Three electricians are wrestling a 300 pound storage battery into place in a small cramped basement of Zion Lippe United Church of Christ in Mt. Vernon.
It’s not even the size of a small filing cabinet, and there are two more to move. This is to complement an existing solar array on the church grounds across the street.
“We're adding batteries for backup power and for resiliency, and helps get their electricity from the solar at retail rate, so it gives them a better return on their investment,” Brad Morton, president of Morton Electric said.
Morton said such a system is scalable for residential customers. Morton is the official solar installer of the Southwest Solar United Neighbors co-op.
The point of the co-op is to lock in a bulk discount on a residential solar system. The deadline to join is August 31st. So far about 150 southwest Indiana residents have joined.
Based on previous co-op programs in other areas, Morton expects they’ll get 40 or 50 contracts from this round of projects, and has already started on a residential system.
“Solar can be installed on rooftop or ground mount systems or a carport,” he said. “We install solar on a lot of pole barns. Those are good applications.”
Systems start at about $30,000 and the bulk discount will be about five or 10 percent.
Morton said the amount of sunny days in the region make it a better area than some others, for a solar system.
The co-op has been promoted by the Evansville Climate Collaborative because solar power can lower emissions, for one thing.
ECC Director Lauren Lynch said it can also bring cost stability.
“You purchase a solar system, you're paying a flat rate for that system at the group bulk discount rate, and then that is it. That solar system will last you 30 years, while inflation causes energy rates from the utility to go up, so it's kind of like signing up for a set price for 30 years for the electricity that you use.”
She hopes to bring another co-op round next year. Because suppliers are locking in prices on projects, deadlines to sign up need to be included because prices on solar array materials change over time.
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