Deadline extended for solar discount in Orleans
Photo – Solarize Orleans: A barn on Eagle Harbor Road in Albion has solar panels mounted on the roof.
MEDINA – The deadline has been extended for homeowners and businesses in Orleans County to sign on for discounted solar power.
Orleans County has been approved for discounted solar in an incentive program. But contracts need to be signed by Nov. 18 to be eligible for the reduced rate.
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce has teamed with a solar installer, Solar by CIR in Lackawanna, for the discounted installation costs and power.
The solar panels could be mounted on older or newer homes, barns, garages or even on the ground if there is enough land for the projects, said Adam Tabelski, project manager.
“There is never a bad time to look at new and innovative ways to reduce you’re your utility bills whether you’re a resident or a business,” Tabelski said today.
Nearly 70 residents and business owners have reached out to Solar by CIR to inquire about solar installations for their homes and businesses, the company said.
To date, contracts on eight of those projects have been signed. The projects are in various parts of the county. The eight projects will add a cumulative production capacity of more than 87.9 kW and save a combined $7,900 on those residents’ electric bills annually, Solar by CIR said.
That is the equivalent environmental impact of taking 13 cars, traveling an average 11,346 miles annually, off the road for one year, the company said.
The participant signup deadline for the campaign has been extended by a few weeks until Nov. 18. The discount offers about two-thirds off the installation costs.
For example, typical home systems cost $15,000 to $21,000 before reductions and rebates. With the lower prices Solarize Orleans negotiates, plus an incentive from NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), and state and federal tax rebates, a typical homeowner will pay about $5,000 to $8,000, according to Solarize Orleans.
Solar by CIR will host a “Last Call” mixer on Wednesday at 810 Meadworks, 113 West Center Street in Medina, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Anyone who is interested in solar can meet with CIR representatives. For more information, email Melanie McMahan at mmcmahan@cirelectric.com.
For more information, go to the Solarize Orleans website at www.solarizeorleans.com.
