San Miguel Power Community Solar
Offering Sunny Solution for Members
Becky Mashburn, Communications Executive
San Miguel Power Association, Inc.
(970) 626-5549 ext. 212 office
(970) 209-5593 cell
becky@smpa.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
San Miguel Power Association, Inc. (SMPA) and the Clean Energy Collective (CEC) began construction on the SMPA Community Solar project last month and have seen great response from local governments and developers.
“Our members have been very enthusiastic about our community solar project. We’re getting participation from all types of members including renters, homeowners and business owners,” said SMPA Manager of Member Services and Marketing, Brad Zaporski. “We’re also working with our local town governments and hope to help them meet some of the energy conservation and renewable energy goals.”
The one-megawatt system will sit on seven acres in the northeast corner of Paradox Valley, approximately 15 miles west of Naturita, Colo. It will be the largest community-owned solar project in the United Sates. Panels are currently being installed at a rate of 300 per day, and CEC anticipates the system will be operational by October. When complete, nearly 5,000 panels will produce enough energy to power approximately 220 average American homes. One of the more unique aspects of the project is that it allows SMPA members that couldn’t previously take advantage of renewable energy to do so.
“SMPA’s Community Solar project allows any SMPA member, regardless of their living situation to invest in, and receive, up to 100% of their electrical needs from clean, local renewable energy,” said Zaporski. “Any SMPA member can participate without making changes to their landscaping or home structure. In fact, they don’t even have to own their own home. They simply have to be an SMPA member.”
For those members that buy a portion of the solar farm, SMPA will directly credit the member’s monthly electric bill for the power their panel produces. Each solar panel is 235 watts, costs $705 and will generate around $45 worth of electricity per year.
The CEC is currently taking reservations and working with members to determine what will fit their budgets and energy use. CEC also offers flexible, low-cost, long-term financing as low as 2.25% for qualified members through its partner Sooper Credit Union and its Clean Energy Loan program. Members interested in learning more or reserving panels can contact Kristin Kuhlman at (970) 708-0985, kristinkuhlman@cleanenergycollective.com or Ken Alexander at (970) 708-1076, kenalexander@cleanenergycollective.com.
San Miguel Power Association, Inc. is a member-owned, locally-controlled rural electric cooperative with offices in Nucla and Ridgway, Colo. It is the mission of San Miguel Power Association to demonstrate corporate responsibility and community service while providing our members safe, reliable, cost effective and environmentally responsible electrical service. SMPA serves approximately 9,600 members and 14,000 meters and supports local communities with $200,000 annually in property taxes and $400,000 in energy efficiency and renewable energy rebates.
Please send us an email for more information on this project.
Groundbreaking Ceremony, July 31, 2012, Paradox Valley, Colorado
About the SMPA Community Solar Farm
The Clean Energy Collective is administering the community solar program for SMPA. SMPA members are eligible to buy into the SMPA Community Solar array by purchasing solar panels. SMPA will directly credit the member’s monthly electric bill for the power their panel produces in the community array. Each solar panel is 235 watts, costs $705 and will generate around $45 worth of electricity per year.
The CEC is currently taking reservations and working with members to determine what will fit their budgets and energy use. CEC also offers flexible, low-cost, long-term financing for qualified members through its partner Sooper Credit Union and its Clean Energy Loan program.
Community-owned solar projects offer many advantages over traditional private installations. Currently, members who are interested in solar generation must install panels on their individual homes or businesses. This limits the participation of renters and members with poor solar locations. In contrast, community projects are located on ideal sites with excellent sun exposure. CEC will own, operate and maintain SMPA’s Community Solar array, meaning that members who purchase a panel in the array will incur no additional operation or maintenance costs. And it’s more affordable than a traditional private solar installation.
Members interested in learning more or reserving panels should contact CEC directly at www.SMPAsolar.com, 1-888-208-5858 or sales@smpasolar.com.
About San Miguel Power Association (SMPA)
San Miguel Power Association, Inc. is a member-owned, locally-controlled rural electric cooperative with offices in Nucla and Ridgway, Colo. It is the mission of San Miguel Power Association to demonstrate corporate responsibility and community service while providing our members safe, reliable, cost effective and environmentally responsible electrical service. SMPA serves approximately 9,600 members and 14,000 meters and supports local communities with $200,000 annually in property taxes and $400,000 in energy efficiency and renewable energy rebates.
About Clean Energy Collective (CEC)
Colorado-based Clean Energy Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities and a national leader in community power generation. CEC pioneered the model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. The CEC’s proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without modifying their home or office.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
San Miguel Power Association Community Solar
Powered by Clean Energy Collective
Web: www.SMPAsolar.com
Phone: 800.370.5276
Email: sales@smpasolar.com
Clean Energy Collective
Phone: 1-800-646-0323
Email: moreinfo@morecleanenergy.com
Web: www.EasyCleanEnergy.com
|