Solarize Madison pushes back enrollment deadline

The Solarize Madison group purchasing program for solar power has extended its enrollment deadline to Oct. 12.

The program has signed up 23 homeowners and a municipality in Madison County since beginning in June. It has contracted for a total of 154.6 kilowatts of photovoltaic systems.

Homes, businesses, and farms in Madison County are eligible for Solarize Madison. Using group purchasing power, it has cut system costs to as low as $3.83 per watt, down from an average 2011 system cost of $6.38 per watt, according to a news release from Arista Power, Inc., a Rochester–based company Solarize Madison selected to install systems.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has also committed $226,210 in financial aid to program participants. That can help cut the cost of installing photovoltaic systems by up to 75 percent, according to Arista Power.

Solarize Madison will hold a solar tour Oct. 6. It will visit three photovoltaic systems installed in Madison County under the group purchasing initiative. Anyone interested in taking part in the tour, which is free and leaves the Madison County Office Complex in Wampsville at 10:30 a.m., should RSVP to Jamie Hart at jamie.hart@madisoncounty.ny.gov or (315) 366-2378.

Arista Power installs direct-buy systems for Solarize Madison. An Endicott–based company, ETM Solar Works, installs leased systems under the initiative, which is a joint venture between Madison County, the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, and the Morrisville State College Renewable Energy Training Center.

Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com