Home Solar Co-operative Kickoff Wednesday

Wednesday morning in Bartow solar power advocates from all over the state will attend a meeting to formally launch the Polk County Solar Cooperative.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the County Commission chambers.

The meeting is the culmination of several months of planning and grassroots groundwork that included an introductory meeting in Lakeland in February.

The idea behind the effort is to promote more renewable energy and to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

The idea is to reduce the costs of home solar installations by banding together to obtain bulk discounts negotiated by whichever solar contractor the cooperative agrees to hire.

These installations are in addition to a number of solar farms that are either operating, under construction or planned in Polk County, primarily by Tampa Electric.

Polk’s effort follows similar efforts in other Florida counties.

Ancient Islands Sierra Club is joining with representatives from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Solar United Neighbors of Florida, the League of Women Voters of Polk County, the Polk County Commission, Bartow and Hillsborough County in the presentation.

The meeting is open to the public.

 

Posted in Group Conservation Issues.