February 22, 2010 6:30 PM - 180 attended
Gilbert Goes Solar with Arizona’s First Solar Town Hall Meeting
Southeast Regional Library (map)
Arizona’s First Solar Town Hall Meeting
Gilbert residents are invited to attend Gilbert’s first free Solar Town Hall Meeting on Monday, February 22nd at 6:30 pm at the Maricopa’s Southeast Regional Library located at 775 North Greenfield Road at Guadalupe Road in Gilbert.
Mayor John Lewis will be hosting a Solar Panel Discussion featuring subject matter experts on energy efficiency, solar water heaters, solar power systems and utility rebate/federal/state tax credit programs that will help Gilbert residents pay for up to 75% of equipment and installation costs.
Gilbert Solar Town Hall Speakers will include:
- Gilbert Environmental Task Force, Tim Rinesmith
- Go Solar in Gilbert! - Gilbert Mayor John Lewis
- Energy Efficiency - Nichole Koontz, Energy Pros
- Solar Water Heaters - Keith Thompson, Greenfuel Solar
- Solar Power - Kevin Jones, Salt River Solar & Wind
- Energy Efficiency/Solar Rebates - Barbara Sprungl, SRP
- Energy Efficiency Mortgages - Kirsten Shaw, AE3Q
Each panel member will give a 10-minute power point presentation on how their system works and how much it will reduce residents’ energy bills. Each presentation will be followed by a question and answer session that will allow residents to ask questions.
“The purpose of the Gilbert Solar Town Hall Meeting is to educate residents and businesses in Gilbert on the benefits of harnessing solar power and teach them how to make smart purchase decisions,” said Mayor Lewis. “As one of the fastest growing communities in America, we want to provide an example for other communities to follow by reducing energy consumption as much as possible and by harnessing our town’s abundant supply of free solar energy and harnessing it to heat water and produce clean electricity.”
Saving money, reducing consumption and using renewable energy also will enable every resident in Gilbert to save money on their monthly electricity bills. Utility rates rarely decrease and even with only a small 3% electricity rate increase every year, monthly electric bills will double by the year 2035.
Most Arizona residents and businesses are not aware that utility companies such as APS and SRP provide hundreds of millions of dollars in rebates to customers that invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
APS provides a $3-per-watt rebate, while SRP provides a slight lower rate of $2.70-per-watt rebate. Arizona offers a $1,000 tax credit and the Federal Government offers a 30% tax credit/grant. Combined these incentives will pay up to 75% of a renewable energy project’s total cost.
Residents are encouraged to bring a copy of their electric bill to the meeting where vendors will be on hand to provide free quotes on how much a solar system would cost for their household.
Current Exhibitor List:
- Advanced Energy Efficiency & Environmental Quality (ROC256426)
- Allwest Energy (ROC226427)
- Arizona Pro Solar (ROC262787)
- Arizona Solar Wave (ROC152297)
- Ben Franklin Solar Hot Water Heaters (ROC250620)
- Copper Canyon Coatings
- Eco Sun Systems (ROC262459)
- Energy Pros (ROC246724)
- Greenfuel Solar (ROC252305)
- Perfect Power (ROC209964)
- Salt River Solar and Wind (ROC254115)
- Solar Universe (ROC 259612)
More information on the “Go Solar in Arizona” initiative is available at www.gosolarinarizona.com.
Deadline for speaker presentations is 2/12. Deadline for exhibit booth reservations is 2/19.
Exibit booth setup begins at 5:00 pm on 2/22. Booths are first come, first to setup, so make plans to arrive early to get the best spots.
Contact:
Robert Hoskins
[masked]
Arizona Solar Power Society
www.arizonasolarsociety.com
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Robert H.Event HostFront Page Public Relations, Organizer+45 guestsThe support for the solar industry was overwhelming in Gilbert. Every seat in the room was full. Not only do residents have an industry in solar, they were very supportive and vowed to do whatever it takes to defeat HB2701. -
Steve PitchfordSolar Advocate+1 guestKudos to Robert for putting on another great promotional event. Because it was a cold rainy day I thought the turn out would be lite, but I was wrong! Every chair was filled, with people lining the walls. Let's hope our congressional representative
s recognize the strong support for "solar" and will withdraw House Bill 2381 or any other poorly thought out legislation. The citizens of Gilbert obviously support the growth of solar products and the industry as a whole. Go Green! Go Solar!
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Geoffrey Garber+1 guestI previously only attended conferences and meetings for large, utility-scale projects. This meeting for small solar was a perfectly scaled-down version of a large conference but included much of what I would expect at any meeting. I was impressed with solar products (thermal and PV) available at the tables outside the meeting room. I was equally impressed with the range of ancillary services available from energy audits to help with obtaining financing. I found the speakers to be very informative and directed to the interests of the attendees.
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Michael KeanEnergyPro, Inc.I thought the meeting went great, with the Mayor and the six panelist all working to help the residents of Gilbert learn about Solar power. Thanklyou, Michael Kean
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Ward HarrimanWintrust MortgageMore education less sales. Perhaps fewer speakers more about the numbers - lease comparison to purchase, how tax credit works, what size system per Sq. Ft. (in general). What are some problems with installations or what to look out for in contracts.
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elizabeth ridgelyGila River Indian CommunityPerhaps one less presenter and a little more time for speakers.
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A former member+1 guest
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A former member
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A former member
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A former member
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A former member+1 guest
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Next Meetup:
Saturday, Feb 25
near Gilbert
Great education for the residents of Gilbert and the Solar
industry.