More than 200 families across Tompkins County switched to solar this year, as part of an initiative to increase renewable energy use and further the county’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
The Solar Tompkins initiative is a non-for-profit program geared toward doubling the amount of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems that are installed in the county. With a grant from the Park Foundation and a series of community meetings and tours, the program partners with solar energy installers to encourage County homeowners and business owners to adopt solar power. The switch has resulted in 1.5 megawatts of solar in the county.
According to the Institute for Energy Research, the total amount of energy consumption in the United States is less than 1 percent. The program wants to make the switch from 100 percent fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy Melissa Kemp, program director of Solar Tompkins, said.
“Right now we’re not on track,” Kemp said. “The Solar Tompkins program and other solarized programs are trying to tick the rate at which that occurs.”
The initiative, which launched on May 27, 2014, attracted 1,306 enrollees. Out of that, more than 200 have decided to make the switch. The number is still growing, as the enrollment date has been extended to November 1 from October 1 so that those who registered in the program can have more time to make their decision.
Guillermo Metz, a community partner in the initiative and Green Building & Renewable Energy Program Coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, said the program serves as an educational tool to help enrollees eventually install.
“Typically it takes two years from when you start thinking about solar to when you either do or don’t do it,” Metz said. “It’s a process and people need a kick in the pants and that’s sort of what a Solar Tompkins program does.”
There is a lot of concern about the state of the planet not just in Tompkins County, but across the country. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, there are more than 799 major solar projects underway across the nation as of last month. This translates to about 43 gigawatts of solar capacity. Last week, nearly 400,000 people gathered for the People’s Climate March in New York City.
Kemp attended the march. She said the use of fossil fuels not only affects the climate, but also the economy.
“The science is in. It’s been in for years,” Kemp said. “It’s going to be a huge economic expense, and if we decide to make the switch, the cost of doing that is far, far less than continuing on the business as usual scenario.”
Solar Tompkins is not the first effort in the county. Solarize Tompkins Southeast, a community solar program that launched last year, targeted Caroline, Dryden and Danby. More than 100 solar energy systems were installed through this program. Due to the success of the program, the initiative was extended to the entire county.
Michael and Janet Shay, residents of Dryden, installed solar hot water and solar PV systems through the Solarized Tompkins project. Shay said he and his wife were the third enrollees in the program. They joined the program to reduce their fossil fuel consumption.
“It’s kind of neat when you turn on a light at night and know that the electricity has come from the sun that’s powering it,” Shay said.
He also added that the economic benefits are also an incentive. Since the Shays produce their own energy, their electric bill averages out to $15 per month.
David McKinley, marketing director for Renovus, said the switch to solar has also impacted the job market for the solar industry.
“Our company size is growing steadily,” McKinley said. “We are adding vehicles to our fleet. We are also adding employees, and growing our staff to accommodate the interest in the Solar Tompkins program.”
The program will end July 1, after all installations are complete. Members of Solar Tompkins hope this program will create a domino effect in the county by prompting others to make the switch.
