The following is from Sustainable Jersey:
Maplewood Township is one of seven municipalities selected for the Sustainable Jersey Solar Challenge program. The Solar Challenge towns are: Galloway Township, Highland Park, City of Hoboken, Hopewell Township, Maplewood Township, Verona Township and Woodbridge Township.
Visit Maplewood’s Sustainable Jersey Solar Challenge marketplace page here: https://www.energysage.com/p/
Maplewood will receive a $3,000 grant and technical support to set up a local Solar Challenge which is a custom online solar marketplace for local businesses and homeowners. The participating municipalities will compete for the title of Solar Challenge Champion and a range of awards including a $10,000 first prize.
Randall Solomon, co-director of Sustainable Jersey said, “Finding a contractor to install a still evolving solar technology, with a confusing array of incentives and financing options, has emerged as a significant barrier to the growth of solar energy. Sustainable Jersey launched this program to overcome obstacles and provide a simple, cost effective way for municipalities to engage homeowners and small businesses in adopting solar.”
Maplewood Township Mayor Victor DeLuca said, “Maplewood has been working for over a decade to reduce our community-wide carbon footprint. We’re excited to participate in the Solar Challenge so we can offer our residents and small businesses an easy way to comparison shop for competitive quotes from pre-screened solar installers and financiers. This program allows us to combat climate change while making it easier for members of our community to get solar power.” Maplewood’s Environmental Advisory Committee will lead the effort and plans to launch the campaign in October 2016.
The eight-month community-led program leverages an online solar marketplace and a suite of locally-branded social media marketing tools to help spread the word in the community about solar and the program. The Sustainable Jersey Solar Challenge takes advantage of a new online solar marketplace developed by the firm EnergySage with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy. The EnergySage web-based interface offers consumers online comparison-shopping, providing an experience similar to buying an auto online. Because the online solar marketplace is open to all solar vendors who meet the EnergySage vetting criteria, consumers have access to multiple high quality contractors.
“I see the Solar Challenge as an excellent opportunity for Maplewood to take a further bite out of our climate change impact and save our neighbors money in the process. The number of solar installations in Maplewood have more than doubled since 2014. As of August, there were 117 registered solar installations in Maplewood,” said Bob McCoy who is a member of the Maplewood Environmental Advisory Committee and the project lead on this initiative. He added, “I estimate that there are still at least another 1,000 residences and many businesses that could profitably install systems in Maplewood. The EnergySage platform will streamline the process of selecting a solar installer and build on the current momentum with wins both for the environment and household finances.”
Maplewood Township will receive support from Sustainable Jersey and EnergySage in developing and promoting the outreach campaign and will be featured on the Sustainable Jersey Solar Challenge website, which will track the progress of each community in achieving signed contracts for solar installation by local homeowners and businesses. The program will run from October 2016 through May 2017.
The Solar Challenge pilot programs and the grants to be distributed to the seven municipalities are funded by the Gardinier Environmental Fund. Gardinier Environmental Fund President Gene Wentzel said, “The Gardinier Environmental Fund is committed to conserving the earth’s energy resources and enhancing renewable energy measures. We are proud to stand alongside Sustainable Jersey, and to continue to fund worthy projects that support our mutual goals in New Jersey.” To date, Gardinier Environmental Fund has provided $585,000 to New Jersey municipalities and schools through the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants program.
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE JERSEY
Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Currently, 78 percent, or 438 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program and 205 school districts and 511 schools are participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program.
Sustainable Jersey’s partners include the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program. Program underwriters include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program and the Surdna Foundation. The 2016 Sustainable Jersey Small Grants program for municipalities is funded by PSEG Foundation and the Gardinier Environmental Fund. South Jersey Gas and New Jersey Natural Gas are Platinum Sponsors. NJM Insurance Group is a Gold Sponsor, Bayshore Recycling is a Silver Sponsor and our Bronze Sponsors are Investors Bank, Covanta, Energy Solve, JCP&L, GovPilot Direct Energy Solar and SolarCity. The Sustainability Summit venue sponsors are Good Energy and Verizon.
Website: www.SustainableJersey.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SJ_Program
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