Reduce your carbon footprint and save money, too!

Have you wanted to go solar but didn't know where to start? Now there is help. There's a new way to research solar energy products and find fellow homeowners in Miami-Dade County with "solar co-ops."

Grovite Jody Finver is the Miami-Dade Co-Op Coordinator with the non-profit FL SUN. As a 501(c)(3). "We were formed through the partnership of two other non-profits - Community Power Network and the League of Women Voters, Florida. FL SUN makes it affordable to single-family residence homeowners in Florida by helping residents pool their purchasing power to obtain bulk discount rates on their individual solar installations. Savings are up to 20%," says Jody.

There is no cost to join a co-op and there is no obligation to go solar through a co-op. FL Sun remains neutral through the entire process. "We don’t advocate for any particular installer, product of means of financing," says Jody.

You will need a sunny roof that is in good condition if you would like to join the program. A great offshoot is that as they grow the solar community in South Florida, they help create more solar jobs and they increase support to fight for fair solar policy in Florida.

You are reducing your family's carbon footprint and saving money at the same time! The group is hoping for at least 350 sign-ups.

"Over the course of the year, we will launch six co-ops covering different territories of Miami-Dade. The first co-op - Central Miami (North) serves residents of Coconut Grove, the City of Miami, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, West Miami and unincorporated areas west to the Palmetto. From SW 40th Street/ Bird Rd to NW 79th Street," says Jody.

Commissioner Ken Russell’s office helped organize the kick off information session which will take place on May 31 at City Hall. 

Homeowners interested in learning about solar and how the co-ops work can RSVP here.

Another bonus to going solar, beyond the obvious lowering of an electric bill, is that if a homeowner drives an EV - like a Leaf or Tesla, charging it from their rooftop under co-op model prices, would cost them one penny a mile. 

Like them on Facebook and let’s put the sunshine to work in the Sunshine State!