Solar Society Calls for Supporters to Showcase Projects
The nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) has launched an online registration tool help communities across the United States participate in the largest grassroots solar event in America, its National Solar Tour.
The annual event allows homeowners, businesses, schools, municipalities, and nonprofits to showcase how they are using solar power to slash energy costs, improve property values, and reap rich new government incentives. Last year, 140,000 people in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico participated.
ASES National Solar Tour Manager Richard Burns said: “We’re issuing a call for potential hosts, sponsors, and volunteers to propel this effort forward by joining the hundreds of others who have enlisted to support this year’s tour," he said.
The 2009 National Solar Tour is slated for Oct. 3. Now in its 14th year, the tour provides free organizational support, signage, and logistical insights for thousands of green building, civic, and environmental groups interested in conducting tours to highlight the solar-powered solutions benefiting their communities. ASES also provides 100,000 “Get Started" solar buyer’s guides for participating individuals.
“People interested in contributing to this effort should be thinking about how they wish to be involved. The time to start planning for a successful tour is now; the time to register your tour—or to join a tour already slated for your community—is today," he said.
While the tour traditionally showcases residential solar projects, the explosive growth of solar incentives for energy-intensive businesses, schools and public agencies helped drive the decision to expand the scope of the tour to include solar solutions implemented in these sectors as well. The U.S. Department of Energy provides funding for the tour and helps extend its reach to all 50 states.
“The extension of the Investment Tax Credit and the bevy of new incentives introduced via President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act make the economics of going solar better than they’ve ever been -- not only for home owners, but for businesses and non-profits like schools, hospitals and local government," said Jyl Safier, marketing director of National Solar Tour Platinum Sponsor Conergy.
Conergy designs, installs and finances solar photovoltaic solutions for major commercial sectors, public agencies, businesses, homeowners, and local government.