By BOBBY KING, MN SUN State Director
Nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN) helps Twin City Area homeowners of all incomes go solar with the Twin Cities Area Solar Co-op. The solar co-op will help homeowners:
- Understand the benefits of rooftop solar and the incentives available
- Allow them to use group buying power for a great price and service from a solar installer
- Help low-income homeowners tap into incentives that can cover a majority of the cost
How SUN’s Solar Co-ops Work.
The solar co-op is free to join. SUN has an open-and-competitive bidding process with local solar installers for the group’s business. A committee of co-op members and SUN staff reviews bids and selects a single solar company for the group’s business. All members then get a proposal for solar at their property from the selected installer at the solar co-op price. There is no obligation to go solar.
Online Solar 101’s are scheduled for Thur., Jan 18 at 6:30 p.m. and Tue., Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
These will cover the basics of solar technology, the economics of solar, and how members save money on a vetted solar installer.
Incentives to go solar available.
The Federal Solar Tax Credit allows homeowners to take 30% of the cost of going solar as a credit against federal income taxes owed. Minneapolis homeowners will be able to take advantage of the city’s Green Cost Share program. This innovative city program requires 20% of homeowners in the group-buy to be low-income or live in one of the city’s Green Zones. SUN ensures this goal is met. This incentive pays on average between $800 to $3,000 towards the cost of solar. [Editor’s note: The entire Phillips Community falls within the Southside Green Zone.]
Newly expanded incentives can make rooftop solar possible for low-income homeowners.
Last December the Minnesota Department of Commerce enacted dramatic improvements to the Income Qualified Solar Rewards program. This incentive program helps low-income homeowners in Xcel territory go solar. Improvements include making it easier to prove income eligibility and increasing the incentive payment. In addition, the solar co-op negotiates with solar installers to allow low-income homeowners to pay a small refundable down payment.
SUN has been helping neighbors join together and go solar since 2013. Around the country, SUN has completed 412 solar co-ops, helping more than 8,500 people go solar, including 190 low-income homeowners. In Minnesota, SUN has helped 248 people go solar.
Learn more and sign up for a webinar or the Twin Cities Solar Co-op at www.solarunitedneighbors.org/twincities.
Click on the “Events” tab under the picture of a solar homeowner to sign up for the webinar. You can also contact Bobby King, MN SUN State Director at 612-293-7267 or bking@solarunitedneighbors.org.
