La Plata makes it easy for their customers to benefit from solar power
While the best-known form of solar power is the electricity collected by solar farms, or large-scale panel installations, homeowners can benefit from solar power with a simple installation of just a few panels on their roofs to power a solar hot water system.
With a solar water-heating system, individuals don’t even have to disconnect from the main electricity grid to rely completely on solar power. Systems can save electricity while supplementing electricity received from traditional sources.
La Plata Electric Association wants their members to have that sort of supplement to their energy savings. To encourage customers to install solar water-heating systems, the co-op has pledged to refund $1,500 to $3,000 of the cost of a system to those homeowners who take the initiative to buy one. LPEA has received a matching grant from the Governor’s Energy Office, doubling the renewable energy incentive provided to co-op members.
Homeowners, with a big enough system, can heat water for the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry entirely with a solar power system. Their LPEA hookup remains available. In order to qualify for a grant, all equipment must meet Solar Rating and Certification Corp. specifications and applicants must meet all permit and inspections requirement.
The incentives are particularly aimed toward those co-op members who use natural gas or propane to run their hot water heater. Heating water with solar power and eliminating natural gas or propane reduces greenhouse gas emissions and saves money, benefiting the environment and co-op members.