Solarize the Triad…. And the Planet
July 21, 2024
Op-Ed from PEA Executive Director Jamie Maier
Featured in the Winston-Salem Journal and Greensboro News & Record
If you’ve ever considered installing solar panels on your home, business, or nonprofit, then keep reading because going solar has never been more affordable or accessible.
Together with a broad coalition of public and private entities, Piedmont Environmental Alliance is spearheading a community-purchasing campaign for solar energy. Solarize the Triad will allow individuals, companies, and nonprofits to partner together to get bulk purchasing discounts on solar energy, batteries, and EV charging stations. These discounts can be combined with new federal incentives and Duke Energy rebates to reduce the costs of going solar–anywhere from 30% to 70% off turnkey project costs for a system.
I’m seeing the numbers from friends and colleagues who are making the move to solar, and I continue to be surprised at the low upfront investment costs and the net savings.
Why Solar?
Our climate is heating up, and we’re feeling the impacts in Forsyth County and beyond. Even conservative models show that North Carolina’s Piedmont region can expect a 700% increase in the number of days each year that exceed 95 degrees by the end of the century. Those are wild numbers to think about when this summer already feels too hot for comfort.
With so many blazing days now and in the future, our electricity bills are going to keep climbing. I recently took a look at my summer energy usage, and I’m using more AC than ever before to keep my family safe and cool. Combined with an increase in the price of energy, next year’s bills are not going to look any better. Transitioning to solar will significantly reduce those monthly utility bills and make you feel better when you do need to pump the climate control. My solar powered colleague, Will, only paid $21 for his electricity last month.
Going solar is also an important way to take action against climate change. The nation’s energy sector is the number two source of climate emissions. That’s why the Federal government has unlocked hundreds of billions of dollars in incentives to accelerate the nation’s clean energy transition. And, Duke Energy is currently offering rebates for new home solar and battery installations
There has never been a better time to curb emissions and improve public health by purchasing solar.
Here’s the How
If you’re solar curious, you know there is too much information out there about installation companies, types of panels, batteries, and more.
Solarize the Triad is here to help. Through a rigorous, competitive bidding process, our coalition chose NC-based Renu Energy Solutions to be the campaign’s sole installation partner. We’re solving questions about workmanship, materials, and warranties by locking in the best price and best quality for all who sign up. Our contract with Renu includes local workforce development programs to ensure members of our community will directly benefit from the local green economy that we’re building.
And, we’re creating new avenues for access to solar by working with nonprofit financing organizations to subsidize folks who could not otherwise afford solar. We can reduce local energy poverty by supporting people who currently pay too much of their income on electricity.
Solarize the Triad is a public-private coalition consisting of Boston-Thurmond United, Citizens' Climate Lobby, City of Winston-Salem, Morningside and Reynolds Park Association, Forsyth Audubon, Piedmont Environmental Alliance, Piedmont Federal Bank, Piedmont Triad Community Development, Ardmore United Methodist Church, Goler Community Development Corporation, North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, and Solar Crowdsource.
Please share the news of this campaign with all of your people. With this campaign, the more folks who participate, the cheaper solar becomes for everyone.