Community Supported Solar Presentation

MSN is hosting an information session on community development of solar power at The Barn at the Harrisville Inn, Harrisville, NH on Thursday, March 23rd, from 6-8 pm. CSS HvillePoster032317

We will discuss the new financial resource pioneered on the Monadnock Food Co-op.   Locally owned Community Supported Solar expands access to clean solar electricity. Find out how we can increase our energy independence and resilience; reduce our carbon footprint while boosting the financial strength of our communities.

The Monadnock Food Co-op (Co-op) is the host of the first locally owned community supported solar project in the Monadnock region. The 43.5 kW photovoltaic project, completed in May, 2016, is owned by Cypress Community Solar LLC which was formed to own the project and sell clean, locally harvested electricity to the Co-op. The company is owned by a group of local investors, who expect to sell the PV system to the Co-op within ten years. The company and the Co-op have entered into a Power Purchase Agreement under which the Co-op will purchase all of the electricity produced by the project.

Most community solar projects are owned and controlled by developers or utilities. This locally developed, funded, owned and controlled project is Community Supported Solar, hopefully the first of many.  With the support of grants from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, MSN managed the AUNE research and the formation of the steering committee for the initial project. Then MSN published the NH Community Supported Solar Guide to be used by others to pursue a locally owned, clean, renewable energy system on their school, CSA farm, church or other site in their community. The NH Community Supported Solar Guide is available on the MSN site.