CONNOR HOFFMAN
Assistant News Editor
It looks like the residents of Chautauqua County may soon be able to enjoy the sunshine in more than one way as a result of the Solar Chautauqua campaign. The Solar Chautauqua campaign is an educational effort organized by various different local groups to help local business owners and residents learn how and why to convert to solar energy.
The main groups that are spearheading this campaign are the Chautauqua Citizens Respond to Climate Crisis, Concerned Residents of Portland, NY+ People Like US, League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County and the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Northern Chautauqua Congregation.
Mary Croxton, Diane Hofner, Scott Mackay, Mary Jane Wagner and Associate Professor Julia Wilson are the five board members that govern this coalition of organizations. Dr. Minda Rae Amiran, professor emeritus of the English Department, is also a consultant for this coalition.
Wilson explained that the very first big attempt to convert a community to solar energy was in Portland, Oregon in 2009.
“That was a completely volunteer led community initiative,” said Wilson. “That’s sort of been the spirit of all these campaigns.”
Wilson said that the Solar Chautauqua campaign was inspired by the local New York area campaigns.
The Solar Chautauqua campaign is being financed by grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Freshwater Future.
She also explained that the group’s main purpose is to provide education on how and why to convert and also to help negotiate lower prices. The group helps residents get in touch with companies that can evaluate if their property can convert to solar energy.
Wilson explained what a typical site evaluation consists of.
“First of all, they usually do a off-site evaluation using Google Earth,” said Wilson. “They will evaluate the roof shape and the orientation. They’ll evaluate even from Google Earth whether there is going to be too much shade from trees and things like that.”
She said that after this companies will have a good idea of what a house needs, and will then give them an estimate of how much it will cost to convert.
Wilson also explained why their organization chose to promote solar energy rather than any of the other green technologies available.
“Of all forms of renewable energy for electricity productions solar is the one that is most feasible for small scale installations, residential or small businesses, on site,” said Wilson. “You can’t really put a windmill in your backyard.” She also mentioned how solar is a “booming industry” at the moment.
Zach Beaudoin, a senior English and international studies double major, who is also involved in the campaign, said that solar energy is currently the cheapest to convert to.
“The investment pays for itself in a few years, and you can either get on the grid or have a storage system,” said Beaudoin.
There are now many opportunities for people to claim tax rebates to help finance their conversion to solar energy.
A solar installation will cost a typical homeowner $5,000-$8,000 after their negotiated prices, a 30% federal income rebate and a 25 percent state income rebate, according to the Solar Chautauqua website.
Some of the solar companies they work with currently are Solar Liberty and CIR according to the Solar Chautauqua website.
Amiran said one of the biggest challenges with the campaign is learning all of the regulations involved with working with NYSERDA.
“Learning all the ins and outs, it’s immensely complicated. We are under the umbrella of NYSERDA, and they have very stringent requirements,” said Amiran. “They want to look at your request for proposals before you send it out, then they want to look at the responses before you start talking to any of the people.”
Wilson explained just exactly what is this education campaign’s main goal.
“Our goal is basically to have as many new solar installations as we can get in our target area,” said Wilson. “We’re hoping for at least maybe 30 new installations in our area.”
Those interested in converting their businesses or homes to use solar energy can attend an education seminar from this organization or use their website to enroll for further education.
There will be an information session on April 7 at 7 p.m. at the Fredonia Presbyterian Church, and one on April 10 at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universal Church.