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Closed to new members

Adams County 2022 Solar Co-op

Formerly open to residents of unincorporated Adams County, the City of Northglenn, and the City of Westminster.

203 members of 180 member goal

Co-op closes to new members on July 28, 2022

Adams County Solar Co-op selects Photon Brothers to serve group

Friday, May 13, 2022

The Adams County Solar Co-op has selected Photon Brothers to install solar panels for the 100-member group. Co-op members selected Photon Brothers through a competitive bidding which included a comprehensive review of the bids. The group will hold two more events to educate the community about solar and the co-op process.

Co-op members selected Photon Brothers because of their competitive pricing, quality components, and local experience.

The co-op is open to new members until August 10. Residents of Adams County who are interested in joining the co-op can sign up here. The solar co-op is free to join and joining is not a commitment to purchase panels.

Photon Brothers will provide each co-op member with an individualized proposal based on the group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, members can save off the cost of going solar and have the support of fellow group members and solar experts at Solar United Neighbors.

Information session & trivia night details:

Tuesday, June 7
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Tony Roma’s
10 E 120th Ave
Northglenn, CO 80233
RSVP here

Tuesday, June 14
6pm – 7:30pm
Kokopelli Beer Company
Green Room
8931 N Harlan St
Westminster, CO 80031
RSVP here

Adams County Solar Co-op releases RFP, announces info session

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

The 62-member Adams County Solar Co-op today issued a request for proposals (RFP) from area solar installers. The group’s members created the co-op to save money and make going solar easier, while building a network of solar supporters. Sponsors of the co-op include Adams County, City of Northglenn, City of Westminster, and The Denver Foundation. The group also announced it will host an information session on Tuesday, April 26 from 5:30pm-7pm at the Anythink Perl Mack library to educate the community about solar and the co-op process.

Local installers interested in serving the group can download the RFP and response template here. Adams County residents (including those in the City of Northglenn, the City of Westminster, and unincorporated Adams County) who interested in joining the co-op can sign up at the co-op web page.

The solar co-op is free to join and joining is not a commitment to purchase panels. Co-op members will select a single company to complete all the installations. They will then have the option to purchase panels individually based on the installer’s group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, members can save up off the cost of going solar and have the support of fellow group members and solar experts at Solar United Neighbors.

Solar co-op launches for unincorporated Adams County, Northglenn, and Westminster residents to go solar together

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Adams County, CO – Adams County and the Cities of Northglenn and Westminster announced today a regional collaboration with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to launch the Adams County Solar Co-op to help area residents go solar to help achieve local climate and energy goals.

“One of the goals of Adams County’s sustainability plan is to expand clean energy opportunities for all residents,” said Lynn Baca, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “By working in tandem with Northglenn and Westminster, we can move closer to reaching all our goals by establishing this solar co-op. But the real winners are the residents and businesses who will enjoy reduced energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint after joining the co-op and installing their solar panels.”

The solar co-op is free to join and is open to homeowners and business owners in unincorporated Adams County and the cities of Northglenn and Westminster. Together, co-op members will learn about solar energy and leverage their numbers to purchase individual solar systems at a discounted group price. Joining the co-op does not obligate members to purchase solar. Instead, members will have the option to individually purchase panels, electric vehicle chargers, and battery storage based on the installer’s group rate.

“Northglenn is so excited to be a part of the Adams County Solar Co-op!” shared City of Northglenn Mayor Meredith Leighty. “Sustainability is a key element in our strategic plan, and this will offer our residents another opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Last year, the City of Westminster launched their first solar co-op with 88 families who joined. Two dozen projects were installed totaling 168 kW of solar capacity. This resulted in nearly $500,000 of economic investment that is anticipated to save families nearly $750,000 over the lifetime of those systems.

“Westminster and SUN partnered on a very successful solar co-op in 2021, and we want to expand that success to more homeowners,” said Paul Scmiechen, Chief Sustainability Officer with Westminster. “The 2022 co-op will help Westminster residents install a cleaner electricity source, save residents money on their energy bills, and create greater neighborhood collaboration – and those three reasons are the classic definition of community sustainability.”

After a competitive bidding process facilitated by SUN, co-op members will select a single solar company to complete the installations. SUN provides guidance on the process but remains vendor neutral, empowering the co-op members to decide.

“Solar United Neighbors helps families explore what going solar means for them,” said Bryce Carter, Colorado Program Director with Solar United Neighbors. “We’re grateful to collaborate with communities regionally. This collaboration allows us to help more families go solar and expand who has access to solar energy. We do this in a variety of ways such as providing a solar equity rebate, elevating innovative financing opportunities, and addressing language barriers.”

“It was great to be able to go through the solar co-op process myself,” said Jonathan Rogers, a member of the 2020 Denver Solar Co-op. “The process was easy to go through, enables me to share my experience with other residents considering solar through the co-op, and saves me money on my electricity bills.”

Additional partners include the Denver Foundation, who has provided seed funding to launch a Solar Equity fund for low-to-moderate income residents, and the Colorado Clean Energy Fund, who are supporting inclusive financing solutions for co-op participants.

SUN will host several free informational webinars to educate community members about solar energy and the co-op. Individuals interested in going solar can sign up for the co-op or one of the upcoming information sessions at the co-op web page. The co-op will be open to new members until August 10.

About Solar United Neighbors

Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that works in Colorado and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are part of the organization’s mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies.

Media Contacts:

Adams County
Christa BruningCommunications Director[email protected]
720-523-6112

 

Westminster
Chief Sustainability OfficerPaul Schmiechen[email protected]

 

Northglenn

Becky Smith

Planning Manager, City of Northglenn

[email protected]
303-450-8741

Bryce Carter
Colorado Program Director
Solar United Neighbors
[email protected]
720-282-0704
Co-op launched
March 23, 2022

Co-op organizer

Bryce Carter
Colorado Program Director
Solar United Neighbors

Hello and thank you for checking out the solar co-op!
 

Whether you’re just curious about solar, or you’re ready to make the switch now, I’m here to help. I can answer any questions you have about solar. I’ll give you installer-neutral guidance to help you make an informed, confident decision about going solar.
 

I have been a community organizer and environmental advocate for more than a decade. I launched the Colorado Ready for 100 campaign, which supported a successful movement for the state and its utilities to become national leaders for renewable energy. I work throughout Colorado, helping communities go solar, join together, and fight for energy rights. Solar co-ops are a big part of this work!
 

I love seeing fellow Coloradans harvesting sunshine to lower their electric bills and build a clean, equitable energy system in their communities!
 

Take a look around the co-op page, and let me know how I can help you today.
 

NABCEP certified

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