Solarize Connecticut is a statewide initiative to encourage more residents to go solar. Communities that are selected team up with a solar installer. With the support of the Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, the John Merck Fund, and Smartpower, the state is able to use an aggregation model that drives down the price of solar PV as more people participate. Each town has a team of solar ambassadors that go out into the community to educate residents and answer any questions about the process of harnessing the power of the sun in homes.
Essex was chosen as a Solarize town in 2014, and the campaign includes its villages of Centerbrook and Ivoryton.
The deadline to sign up for the Solarize discounted pricing is September 23rd, 2014. In order to apply your Federal Tax Credit to your 2014 taxes, your system must be powered on before 12/31/14. As the official installer for the program, Sunlight Solar is currently booked with installations through November, so it’s best to make an appointment as soon as possible to take advantage of the best pricing possible.
For those Essex residents looking for a forum for information, there will be a Solarize Workshop open to the public on Thursday, August 14 at the Essex Town Hall auditorium from 7-9 PM.
CEFIA rebates cover an average of 20-30% of the system cost, and there is a federal tax credit of 30% of the net system cost as well. There are also other financing options in addition to purchasing the system outright. The CT Solar Lease does not involve any money down, and the resident pays a monthly fee to lease the system for 20 years. There is also a CT Solar Loan, where a resident makes a down payment and regular monthly payments for 15 years to eventually own the system. A third option is the Smart E-loan which has flexible terms of 5, 7, 10, or 12 years, and can also be used for eligible energy-related upgrades in addition to solar.