New Solar Co-op Planned for Orlando

A solar advocacy group called Central Florida Solar Advocates recently unveiled plans to design a co-op of shared solar energy in Orlando, Florida. The group is currently taking bids from households throughout Orlando and other Central Florida cities to become part of what could be a new trend for solar power proponents throughout the state.

Although Orlando has seen a handful of positive changes in the way of sustainability, such as an increased number of bike lanes and similarly green initiatives from the University of Central Florida, the Central Florida Solar Advocates don’t think it’s enough. Ultimately, the goal of the co-op is to develop an urban solar farm to help create sustainability in the Orlando area and, at the same time, urge the public to make the switch to solar. So, as a community of solar owners and green thinkers, they came to the conclusion that a cooperative community of solar savvy homeowners could be the push that Central Florida needs to turn the tides of solar in the Sunshine State.

The co-op’s success is expected to stem from a “volume discount”, which will only be offered to households participating in the co-op. Solo households, instead, are left to the numerous other benefits that come hand-in-hand with owning solar energy equipment in Central Florida. However, only twenty households are planned to be included in the urban energy project, so even if homeowners are left in to their own solar planning, the benefits are nothing to scoff at, as they often entail tax breaks and even possible credit from utility companies.

This is only one of several clean energy initiatives starting up in Orlando, and chances are, other cities around the Sunshine State will soon be developing their own plans for solar co-ops and similarly cooperative clean energy projects.