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Solarize Warwick Offers Homeowners a Group Discount on Solar Installs

The Solarize program is based on a proven model designed to bring down the cost of solar PV when customers sign up for a pre-selected installer’s offering. The more people who sign up to install solar, the more the price decreases for everyone who participates.
The Solarize program is based on a proven model designed to bring down the cost of solar PV when customers sign up for a pre-selected installer’s offering. The more people who sign up to install solar, the more the price decreases for everyone who participates.

Warwick, RI — Solarize RI aims to give local homeowners a financial leg up on adding solar power to their houses, and you can learn all about the local arm of the program, Solarize Warwick, Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Pilgrim Senior Center.

Solarize Rhode Island, a partnership between the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER), Commerce RI, and SmartPower, has led to more than 151 residents and business owners signing contracts for small-scale solar electricity systems, and its organizers aim to add Warwick home owners to the total between now and February 2016, when the program ends.

SolarFlair, Massachusetts solar installation company with experience participating with community campaigns under the Solarize Mass program, has won a competitive bid to provide the home assessments and installations for Solarize Warwick.

Bidders for the program were required to have already done 10 installations, said Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, an advantage SolarFlair had over Elon Musk’s solar installation company, Solar City, which also recently began operations in Warwick and other RI communities.

The program was created through a partnership between the Office of Energy Resources, Commerce RI and non-profit marketing firm SmartPower to encourage adoption of solar using the power of a group buying and a grass-roots community outreach plan.

Avedisian said the program has already attracted about 10 homeowners interested in exploring whether solar will work for their houses. “Some houses are not going to be viable for solar,” Avedisian said, either from location or the position of nearby trees.

And because the installer, the technology and the exact price of PV are provided upfront, it is much easier for residents and businesses to make the decision to go solar.

“We are thrilled to be participants in this next round of Solarize Rhode Island,” said Mayor Avedisian. “Warwick has been a leader in the effort to protect, preserve and restore our natural resources. By participating in the Solarizeprogram it is my hope that we continue to increase our energy efficiency, and utilize clean energy technologies. I’m excited to discover all the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy.”

The Nov. 18 meeting at the 27 Pilgrim Parkway location is a free event, open to the public. Meet the installer, find out about the program, Q&A. Light refreshments provided.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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