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Solar Power Seminar: Homeowners to Learn How Solar Power Is Cheaper than Utilities
Solar powered sun puppet. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Alteris Renewables and GREEN Northampton will host a free public seminar on solar energy for homeowners in the Pioneer Valley on July 14th.at 7pm at the Media Education Foundation (60 Masonic St.) in Northampton. The seminar will explain how solar works and is cost competitive with electricity supplied by utilities for the first time. Homeowners are encouraged to register for the seminar by calling 800-955-1548 or via email info@GREENNorthampton.org.
The seminar will focus on the affordability of solar energy in the Pioneer Valley. Through its partnership with California-based SunRun, Alteris Renewables is turning home solar into a monthly service, like cable or phone service, for residents of the Pioneer Valley and others in Massachusetts. With this new program, upfront costs plummet from $30,000 to as little as $1,000 for customers to be able to install solar electric systems on their homes. Customers will enjoy immediate savings with locked-in rates for the next 18 years – a valuable protection from future electric rate increases. They can also make a good return on their initial investment.
Experts have long projected that solar electricity would eventually be on par with electricity from the traditional electric utility. Now that cross-over point has been reached for Massachusetts homeowners. Electricity rates in Massachusetts have nearly doubled over the last 20 years. If these trends continue, a typical customer could recover their upfront payment in as little as two years and see an after-tax return on their investment of as much as 60% or more.
ABOUT GREEN NORTHAMPTON:
GREEN Northampton is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to foster community bonds and promote environmentally sustainable, low-energy and healthy lifestyles neighborhood by neighborhood in Northampton in response to climate change and resource depletion. info@GREENNorthampton.org
Solar for Your Home or Business
Center for Ecological Technology
07/21/2009
Tuesday, 6 pm check-in, 6:30 – 8:30 seminar
$10 suggested donation
Learn the basics about solar technologies, determine whether you have a good site, and find out about current tax credits and generous rebates that make solar more affordable. Pre-registration required.
Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street
413-586-7350
tomasin@cetonline.org
http://www.cetonline.org