Community Solar Offers Renewable Energy Option
In hopes of promoting greater choice and providing accessible benefits, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative proudly announces its new initiative in partnership with PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, the Green Power Choice Community Solar program.
At the heart of this program is a new solar garden, located at WEC’s Hart- ford office. The garden’s 324 solar cells are capable of generating up to 220,970 kilowatt hour (kWh) annually.
The Green Power Choice program lets members claim a portion of this solar energy for as little as $4 per month. This $4 investment will guarantee the subscriber 333 kilowatt-hours of solar power monthly. WEC allows members to decide what works best for them by providing multiple subscription levels.
“This program not only allows our members to participate in solar generation but significantly reduces their associated costs,” says Brad Kimbro, WEC’s chief operating officer. “For members who want a green, renewable option, this is an opportunity to add solar into their energy mix with- out investing thousands of dollars in rooftop solar on their own. This is the major benefit to this program, and we’re proud to be in a position to offer our members this option.”
Solar Made Simple
The way it works is simple. If your average monthly electric usage is 1,000 kilowatt-hours, for example, selecting the minimum subscription level guarantees you 333 kilowatt-hours of solar power each month. You’ll be billed at the regular rate, with a $4 premium added for the solar generation.
“With this model, members can proudly state that a third of their energy — based on this 1,000 kilowatt-hours scenario — is from a green and renewable source,”
CFO Lisa Lenoir. “If they want a greater proportion or even all of their power from solar, we provide that option as well.”
To put it in perspective, generating the 333 kilowatt-hours of solar energy would require three to four personal solar panels. Installing those panels on the roof of a home requires a hefty initial investment and it would take up to 21 years to see that investment return with savings. But with the community solar model, members can tap into solar power immediately for a small monthly premium.
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s Energy Program Coordinator Cory Ellis endorses the straightforward pricing approach. “With this program, we aim to eliminate potential billing nightmares and confusion and make it easier for subscribers to get maximum value,” Ellis says.
At the new solar farm’s unveiling, WEC Vice President of Engineering and Operations Jason Thrash explained the solar power process. “These panels are designed to harness sunlight and convert it into energy. This energy then joins the electric grid for distribution to homes and businesses,” he says.
Power Partnerships
With an event celebrating its foray into solar energy, WEC officials hoped to share awareness about its new Green Power Choice Community Solar program.
This program is a product of a partnership with PowerSouth, whose utility-scale solar farms currently generate an impressive 80 megawatts of solar power, with plans to boost this capacity. The WEC solar garden will bolster the generation capacity of those farms and future farms to guarantee enough solar output for all Green Power Choice subscribers.
While solar energy has advantages, it’s also important to acknowledge its challenges. For instance, generation is sunlight-dependent and energy-storage technology remains expensive, inhibiting the feasibility of storing excess solar power for later use.
“First off, the sun needs to be shining for solar panels to generate energy,” Thrash says. “Clear skies are ideal for solar output. So if you’ve got a week of cloudy skies and rain, these panels are not going to generate much power.”
However, the community solar model assures members get a set amount of solar generation each month, rain or shine.
While solar panels have become more affordable over time, setting up an individual system still calls for high initial costs, ongoing maintenance, insurance and aesthetic considerations. On the other hand, the community solar model allows the costs and benefits to be shared, making solar energy more accessible to everyone.
Beyond Lighting Up Homes
Beyond providing energy, WEC’s new solar array serves as a platform for community engagement. WEC lineworkers play an essential role in educating the Wiregrass community about electricity generation and distribution. This venture is yet another opportunity to offer insights into distributed generation, including costs, from trusted local experts.
“We’re adopting solar energy in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Thrash says. “It’s important to tell that story as we use the solar farm to serve as an educational site to demonstrate the benefits and challenges of solar electricity. We want our members, and the community as a whole, to be informed about where their power comes from.”
WEC CEO Les Moreland under- scores the role of the new solar farm as a symbol of the co-op’s guiding principles.
“We care about what matters to our members and the power of informed choices,” Moreland says. “Not only is this solar farm a visual representation of those beliefs, but it’s also a tangible manifestation of our creed to put members first while being responsible and beneficial to the communities we serve .”
