Posted on behalf of Charlie Garlow and the MD Sierra Club Solar Working Group
Save the Date for our Solar Tour - October 1 -2, 2016, Saturday and Sunday.
Good News ! The MD Sierra Club's Solar Working Group, part of the Energy Committee, has decided to co-sponsor the annual Tour of Solar Homes and Buildings as a great way to promote solar and educate the public about the new possibilities we have in Maryland, thanks to the community solar gardens law.
Saturday and Sunday, October 1 & 2, 2016 from 11- 5 PM each day, there will be dozens of solar homes on open house, so people can visit the solar homes and get answers right from the homeowners, rather from a salesman. Some homeowners have chosen to ask their architect or other pros to be there to answer the tough questions. Stay as long or as short a time at the homes you visit, and then move on to the next. You can't see them all. There are too many.
We are focusing on Community Solar Gardens since the news regs in Maryland have just been rolled out. Maryland Sierra Club's Solar Working Group is also spreading the word about this new development with community forums..
What is a community solar garden? It is a way to get solar for your home even if you are a renter or do not have good solar access on your home. A large solar array is built on a church or other large roof or open space, like a parking lot. Then you and I can subscribe to a portion of that array so we get the power credited on our bill for the power that our portion generates. This is like virtual net metering, in that it is just as if you had solar panels on your roof, namely, no distribution or transmission charges, no taxes or other fees on the power you are buying. You pay for the solar power at a fixed rate. You don't have to pay any money up front. Just sign up and quit when ever you need to. No equipment needs to be installed. Its a tricky concept, but we are lucky to have this power in Maryland.
Learn more by getting a ticket for the Tour, when they are finalized in September at www.solartour.org. Or attend one of the upcoming solar forums.