Initiative helps homeowners harness the power of the sun

As the cost of placing solar panels on a home’s roof to power lights, AC and appliances continues to drop, solar experts say residents may feel intimidated in finding a reliable installer, navigating prices and getting a fair deal because of the new technology.

That’s why a group of Seminole County residents this month launched a cooperative that helps homeowners navigate the financial and technical challenges in harnessing the sun’s power.

Following the adage that there’s strength in numbers, the Seminole County Solar Co-op also reduces the cost of a solar system for homeowners by purchasing the equipment in bulk and contracting the installation work for all its members. The initiative comes after two similar solar co-ops started in Orange County in 2015 helped 89

“Putting solar panels on the roof of your home is like printing money from your roof. It’s great.” Michael Cohen, Orlando homeowner who installed solar panels in 2015

homeowners install new systems.

“We’re seeing that in the state of Florida the interest for solar power is growing,” said Sharon Lynn, natural resources chair for the League of Women Voters of Seminole County, which helped form the co-op. “As much as it is about reducing power bills, it’s also about doing the right thing environmentally. … And I don’t think it has ever been more affordable than today.”

After at least 30 Seminole homeowners have joined the co-op, the group will put out a call for bids to select a single company to install solar systems at participating homes. The Seminole co-op will start enrolling members in the coming weeks.

Each homeowner will sign a contract with the installer, but everyone gets the bulk discount of as much as 25 percent.

Hesitant homeowners who sign up for the co-op at the outset but later want to back out aren’t obligated to install a solar system. Also, some homeowners may later learn their homes may not be suitable for solar systems; for example, if their roofs are too shady or face the wrong direction.

The co-ops dissolve after the solar systems have been installed in each member’s home, typically after six months.

FL Sun, a nonprofit group that works with the League of Women Voters of Florida to organize the solar co-ops, provides its expertise and guidance to member homeowners. It also acts as an intermediary between the installer and the homeowner.

FL Sun has helped start nine co-ops around the state since 2015. It works under the umbrella of the nonprofit Community Power Network based in Washington, D.C., that has launched 100 solar co-ops in the U.S.

“We are seeing a great interest in people asking the question ‘maybe solar is right for me,’ ” said Angela DeMonbreun, director of FL Sun. “People go solar for so many reasons: the economics, the cost has come down. And some people just don’t like their utility company. They don’t like the rising utility rates. It’s really not a partisan or a political issue.”

Michael Cohen decided to put solar panels on the roof of his Orlando home in 2015. So far, his monthly electricity costs with Orlando Utilities Commission have averaged close to zero annually. During the summer months when he’s revving his AC full blast, he figures he saves about $90 a month.

“Putting solar panels on the roof of your home is like printing money from your roof,” said Cohen, 61. “It’s great.”

To help with installation costs, Cohen joined a solar co-op formed within Orlando and Winter Park that provided him with about a 20 percent discount. After federal tax credits, he estimates he spent about $11,000 for his new system.

“Five years ago, solar power was mostly for the green [environmentally conscious] people who wanted to make a statement,” Cohen said. “But today, it’s so much more cost efficient.”

Mary Dipboye of Winter Park, who formed a group called Central Florida Solar Advocates that helped launch the Orange County co-ops, said the groups help homeowners navigate the fast-growing solarpower trend.

“More and more people are becoming interested in solar because the prices have been dropping, dropping, dropping,” she said. “And these co-ops help homeowners who have considered a solar system to get off the sidelines.”

The League of Women Voters of Seminole County will hold an information session on joining the solar co-op at 6:30 p.m. June 5 at the Eastmonte Civic Center, 830 Magnolia Drive, Altamonte Springs.

Residents can also visit flsun.org to learn more.