Volunteer Opportunities - Solar Signup

Dear Co-op Power Members and Supporters:

Can you join us for the solar volunteer training Thursday evening?

We’re preparing to sign up hundreds of people for our new solar offerings and we’re wondering if you might be interested in volunteering to help people sign up for solar in your community. Volunteers can work out of our Northampton or Worcester office, in their community, or at one of Co-op Power’s upcoming events. If you’re able to volunteer, please register for this Thursday’s volunteer training session or arrange for another time by contacting Daniel McLeod at dmcleod@cooppower.coop or call (413) 772-8898 ext 3.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING SESSION

Thursday July 13, 2017, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Co-op Power Office, 296 Nonotuck St. Suite #4, Florence, MA or on a online webinar. (See below for the training session agenda.)

Co-op Power members decided to make community solar one of Co-op Power’s top priorities and we’ve made a lot of progress over the last two years. As part of this effort, Co-op Power and our Community Energy Co-ops have been working together with Community Action, Climate Action Now, and Mothers Up Front in a collaborative project called Rays the Valley, to develop these solar options and spread the word. We received one of 35 national Community Solar awards from the Department of Energy’s SunShot program for our work. This project is helping everyone, including low income households and nonprofits who can’t take advantage of the tax credits, to join the solar revolution. We’re in a national competition to build 2.5 MW of low income and nonprofit solar by October 2018. (See more info below.)

We’re now ready to launch a set of three programs that can provide solar to every household, business, nonprofit, house of worship, school, and municipality in our county - whether they have a good site for solar, or money, or not. A solar investment can save people a lot of money, and now they can just subscribe, with no money down and save money right from the start. We’re now helping people choose between these solar options, depending on whether they have money or a site that’s good for solar:
One of the goals of the grant-funded project is to sign up 400 customers by mid-August.

Franklin Community Energy Co-op has scheduled three gatherings to sign up potential customers. We are looking for volunteers to assist people in signing up for one of Co-op Power’s solar programs at these events.

Thursday, July 20, 2017, 7 PM- 8:30 PM at Greenfield Community College Downtown Campus, 270 Main St.,Greenfield, MA

Thursday, July 27, 2017, 6:30 PM – 8 PM at McCusker’s Market, 3 State Street, Shelburne Falls, MA

Thursday, August 3, 2017. 7 PM – 8:30 PM at Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main St, Athol, MA

Other Community Energy Co-ops are thinking of holding other events too.

People can also call Co-op Power at 877-277-6543, or send a copy of their electric bill to solar@cooppower.coop and let us know which options sound best to them. Volunteers can come into the office and help us process these signups.

As a volunteer, you might also schedule drop in hours at your Town Hall or a local restaurant.

This is a great opportunity for bringing solar to our communities and building membership in Co-op Power and our Community Energy Co-ops! Please let us know if this is something that might fit into your summer!