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E-Edition
TRENDING:
Cuyahoga County officials recently gathered at a Westlake home to mark a milestone for the county’s Residential Solar Co-op program, the installation of rooftop solar panels on its 500th home.
County Executive Chris Ronayne joined homeowner Robert Button and his wife, Becky, along with county staff and solar advocates for a ribbon-cutting at the Button residence on Stonegate Circle.
“We are glad to be here for the 500th installation of our solar program,” Ronayne said. “It has been our goal over this last decade to switch homeowners to solar for a number of reasons.
“One is for their own costs, and another is doing right by our climate.”
Since the program launched in 2016, the county’s solar installations generated approximately 3.6 megawatts of clean energy.
County officials estimate the systems will save participating families more than $19 million in energy costs over the next 25 years.
“When you go solar here in Cuyahoga County, you’re looking at about a 20% savings on your energy bill over a 25-year period,” Ronayne said. “This is a bottom-line good for our climate and good for our homeowners.
“This is all about affordable green energy here in Cuyahoga County.”
Ronayne said the county intends to position itself as a leader in renewable energy through initiatives such as Cuyahoga Green Energy, the county’s public utility.
“We want to make energy affordable, and we also want to do right by our climate,” he said. “We can do well by doing good, and that’s what we’re doing today with this 500th installation.”
The Button family said the county’s solar co-op made the process accessible and straightforward.
“The co-op program made it really great, really easy to do,” Robert Button said. “I sent an email in, I had an estimate and the installer took care of everything.
“We’re generating power already, even in the wintertime.”
Ronayne emphasized that the effort depends on collaboration among the county, nonprofit partners and residents willing to invest in their homes.
“It takes a partnership,” he said. “It takes educators like Solar United Neighbors, installers like Yellow Light, and most importantly, homeowners.
“You’re doing right by the planet, you’re doing right by your own home and energy costs, and you’re helping us build a more resilient system.”
As the ribbon was cut across a solar panel to symbolize the milestone, Ronayne encouraged more residents to participate.
“Here on Stonegate Circle in Westlake, we’re celebrating our 500th installation,” he said. “Here’s to the next 500.
“Let’s make this clean energy transition happen together.”
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