Ampion Renewable Energy has enrolled greater than 1,400 low-income residents within the Erie County Low-Income Program for Sustainable Energy (ECLIPSE) throughout its first six months of operation. The community solar initiative is supporting residents of Erie County, New York.
A rooftop neighborhood photo voltaic array in Harrison, New York.
Present enrollees are anticipated to avoid wasting a mixed $63,000 per 12 months on electrical energy prices by discounted photo voltaic credit utilized to their electrical energy payments. This system provides qualifying residents financial savings of as much as 10% on their electrical payments, with no upfront funding or set up necessities.
“ECLIPSE seeks to decrease the vitality burden for households that want aid whereas increasing entry to renewable energy,” mentioned Sarah Sanford, Senior Vitality Improvement Specialist and ECLIPSE Coordinator. “Our early outcomes present what’s doable when native authorities, neighborhood organizations, and renewable vitality suppliers work collectively. Ampion has been an necessary companion in serving to us scale shortly and make sure that neighborhood photo voltaic is accessible to the individuals who want it most.”
This system’s success comes from a grassroots outreach technique constructed by Erie County and Ampion. The marketing campaign helps scale back residents’ vitality burdens by clear, direct engagement. Efforts embrace neighborhood occasions, unsolicited mail, textual content messages to eligible households, and in-person occasions to make sure the message reaches low-income residents in want. Ampion supported these efforts with instructional supplies, a streamlined on-line enrollment system, and customized enrollment help. The corporate’s observe document of managing over 1.5 GW of neighborhood photo voltaic tasks ensures Erie County’s program is constructed for scale.
See SPW reporting on how community solar subscriptions are managed.
“We meet residents the place they’re to make sure we attain as many energy-burdened households as doable,” mentioned Brian Buzby, Group Partnerships Govt at Ampion. “The enrollment numbers mirror each the neighborhood’s want for vitality price aid and the effectiveness of working intently with native governments to construct belief. Our means to scale applications like ECLIPSE demonstrates that neighborhood photo voltaic can attain the households who want it whereas nonetheless delivering sturdy outcomes for builders and communities alike.”
This system stays open to Erie County householders and renters who take part in federal or state help applications, together with the Dwelling Vitality Help Program (HEAP) or Supplemental Vitamin Help Program (SNAP). Residents can join this system at erie.gov/eclipse.
Information merchandise from Ampion
