PA Solar Center To Launch Innovative GET Solar SWPA Program To Help Regional Entities Reduce Electric Bills By Going Solar

At the June 25th meeting, the PA Solar Center will go over federal tax incentives, grants, and special financing for going solar, which can save organizations a significant portion of the cost for installing solar on their properties, as well as help in connecting them to qualified and reputable solar developers. 

“Energy bills have risen significantly over the past few years, and they increased yet again by an additional 15 percent on June 1,” said Sharon Pillar, Founder and Executive Director of the PA Solar Center “However, larger consumers of energy like businesses and other organizations can often save thousands to tens of thousands of dollars on their annual electric bills by going solar. Further, there are current tax credits and grant programs in place that can make the transition very favorable to the consumer – but we don’t know how long these programs will be around, so we’re encouraging businesses and tax-exempt organizations to lock them in by going solar as soon as possible.“ 

Many graduates of the GET Solar program from other regions of the state are now saving a lot of money by going solar. For example, Wesley Family Services, a nonprofit in Westmoreland County, recently went solar with GET Solar’s help and estimates that their solar system will save them $700,000 over the next 25 years. Their solar system covers an estimated 78% of their monthly electricity requirement.  

Another graduate of GET Solar, New York Blower Company in Lawrence County, will be represented at the June 25th meeting and will share their experience of working with the GET Solar program. New York Blower Company‘s solar system offsets 100 percent of their energy usage. Additional GET Solar success stories can be found at https://pasolarcenter.org/get-solar/got-solar/.

The PA Solar Center is currently mapping the solar potential of non-residential entities in many communities through its volunteer PA SolarCorps program. After assessing 77 communities in Western PA, PA Solar Center has discovered 1,185 entities so far that, if they went solar, would have the potential to generate 323 megawatts of distributed solar, which translates into an estimated $973,807,000 of savings over the next 25 years. This illustrates the enormous potential for creating significant savings for the region that translates into the ability for businesses to hire more workers, schools to save teacher salaries, municipalities to avoid tax hikes, and nonprofits and faith communities to better serve the mission of their organizations that benefit their communities. 

Media and organizations interested in attending this meeting should register here. Attendance at the meeting is free, but registration is required.