On the fence about solar? New cooperative launches to help El Pasoans make the transition
El Paso residents can now join a cooperative to benefit from reduced costs to install solar panels on their homes or business.
While El Paso has exceptional capacity for solar power, most of the city's electricity currently comes from natural gas. Homeowners who get discouraged by the cost of installation and the hassle of comparing quotes can look to solar cooperatives to understand how solar works and how to negotiate lower prices.
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) partnered with the city of El Paso, Sunrise El Paso and Eco El Paso to bring the model to the Sun City.
“A solar co-op is a widely accessible way for our community to experience the benefits of rooftop solar and clean, local, energy, allowing the community to become more energy independent,” said Angel Ulloa of Sunrise El Paso, a local climate justice advocacy group.
District 1 Rep. Peter Svarzbein praised the new cooperative.
"We have more sunlight on a more consistent basis than almost any other place in the world," he said. "We can be the Saudi Arabia of solar energy."
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Solar co-ops bring down costs, educate customers
SUN is a national non-profit with state-based chapters representing solar owners and clean energy supporters. Texas program director Hannah Mitchell said since 2018 the state chapter has formed 10 solar co-ops and helped educate Texans about the benefits of solar for more reliable and affordable energy.
"A group can leverage their numbers and the technical knowledge from SUN to bring down the cost and the hassle of going solar," Mitchell said.
Signups for the cooperative close at the end of June and then the group will solicit proposals from solar companies. Volunteers from the cooperative will review the proposals and select an installer. Members are not obligated to purchase solar panels. SUN cooperatives usually go from launch to installing solar panels in about six months.
Mitchell said the price per watt for solar installation ends up being in the ballpark of $2.45. Ryan Brown of Sunrise El Paso said buying in a group can translate to savings of 10-20%.
"We know that Texans make the decision to go solar for many different reasons, including utility bill savings," Mitchell said. "We hope that through the co-op model, more people will have the opportunity to make informed energy choices."
Information sessions for the cooperative will be held at 6 p.m. May 5 and 12. The sessions will be on Zoom and attendees can register online at the Solar United Neighbors website.
More: How solar is the Sun City? El Paso trails southwest cities in solar power, ranks second in Texas
Achieving El Paso's solar potential
City of El Paso resilience officer Nicole Ferrini said the Regional Renewable Energy Advisory Council is working on several projects to advance solar.
"Helping El Pasoans access rooftop solar will benefit our economy, build local resiliency, and ensure El Paso is investing in the grid of the future," Ferrini said.
"It's part of our mission to educate so that as a community we can advocate," she said. "There is so much work to be done in Texas."
Angel Ulloa of Sunrise El Paso explained that most of El Paso's electricity current comes from power plants burning natural gas from the Permian Basin. She also said natural gas plants contribute to El Paso's poor air quality and tax the city's limited water supply.
"The transition to renewable energy such as solar power is a step toward not only cleaner air, but cleaner water as well," Ulloa said.
More: Environmentalists say El Paso can lead on climate change with city charter on November ballot
Staff writer Martha Pskowski may be reached at mpskowski@elpasotimes.com and @psskow on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New cooperative launches to help El Pasoans make the solar transition
