Like with any technology, solar energy was a hard pill to swallow in the beginning — especially for individual residents.

 

In fact, residential photovoltaic systems — the type of solar panels that produce electricity — could cost more than $50,000 a decade ago, according to Money Magazine.

 

That has since changed. New technology has sent prices plummeting more than 60 percent in the past several years. Growing advancement in the field, coupled with support through non-profit and government programs, has made solar panels a more feasible option for not only residents but entire municipalities.

 

The aforementioned support from non-profit organizations inspired Calhoun County’s inclusion into a group-buy program.

 

On Earth Day, Grow Solar Metro East launched the fifth year of its group-buy program. The program strives to educate Metro East homeowners, businesses and non-profits on the benefits of solar power, while providing an opportunity to buy lower-cost solar installations through the power of bulk-purchasing, according to a news release.

 

Lewis and Clark Community College and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), in partnership with volunteers from the Glen Carbon Cool Cities Committee and Sierra Club Piasa Palisades are supporting the program throughout Madison, St. Clair, Monroe and Calhoun counties.

 

Through this program, local home and commercial property owners throughout Calhoun County and other counties who participate in this program could 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 175 local property owners go solar.

 

“Our team of volunteers is excited to offer this program again to Metro East residents and businesses and to Calhoun County further north where there has been some growing interest,” Kevin McKee of Troy, a program volunteer, said. “As environmentalists, we like to think that most people want solar power because it reduces pollution. But, we know that price still matters, and that’s why we work to bring this program to the area.”

 

Kathi Beyer, a Village of Hamburg trustee, has led the charge working toward implementing solar energy in village buildings and encouraging the same for other properties in the village and county.

 

Beyer learned of Grow Solar Metro East through a Sierra Club member. During a village board meeting, she found there was interest in a solar system for the village and additional interest among other villages and residents throughout the county.

 

“It seemed like every time I started talking about it, there was either somebody on the board who was also interested or knew somebody else who was interested,” Beyer said.

 

Initially, Beyer was looking into a solar panel system for herself. At that time, the village board had been having a number of discussions regarding the costs associated with the electricity bills. This is when solar energy was then proposed to the board — an idea that met with a warm and receptive response from trustees.

 

Currently, the village is getting an assessment from StraightUp Solar, the contractor Grow Solar utilizes, for the cost of a solar system.

 

“They will do an assessment for us and let us know the feasibility and what the options are for the village to go solar,” Beyer said. “I think there are some other individuals investigating that as well.”

 

Beyer noted, for the village, a decision has not been made as to whether solar panels would be possible, keeping in mind factors such as the condition of the buildings’ roofs or the cost.

 

“All of those factors come into play before anybody would make any decisions about feasibility, but everybody on the village board liked the idea of investigating that further as a possible option,” Beyer said.

 

Hamburg Mayor Eric Benoist is also onboard with utilizing solar power locally, and was especially supportive of the residents’ participation in solar energy group-buy program.

 

“This seems like a good opportunity for Calhoun villages and residents to take advantage of a group buy to reduce costs of going solar,” he said. “The long-term savings look great!”

 

While there is general interest in the cost-savings associated with using a renewable energy such as solar, a major reason for the increase in interest among some locals like Beyer is the environment. Beyer, who is in the process of having solar panels installed at her own home, said people should strive to act in an environmentally friendly way.

 

“I believe that we have to do everything we can to use renewable resources that don’t have negative effects on our environment,” Beyer said.

 

The village could see solar panels installed next year possibly with the help of hazard mitigation funds. A solar energy system is listed among the projects and purchases in the hazard mitigation plan. Beyer explained solar energy can be highly beneficial during flooding, providing, an uninterrupted source of energy, depending on the height of the panels.

 

“It could be our next project,” Beyer said.

 

Regardless of the decision by the village, Beyer said there is growing interest in the county in utilizing the sun for energy.

 

“It (the interest in solar power) kind of mushroomed pretty quickly, and it was pretty exciting,” Beyer said.

 

In other counties, this fascination in solar energy has manifested as well, but at a more individual level, although still serving as a symbol of inspiration for others in the area. Just last week, a Roodhouse resident, David McGraw, had solar panels installed, however not through this specific program. He was the first in the city to do so.

 

For those interested in more information regarding solar energy and the group-buy program, Grow Solar Metro East has been providing free, hour-long webinars via Zoom, an online video conferencing app, for members of the public. These “Solar Power Hours” will explain how solar energy works, the financial costs and incentives, how solar group buy programs are effective, and where to get started in the solar installation process.

 

These webinars are scheduled for:

 

June 12 from 2-3 p.m.

 

June 18 from 1-2 p.m.

 

June 24 from 11 a.m.-noon

 

June 30 from 8-9 p.m.

 

The program’s website includes a sign-up form where area residents and business owners can elect to receive an estimate or general program updates and Solar Power Hour announcements. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association, who is helping support this program, has facilitated 34 similar bulk purchase programs throughout the Midwest in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, resulting in over 1,600 solar installations at reduced cost.