St. Johns County Solar Co-op wraps with donation to local nonprofits

Posted

With the help of nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, homeowners in St. Johns County joined together last year and formed a solar co-op to save money and make going solar easier. 

Participants used a competitive bidding process to choose A1A Solar, of Jacksonville, to install solar systems for the group’s homeowners. Included in the company’s bid was a pledge to donate a portion of the revenue it earned from the co-op to local charities. 

At the co-op’s completion celebration, A1A announced a donation of $7,350 to be split between Compassionate St. Augustine, the lead local organizer of the solar co-op, and the soon-to-open tag! Children’s Museum of St. Augustine.

“A1A Solar is thrilled to have been selected to participate in the St John’s County Solar Co-Op and to have been given the opportunity to help dozens of homeowners and families in St Johns County ‘go solar’ this year,” said Shellie Thies, A1A Solar’s chief marketing officer. “We are especially proud of the fact that the community chose us, in part, because of our pledge to contribute a portion of each (job) to a nonprofit fund which has resulted in over $10,000 in donations to date.”

Compassionate St. Augustine Executive Director Caren Goldman said her organization is honored to have been chosen for the award. 

  “This donation by A1A Solar will help Compassionate St. Augustine’s Environmental Rights Initiative engage people, businesses and institutions in the shift away from single use plastics, and toward increased demand for clean energy,” she said

Solar United Neighbors expands access to solar by educating Florida residents about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them organize group solar installations and strengthening Florida solar policies and its community of solar supporters.

“Solar energy brings people together and builds stronger communities,” said Angela Demonbreun, Solar United Neighbors of Florida program director. “We’re excited that this solar co-op was able to benefit not just the homeowners who participated, but all St. Augustine residents as well.”

Solar United Neighbors supports solar co-ops across the country. These co-ops are a part of the organization’s mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar as the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment and advocate for fair solar policies.

 Those interested in supporting the organizations’ work and becoming a member can do so by visiting www.solarunitedneighbors.org/Florida.