Solarize Kearsarge Project Set to End on a Bright Note

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February 16, 2015 • Saved under News
By Larry Chase, Andover Energy Group

The Solarize Challenge put forth by Vital Communities, a Vermont-based non-profit, was a demanding one.  The challenge is  to double the amount of residential solar-electric (photovoltaic) production capacity in the towns of Andover, New London, and Wilmot by the end of January 2015.

As the Beacon went to press on January 26, the figures – with five days of the challenge remaining – have been impressive:

  • Property owners who indicated an interest in a residential solar installation: ?? (?? in Andover, ?? in New London, and ?? in Wilmot)
  • Property owners who requested a site evaluation in order to learn if their property was suitable for a solar installation: ?? (?? in Andover, ?? in New London, ?? in Wilmot)
  • Property owners who received a site visit by ReVision Energy, the Solarize Kearsarge installer partner: ?? (?? in Andover, ?? in New London, ?? in Wilmot);
  • Property owners who signed contracts for residential solar installations: ?? (?? in Andover, ?? in New London, ?? in Wilmot).

Final results promise to be more impressive, according to Vital Communities energy manager Sarah Simonds. “In the first round of Solarize, launched last year, 41% of all contracts signed were signed during the last week of the program, and we expect to see a spike in this round as well – so stay tuned for final numbers after the deadline passes.”

Solarize Kearsarge was one of five Solarize community projects across the Upper Connecticut River Valley. Other participating communities included Randolph-Brookfield-Braintree, Vermont; Orford, New Hampshire; Pomfret-Woodstock, Vermont; and Hanover, New Hampshire. All were guided by Vital Communities.

Here’s how the project worked, according to Sarah:

Solarize teams up community volunteers with competitively selected solar photovoltaic (PV) installers for 15 weeks of outreach around small-scale solar energy, offering competitive prices, accessible resources, and a simplified process for solar PV installations. As more residents go solar together, the cost the installer charges goes down for everyone.

The first round of Solarize Upper Valley (March through June 2014) resulted in 120 new solar homes, adding 638 kilowatts of renewable energy capacity to the region. For more information, visit VitalCommunities.org/Solarize.

Did the challenge meet its goal of doubling residential photovoltaic production capacity in the three towns of Solarize Kearsarge? Final pre- and post-Solarize figures will be announced in the March Beacon.

Volunteers coordinating the local effort included members of the Andover Energy Group, the New London Energy Committee, and several Wilmot residents. Outreach efforts over the 15-week period included a number of public presentations, open houses, informational tables at a number of events, newspaper articles, and bulletin board posters and yard signs.

ReVision Energy, the installer selected for the Solarize Kearsarge project, is Maine and New Hampshire’s leading installer of grid-tied solar electric and solar hot-water renewable energy systems. Recent local projects include major installations at Andover’s Proctor Academy and Colby-Sawyer College in New London.