Solarize Tompkins SE in the News
Solar Energy Consortium Formed By Eric Banford, Tompkins Weekly 2/14/13
Residents from the towns of Caroline,Danby and Dryden are joining forces to streamline the process of purchasing and installing photovoltaic and thermal solar-energy systems, hoping to bring the cost down and increase installations. The goal of the group, calling themselves “Solarize Tompkins SE” (for southeast), is to bring at least 30 new installations to their towns during 2013. (Read More)
A Community Approach to Going Solar by Glynnis Hart, Ithaca Times 2/13/13
It all started with one woman in Portland, Oregon. Facing the steep up-front costs and the equally steep learning curve that go with converting a house to solar, Stephanie Stewart approached her Mt. Tabor neighborhood association to see if a collective approach would help. The neighborhood association turned to Energy Trust of Oregon, and Solarize- a collective buying approach to solar installation- was born. Within six months of starting their campaign to go solar together, they had made 130 solar installations on homes in Portland. Since 2009, 600 solar installations have been made in Portland, producing 1.7Megawatts of electricity. (Read More)
Get Your GreenBack Tompkins: Falling prices make solar a solid buy by Guillermo Metz Guest columnist, Ithaca Journal, 2/21/13
Solar energy prices are “falling precipitously,” according to a report released in November by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.The government lab’s annual photovoltaic price report looked at more than 150,000 solar installations going back to 1998.
In the last few years, the price has fallen to historic levels. At this point, solar power is not only the cleanest, most reliable electricity-producing technology available, but those mainly concerned about its cost will be happy to know that it is now also one of the cheapest.
Your greatest savings will still be realized through energy efficiency, but in some parts of the world, large-scale solar is now the cheapest way to make electricity on a per-watt basis.
Of the more common kinds of systems we see around here — residential and small commercial systems — the solar panels themselves account for roughly half the cost of a system; the other half consists of labor, permitting and grid connections. And that’s where homeowners are starting to take matters into their own hands.
In the last few years, the price has fallen to historic levels. At this point, solar power is not only the cleanest, most reliable electricity-producing technology available, but those mainly concerned about its cost will be happy to know that it is now also one of the cheapest.
Your greatest savings will still be realized through energy efficiency, but in some parts of the world, large-scale solar is now the cheapest way to make electricity on a per-watt basis.
Of the more common kinds of systems we see around here — residential and small commercial systems — the solar panels themselves account for roughly half the cost of a system; the other half consists of labor, permitting and grid connections. And that’s where homeowners are starting to take matters into their own hands.
LWV forum focuses on renewable energy, by Chad Van Alstin Ithaca Journal 2/26/13
A trio of speakers used a League of Women Voters forum on Monday to stress the need for renewable energy initiatives at the local and national levels.
Francis Vanek, a senior lecturer in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Cornell, said that Germany offers a good model for the reduction of carbon emissions.
“(Germany was) the world leader in terms of installed wind in 2005 … and solar in 2010,” Vanek said. “Then in 2012, in some hours of the summer, they had 100 percent of their electricity come from renewables. That’s really a remarkable milestone.”
The other presentations at the Unitarian Church of Ithaca on North Aurora Street covered green energy solutions that could work on a local level.
Guillermo Metz, of Cornell Cooperative Extension, argued that pellet stoves are not only better for the environment, but they could also save Tompkins County residents money on heating bills.
“If 10 percent of the population (of Tompkins County) goes to pellets, we’d be seeing savings of about $1.5 million a year,” he said. “That’s equivalent to about 12 full-time, permanent jobs.”
Francis Vanek, a senior lecturer in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Cornell, said that Germany offers a good model for the reduction of carbon emissions.
“(Germany was) the world leader in terms of installed wind in 2005 … and solar in 2010,” Vanek said. “Then in 2012, in some hours of the summer, they had 100 percent of their electricity come from renewables. That’s really a remarkable milestone.”
The other presentations at the Unitarian Church of Ithaca on North Aurora Street covered green energy solutions that could work on a local level.
Guillermo Metz, of Cornell Cooperative Extension, argued that pellet stoves are not only better for the environment, but they could also save Tompkins County residents money on heating bills.
“If 10 percent of the population (of Tompkins County) goes to pellets, we’d be seeing savings of about $1.5 million a year,” he said. “That’s equivalent to about 12 full-time, permanent jobs.”
