“Bulk buy programs like this will help our city meet our energy transition goals and grow local investment in renewable and resilient energy,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a news conference April 21.
The city of Houston partnered with nonprofit Solar United Neighbors to facilitate the program. The organization serves as a liaison between homeowners who wish to join the co-op and solar panel companies looking for customers interested in discounts offered through a group order. Solar United Neighbors also vets companies for quality of service. Prospective members have until July 31, 2021 to join the citywide co-op. Anyone who joins is not obligated to purchase solar panels but maintains the ability to do so in the future at the same group rate that the co-op secures, according to a city news release about the initiative.
Residents interested in joining the citywide co-op can attend upcoming information sessions.
May 6, 6:30 p.m.
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fLTApbdRTJyyFc6BVORzjg
May 19, noon
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n5l-4jaoS7uZwPuC0HgSFQ
Prior to Turner establishing the citywide co-op, several small-scale co-ops were organized by groups of residents throughout the city via Solar United Neighbors. The neighborhoods include Central Houston, Spring Branch, East Houston and West Houston.
The citywide co-op is part of Houston's Climate Action Plan, which, in April 2020, established a series of sustainability goals for the city. Among them, the city aims to go carbon neutral by 2050.
