To most people, “going solar” looks daunting. That’s because, unless you’re an expert, it is. And that’s why today-Earth Day 2016, exactly 21 years after Groundwork was founded as the Michigan Land Use Institute-we are launching Groundwork Shines to help homeowners choose a right-sized, quality solar system for their house; get it expertly installed at a fair price; start protecting the air, water, and climate; and see modest but steady returns from their smart investments.
Solar panels are still a rare sight in Michigan, but some folks and organizations in our region are working to change that. Local solar contractors and advocates are meeting with us here at Groundwork to figure out how to pick up the pace of putting panels on homes around Traverse City and Frankfort.
With the solar industry taking off across the country and Congress extending a big, game-changing solar “discount” now is the perfect time to go solar. Putting a solar system on your home or business is more affordable than ever.
As work group meetings continue, interviews with solar panel owners confirmed that they are glad they built their systems, but have suggestions for improving the utilities’ solar pilots and the state’s net metering rules.