THREE MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITIES ENDORSE MONROE COMMUNITY POWER SOLAR PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH ELECTRICITY BILL SAVINGS AND PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
MONROE COUNTY, NY (November 30, 2020)—The Town of Irondequoit, Town of Pittsford, and Village of Pittsford are endorsing Monroe Community Power’s fully vetted community solar program for their residents and small businesses. Community solar provides residents and local businesses the opportunity to save money on electricity while supporting local clean energy generated in New State and decreasing the State’s carbon footprint.
By subscribing to a nearby solar farm, Irondequoit and Pittsford residents can save up to 10% on electricity. The program offers guaranteed electricity bill savings in the form of solar bill credits made possible through New York State’s incentives for clean energy generation. The shift to locally sourced renewable energy also unlocks municipal sustainability funds.
The shift to locally sourced renewable energy also unlocks municipal sustainability funds. Established by Joule Community Power and funded through the Monroe Community Power solar program, the funds receive $50 with each solar enrollment. The Village of Pittsford will use the money to help fund the creation of a Village Arboretum—a 10-acre parcel devoted to the planting and conservation of native tree species. The Towns of Irondequoit and Pittsford may use their funds to finance future sustainability projects of their own choosing.
Irondequoit Supervisor Dave Seeley encouraged community action, “Local government is about delivering results for our constituents, and I am proud to offer this solar energy program to Irondequoit’s residents and businesses. By opting into Monroe Community Power’s community solar program, residents will save money on their energy bills and help move us towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
“Community Solar offers Pittsford residents and small businesses access to renewable energy and savings,” commented Town of Pittsford Supervisor Bill Smith. “By signing up, residents will save up to 10% on their electricity bills. It supports sustainability locally, creates a fund for additional sustainability efforts in Pittsford and moves the Town forward in pursuit of our environmental goals.”
Village of Pittsford Mayor Robert Corby notes, “The Village of Pittsford, in its commitment to pursue sustainable policies, embraces the idea of community solar but also recognizes the importance of preserving western New York’s prime and unique soils. Through work with Joule and Roctricity, the Village has been assured that by participating in this community solar program will not cause the conversion of any additional farmland in the region to accommodate the solar array.”
Glenn Weinberg, Director at Joule Community Power, said, “By promoting our community solar program, Irondequoit and Pittsford are providing their residents and small businesses access the benefits of solar without requiring the installation of panels on their home or property. Program subscribers are currently being assigned to one of four solar farms located in upstate NY; and because these farms are already built and operational, subscribers can start saving money on electricity right away!”
The Monroe Community Power solar program is offered by Joule Community Power. Roctricity, Joule’s local partner, offers support for community outreach and education. Ampion, Joule’s solar partner in Monroe County, is the program billing and customer care agent. The program is open to most homeowners and renters with a Rochester Gas & Electricity utility account.
Benefits of Community Solar:
- Save up to 10% annually on electricity
- Guaranteed savings derived from solar bill credits
- Reduce carbon emissions
- No rooftop panels required
- No maintenance costs
- Participate without risk (No cancellation fees
- Support the development of clean, renewable electricity in NY State
Benefits of Community Solar with Joule:
- Raise money for local projects—for each participant in our program, we allocate $50 to a fund for your community.
Public Information Sessions
Residents in the Irondequoit and Pittsford will receive letters from their municipal leaders with more details about the program. The letter will include an invitation to attend a public information session about the community solar program co-hosted by their municipal leaders and the Monroe Community Power team.
About Monroe Community Power
Monroe Community Power is a renewable energy program for the Town of Brighton, the Town of Irondequoit, and the Town and Village of Pittsford. The program enables municipalities to offer their residents and small businesses electricity bill savings by pooling local electricity demand in effort to secure more favorable terms on electricity supply and/or by providing residents and small businesses access to the benefits of solar. Community choice aggregation (CCA or community choice) empowers municipalities to leverage the collective buying power of their residents and small businesses in effort to secure competitive energy supply rates, protect consumers, and designate renewable generation sources. The program also provides access to guaranteed electricity bill savings through community solar. The Town of Brighton’s community choice electricity supply program enables participants to pay less for renewable (or “clean”) energy than they’ve historically paid for traditional (or “dirty”) electricity. The Towns of Irondequoit and Pittsford and Village of Pittsford are providing access to a municipality-endorsed community solar program that offers guaranteed electricity bill savings in the form of solar bill credits derived from NY State incentives for renewable energy generation. Monroe Community Power was formed in partnership with Joule Community Power. Learn more at
https://www.monroecommunitypower.com/.
About Joule Community Power
Joule Community Power (Joule) works with municipalities and local partners to empower communities and facilitate their goals of providing residents and businesses with cleaner and cheaper energy. With no upfront cost to a municipality or its residents, Joule’s first-of-kind, integrated Community Power program helps municipalities and consumers (1) save money by gaining leverage to procure less expensive electricity for residents and businesses, (2) make money by creating new revenue opportunities through participation in energy markets, and (3) go green by gaining local control to opt for clean and renewable generation sources. Joule's distinctive expertise in designing and implementing new consumer-protective energy supply contracts was instrumental in the creation of New York State’s first community choice aggregation (CCA) energy program. Joule is the only company in NY State offering CCA administrative services with a Public Service Commission-approved implementation plan that integrates community solar projects; and only Joule has the expertise, relationships, and experience to effectively design, implement, and manage such a program. Joule’s innovative renewable energy strategy is driving new regulation and encouraging the NY State Public Service Commission to rapidly advance innovative solutions. Having created the blueprint to guide communities through a smooth and empowering decision process, Joule aims to scale its Community Power model across NY State and beyond. Joule also offers capacity tag management services to businesses wishing to reduce their electricity costs by strategically managing their energy consumption. Joule Community Power is a division of Joule Assets. To learn more, visit
joulecommunitypower.com.
