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Community Solar Gardens Progressing For Blue Ridge Members, Coming Soon To Watauga

Last Updated on August 10, 2016 2:39 pm

Lenoir, North Carolina  – A community solar garden for Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation members in Watauga County is coming soon!

            The solar garden will be located near the cooperative’s Sherwood Substation at 1194 Charlie Thompson Rd in Vilas.

The effort is part of an initiative to construct and offer participation in community solar gardens this fall across the cooperative’s service area in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany counties. Each will be a 100 kW (kilowatt) array consisting of more than 350 ground mounted solar panels that will cumulatively power 60 average households. Pricing options are currently being developed for subscribing to the energy rights of one or more solar panels.

Renewable energy currently makes up six percent of Blue Ridge Electric’s power supply and that percentage is growing. Community solar gardens will empower cooperative members to choose to receive a greater portion of their electricity from solar energy.

More details on how to participate will be announced soon and members interested in participating can notify Blue Ridge by signing up at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com/solar.

            Community solar is an effective way to offer members access to renewable energy because they are sited for optimal solar energy production. Solar gardens are ideal for those concerned about the upfront costs or maintenance of installing solar panels on their home’s roof. Additionally, community solar benefits all members by helping reducing overall power demand.

Blue Ridge Electric Energy Solutions Manager Jason Lingle in front of a solar array similar to what will be constructed for Blue Ridge Electric's community solar gardens.

 Jason_Lingle

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