Grow Solar announces new initiative

Grow Solar Jasper + Poweshiek, a program that will allow individual home, farm and commercial property owners to access competitive prices for solar installations through volume purchasing, is set to begin May 15.

The program is coordinated by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, 1000 Friends of Iowa and the Nature Conservancy in Iowa, with community support from Jasper County, the City of Newton, the City of Prairie City and Imagine Grinnell.

Building on years of experience with solar programs in the area, this year’s group buy is an opportunity for residents to purchase a home solar system at a below-market cost, said a press release from Grow Solar.

Partnering with local governments and community groups, the program is designed to help homeowners, small businesses and farmers cut down on energy costs by offering discounted solar panel installations.

Past programs have helped Iowans save an estimated $690-$1,000 in their first year, depending on the size of the array.

Grow Solar will host free educational sessions, called “Solar Power Hours,” to help everyone understand the ins and outs of solar energy. After these sessions, interested homeowners will be connected with a trusted solar installer for personalized site assessments and project proposals.

This year, 1 Source Solar has been independently selected to be the program’s installer.

Previous Grow Solar programs have been offered in Polk, Johnson, Linn, Jackson, Dallas, Warren and Black Hawk Counties, said Grow Solar. Nearly four megawatts of new clean energy generation has been added through those programs, generating millions of kilowatt-hours of clean power every year.

Previous programs have collectively saved residents hundreds of thousands of dollars on energy bills and significantly reduced carbon emissions, Grow Solar said.

The first Solar Power Hour is scheduled as a virtual session May 15. To register for the first event and find more information about the program, visit growsolar.org/jasper-poweshiek.