A new co-op program for Allegheny County residents has launched that is looking to provide free solar and electrical vehicle charging infrastructure to eligible low-income households. It comes as part of a broader effort that's hoping to bring individuals together who are interested in these systems via this co-op so they can then bid and obtain more competitive prices on what usually amounts to expensive equipment and installation process.
Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is partnering with Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh to identify qualified homeowners who could receive these free solar home energy systems.
SUN did not disclose how many homeowners could benefit from this service explicitly, though it has so far raised over $110,000 to aid in this effort and said obtaining an additional $25,000 from an ongoing campaign would allow for the organization to install solar on up to eight low- to moderate-income homes. It installed the most recent of these systems for a local resident on March 31 and it has launched 15 solar co-ops across Pennsylvania that have led to 46 homes receiving solar panel installations in Allegheny County alone.
"Helping more Pennsylvanians join together and go solar is not only our mission but also our passion too," Monica Carey, Pennsylvania program director for SUN, said in a prepared statement. "We want to build a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone."
Those interested in joining the co-op have until Sept. 1 to do so, SUN said. Then, co-op members will choose a vendor to supply and install the group's solar panels. Joining the co-op is free and does not require commitment should it obtain enough people to progress to the solar bidding process, SUN said.
