Clean Energy Project:
Access MI Solar
We are excited to announce that the Access MI Solar program is now available in both the Petoskey and Traverse City areas! Homeowners and businesses within a
40-mile radius of either city are eligible to participate, meaning a generous swath of northwest Lower Michigan from the Mackinac Bridge to Manistee!
Learn more about the Access MI Solar Program by watching the webinar recording!
Look for a sign-up form in early spring.
Groundwork is committed to increasing access to affordable solar energy in Northern Michigan. Through our group-buy program, Access MI Solar, we plan to increase local solar capacity, advance clean energy education, and work with community leaders to make this program a pillar of our region.
We remain committed to supporting local solutions to the climate crisis, increasing our region's energy security and resilience, and helping homeowners and small businesses to afford solar panels. Plus, going solar saves many customers significantly on their electric bill over time! Together, we are empowering people to develop local, clean energy, and climate solutions!
The process is simple: The chosen installer will offer a higher discount as more customers join the group-buy effort, with a maximum possible discount of 15% on the hardware costs of the solar installation.
Signing up in no way obligates you to sign a contract with the installer. That will be your decision to make later when/if you are ready.
Solar panels have made remarkable strides in both efficiency and affordability in recent years. While there’s some uncertainty around IRA funding for solar projects, one thing is crystal clear: the destructive toll of fossil fuels on our planet is undeniable, and its consequences will echo through generations to come. The time to act is now. The longer we wait, the greater the cost—both to our environment and to future generations.
GET INVOLVED!
Resources
inspiration!
Clean Energy Stories
“Thank you so much for helping raise all of the funds for our solar project at Westwoods! Thanks to you, we reached our goal so much more quickly than I'd expected. So now I can move on to other things including other solar projects...”
— Nicola Philpott, President, Parent Teacher Organization, Westwoods Elementary School, Traverse City Area Public Schools
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?
Access MI Solar News
Climate Provisions of Farm Bill Need Defending
Photo by Raphael Cruz When most people hear “farm bill” they think of things like corn subsidies and food programs. But the farm bill is a gigantic, sprawling funding package that supports a wide variety of programs, including major investments in clean energy. Some...
De-Escalating the Conversation Around Siting Renewable Energy
An interview with Dr. Sarah Mills, zoning and siting researcher. Interview by Jeff Smith, Communications Director Dr. Sarah Mills has studied local issues relating to siting renewable energy infrastructure both as a student and now as Director of Graham's Center...
Petoskey Student Wins Iconic Michigan Environmental Award—Youngest Ever
I am thrilled to present a closer look at Tommy Skinner, the recipient of the 2023 Petoskey Prize for Environmental Leadership. One of Michigan's iconic environmental awards, it is presented annually by our friends at Lansing-based Michigan Environmental Council....