 Solarize Frederick Initiative.
co-op members can receive lower questions answered and feel confident
prices as a result of economies of scale that they’re getting a quality solar Energy Systems, Poole of Thurmont was happy to
and reduced labor costs for business system. “I am excited to work with will develop personalized proposals, see a new program being offered by
development and marketing. Sustainable Energy Systems and including financing options, for each the county, sharing his experience:
see how much I can save with my co-op member based on installation “We originally investigated and
“Sustainable Energy Systems system,” said Jessica Arbuthnot, a size. At that point, co-op members decided on a solar PV system for
offered the lowest price, met all the member of the co-op. “I appreciate will be able to decide individually if two reasons: environmental and
experience and capacity criteria, and having the support of a group as I go going solar is right for them. economical. Thurmont Municipal
had all the options co-op members through this process.” Similar co-ops in other Maryland Power & Light allows excess
expressed interest in, such as power counties have shown that residents production to be ‘banked’ for use in
purchase agreements, loan options, MD SUN serves as the co-op’s saved up to 20 percent on solar times of lower production. With the
and battery back-up systems,” said consumer advocate. It educates installation through the program. ‘banked’ electricity and the increased
Bonnie Griesemer, a Chesapeake residents about the benefits of Frederick County has seen success in efficiency of our recent additions of
Conservation Corps Member, who distributed solar energy, helps them similar programs, such as the Solarize insulation and geothermal, we are
is helping to coordinate the co-op. organize group installations, and Frederick Initiative, where sixty-six nearly ‘net zero’ in energy use and
“Plus, the Selection Committee liked helps strengthen Maryland’s solar homeowners installed solar electric have significantly lowered our carbon
policies and its community of solar systems. Solarize participant Russ footprint. The Solarize Committee
supporters. Through its parent vetted the installers for the Solarize
Frederick County program so it was
a no-brainer. The additional perks of
lowered costs through bulk buying
was icing on the cake.”
Local residents interested in
learning more about home renewable
energy can attend a workshop hosted
by the Frederick County Office of
Sustainability and Environmental
Resources at the Thurmont Regional
Library on February 2, 2017, at 7:00
p.m. To register, contact Sustainability
Program Coordinator Lisa Orr at
Lorr@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
Frederick County residents, small
businesses, and organizations such as
churches can learn more about the
co-op, register for, or watch a video of
an information session, and join the
co-op by visiting mdsun.org/frederick.
Questions about the program can
be directed to OSER’s Chesapeake
Conservation Corps Member
Bonnie Griesemer at BGriesemer@
FrederickCountyMD.gov.
The Frederick County Solar
Co-op is a special initiative under
the Frederick County Green Homes
Renewable Star Challenge. The
Green Homes Challenge helps
households reduce energy use and
utility bills, adopt environmentally
friendly practices, and use
renewable energy. Interested readers
can explore the Challenge at
FrederickGreenChallenge.org.
