Grow Solar Metro East is a group purchasing program for residential and commercial solar.
Offered by the Madison County Resource Management Program, the Cities of Columbia and Belleville, Illinois, Lewis & Clark Community College, Glen Carbon Cool Cities Committee, Sierra Club, and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, home and commercial property owners and renters throughout Madison County, St. Clair County, and Monroe County, Illinois may participate in this program to help pool their buying power to secure significant discounts that make installing solar more affordable. The program builds on previous years of successful programs that helped over 100 local property owners go solar.
- UPDATE 12/1/19: The program has come to an end with 67 homes going solar, putting 674 kW of clean, renewable energy into Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe Counties. We are pleased to announce that this is the most successful Grow Solar Metro East program ever!
In their first year, these arrays will reduce CO2 emissions by 1,510,624 pounds or avoiding 749,086 pounds of coal (3.7 rails cars). For you tree fans, this carbon offset is the equivalent to annual carbon sequestration from a 806 acre forest (Source: EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).Almost 300 individuals attended over two dozen Power Hours from August-November resulting in 67 installation contracts. Word-of-mouth and social media connection between participants was absolutely critical in turning in these kinds of numbers. Once installed between now and next spring, people flying over the Metro East area will see 1,000+ new Grow Solar-inspired solar panels powering our region to a clean energy future.Of the 600+ KW of solar contracted, approximately 504 KW should be installed by the end of 2019 with almost all to be complete by April 1st. Because everyone worked together and made their own solar installation commitment contribution, the maximum 3% rebate threshold was achieved — congratulations! Once at least 250 KW of project installation is complete, rebate checks will be mailed to participants within 90 days of that milestone or their installation date, whichever comes later.
Huge thanks to the Luecking, Durbin, and Shilliday families for hosting Solar Open Houses at their homes this year, and to all the Solar Power Hour host venues. - UPDATE 10/11/19: We have surpassed our third and final benchmark of 250 kilowatts (kW) of solar capacity! Reaching this collective goal means the price has dropped for all participants by 3%.
SOLAR POWER HOURS
Our Solar Power Hours have ended for the 2019 season. Please sign up to receive updates about forthcoming 2020 presentations.
Past Events (2019)
6/17 Monday 6:00 PM Glen Carbon Police Community Center 149 N. Main St., Glen Carbon 62025
6/20 Thursday 6:00 PM Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library 1001 9th St., Highland, IL 62249
6/26 Wednesday 6:00 PM Edwardsville City Hall 118 Hillsboro Ave., Edwardsville, IL 62025
6/27 Thursday 6:00 PM Old Bakery Beer Company 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, IL 62002
6/28 Friday 6:00 PM Collinsville City Hall 125 South Center St., Collinsville 62234
7/8 Monday 6:00 PM Edwardsville City Hall 118 Hillsboro Ave., Edwardsville, IL 62025
7/10 Wednesday 6:00 PM Glen Carbon Police Community Center 149 N. Main St., Glen Carbon 62025
7/17 Wednesday 6:00 PM Belleville City Hall 101 South Illinois Street, Belleville IL 62220
7/18 Thursday 6:00 PM Old Bakery Beer Company 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, IL 62002
7/22 Monday 6:00 PM Edwardsville Public Library 112 South Kansas St., Edwardsville, IL 62025
7/22 Monday 6:00 PM Lebanon Visitor Center 221 W St Louis St Lebanon, IL 62254
7/24 Wednesday 6:00 PM West Park Bowl 1101 Valmeyer Road, Columbia, IL 62236
8/5 Monday 6:00 PM Glen Carbon Police Community Center 149 N. Main St., Glen Carbon 62025
8/7 Wednesday 6:00 PM Belleville City Hall 101 South Illinois Street, Belleville IL 62220
8/12 Monday 6:00 PM Edwardsville Public Library 112 South Kansas St., Edwardsville, IL 62025
8/14 Wednesday 6:00 PM Hamel Community Center 10 Park Ave. Hamel, Illinois 62046
8/15 Thursday 6:00 PM West Park Bowl 1101 Valmeyer Road, Columbia, IL 62236
8/19 Monday 6:00 PM Old Bakery Beer Company 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, IL 62002
8/27 Tuesday 5:00 PM Old Bakery Beer Company 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, IL 62002
8/28 Wednesday 6:00 PM Collinsville City Hall 125 South Center St., Collinsville 62234
9/5 Thursday 6:00 PM Lebanon Visitor Center 221 W St Louis St Lebanon, IL 62254
9/11 Wednesday 6:00 PM Belleville City Hall 101 South Illinois Street, Belleville IL 62220
9/18 Wednesday 6:00 PM Hamel Community Center 10 Park Ave. Hamel, Illinois 62046
9/19 Thursday 6:00 PM Six Mile Library 2001 Delmar Ave, Granite City, IL 62040
9/30 Monday 6:30 PM Columbia Public Library 106 N Metter Ave, Columbia, IL 62236
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Organizations and jurisdictions listed above fully support the Grow Solar Metro East Program. The Program follows a standard competitive public RFP process coordinated by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to select a solar provider. The final decision whether to contract a solar installation is that of the home or commercial property owner. The organizations and jurisdictions listed above have no legal responsibility or hold any liability for the performance of any contract between the solar installer and residents or businesses in Madison County, Monroe County, or St. Clair County.