For any Coastal Electric Cooperative member who wants the advantages of solar power but not the cost or maintenance that comes with installing panels at their home, Cooperative Solar might be a beneficial option. So beneficial, in fact, that members who subscribed to two blocks of Cooperative Solar saved $424.62 on their energy bills in 2022.
Electricity delivered through Coastal Electric’s Cooperative Solar program is sourced through cooperative-owned renewable energy supplier Green Power EMC. Georgia’s electric cooperatives have a combined 975 megawatts of solar capacity from nearly 40 sites across the state, including sites in Bryan, Liberty, and McIntosh counties. That’s enough energy to help power approximately 158,000 electric co-op households annually.
“I love your Cooperative Solar program. I found out about it through an article in your magazine. Since I didn’t entirely understand how the program works, I called the man who manages it, and he patiently explained the details. I got of the phone pretty much convinced, but still wondered where the catch was. How was this going to cost me more money? I decided to trust what he told me and signed up to purchase two blocks, the maximum you’ll allow us to purchase. Eureka! We’ve been saving money ever since. We have all the benefts of solar but none of the hassle. I wish we could buy more blocks. Thank you for this program!” –Coastal Electric Member
With the addition of seven more sites under construction, by 2024, Georgia’s electric cooperatives’ capacity is expected to grow to more than 1,600 megawatts.
Coastal Electric members can subscribe to small blocks, or shares, of solar sites across Georgia. A block is equivalent to 2 kilowatts (or about six residential-sized solar panels). Each block costs $25 and is charged monthly on your electric bill. Each member can sign up to purchase a maximum of two blocks for $50 a month. The energy produced is distributed back to the power grid, and your solar credit is subtracted from the metered energy used at your home before your bill is calculated.
Cooperative Solar requires no contracts, and a member can drop their subscription at any time.
Thanks to economies of scale, Cooperative Solar:
- Costs members significantly less than installing a solar system— $25 a month for Cooperative Solar versus $20,000 to $65,000 for the installation of a home solar array.
- Saves a member money on their electric bills.
- Eliminates the need for modifications or holes in a homeowner’s roof.
- Allows renters to take advantage of solar energy.
- Does not require approval from a homeowners association (HOA).
- Avoids the headaches of maintenance or repairs to a home solar installation.
- Is obligation-free.
The solar sites that produce Cooperative Solar are located in the most ideal conditions—in an open field, not limited by shade or roof orientation, and the more recent installations feature panels that move to track the sun’s rays, increasing their solar energy production.
As Coastal Electric’s portfolio of solar has grown, so has the amount of solar produced—not only because the number of panels has increased, but also because these expansive solar sites are dispersed across Georgia. This location diversity allows the co-op to capture sunlight, even if it’s cloudy in one area, because chances are, the sun is shining on panels in another part of the state.
As a result, members who participate in Cooperative Solar are saving money on their electric bills.
For more information about Cooperative Solar for your home, call (800) 421‑2343.