The tremendous success of Grow Solar Metro East in 2019, coupled with a strong partnership between The Madison County Sustainability Program, the Cities of Columbia and Belleville, Illinois, the Lewis and Clark Community College, Glen Carbon Cool Cities Committee, and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has powered the launch of another group buy program for Madison County, St. Clair County, Calhoun County, and Monroe County property owners.
About Grow Solar Metro East
Built on Success & Powered by Partnership
Join a free, virtual Solar Power Hour to learn how you can go solar this year!
What makes our group buys so successful?
Competitive Pricing: The MREA’s competitive request for proposals process ensures you a competitive price and the simplicity of working with a single installer. Most individuals receive a price per watt than what is available on the open market. The more people that buy in, the more benchmarks are surpassed, the lower the price becomes. We do recommend that individuals consider all their options before signing a contract to ensure that they are receiving the best price available for their proposed system.
Community Support & Outreach: Our programs are supported by both the leaders and community members of Metro East, and they’re excited and active about spreading the word! Through the help of your jurisdiction leaders and community members, the MREA facilitates a number of one-hour Solar Power Hours for your community. These educational events cover the basics of solar, financials, your property’s solar readiness, and how to participate in Grow Solar Metro East.
Limited-time Offering: This deal is only available for a short time! You will have until August 31, 2020 to become a part of the Grow Solar Metro East group buy.
Your Installer: StraightUp Solar
StraightUp Solar is a BBB A+, locally owned and environmentally-conscious Certified B Corp founded in 2006. Since then, StraightUp Solar has completed more than 1,300 solar energy installations totaling over 13MW and continues to serve the Metro East region from offices located in Swansea, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. StraightUp Solar is a member-owner in both the Amicus Solar Cooperative and the Amicus O&M Cooperative, and is proud to be an active voice in the Illinois Solar Energy Association. StraightUp Solar is also a seven time solar group buy veteran, including both previous Metro East-area group buys, resulting in 2.6 MW of successful installations for 260+ participants over all seven 2016-2018 IL group solar programs to date.
Program Results
Properties added solar 2016-2019
Kilowatts installed 2016-2019
People attended Solar Power Hours 2016-2019
The 2019 program ended 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 rail 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. As a result, the Metro East area will see 1,000+ new Grow Solar-inspired solar panels powering our region to a clean energy future.
Huge thanks to the Luecking, Durbin, and Shilliday families for hosting Solar Open Houses at their homes in 2019, and to all the Solar Power Hour host venues.
What’s Next?
Join a free, virtual Solar Power Hour to learn how you can go solar this year!
