IOWA CITY — Nearly two dozen public meetings have been scheduled to help educate area residents on Johnson County’s Solarize program — which incentivizes private solar development through volume purchasing prices.
Dubbed Solar Power Hours, the free sessions — scheduled all over Johnson County and in West Branch — will provide information on the Solarize Johnson County program, how it works and how to participate, according to a county news release.
“Solarize Johnson County will be a tremendous opportunity for anyone in the county to consider adding solar to their home and reaping the benefits of clean, affordable renewable energy,” Johnson County Supervisor Mike Carberry said in the release. “We’re really excited about the partnership.”
Similar to last year’s Solarize program in Linn County, the first of its kind in Iowa, the program is administered by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.
Officials involved in the program say it offers bulk solar prices for individual installations. Essentially, the more people participate, the cheaper the installations become.
The Cedar Rapids and Linn County Solarize program concluded with about 607 kilowatts of solar energy added to 105 properties.
Linn County officials estimated that Solarize customers will save more than $70,000 on utility costs in their first year. About 1 million pounds of CO2 and 280,000 gallons of water annually will be offset by the new solar production, rather than fossil fuel generated electricity, officials have said.
Those interested in Johnson County’s program can learn more at SolarizeJohnsonCounty.com.
Solar Power Hours
l Apr. 26, noon — Johnson County Health and Human Services, Building Room 203B-C, 855 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
l May 1, 6:30 p.m. — Coralville City Hall, 1512 7th St., Coralville
l May 3, 6:30 p.m. — West Branch Public Library 300 N. Downey St., West Branch
l May 8, 6:30 p.m. — Coralville Public Library, meeting room A, 1401 5th St., Coralville
l May 10, 6:30 p.m. — Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City
l May 16, 6:30 p.m. — Sharon Center United Methodist Church 2804 520th St. SW, Kalona
l May 23, 6:30 p.m. — North Liberty Community Library, Room B/C/D, 520 W. Cherry St., North Liberty
l May 24, 6:30 p.m. — Solon Public Library, 320 W. Main St., Solon
l June 6, noon — University of Iowa Office of Sustainability, 1650 University Capitol Centre, 201 S. Clinton St. Iowa City
l June 7, 6:30 p.m. — Shueyville Community Center, 2863 120th St., Swisher
l June 12, 6:30 p.m. — Lone Tree Community Center, 203 1/2 N. Devoe St., Lone Tree
l June 13, noon — University of Iowa Research Park, BioVentures multipurpose room, 2500 Crosspark Road, Coralville
l June 19, 6:30 p.m. — East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Boulevard SE., Iowa City
l June 20, 6:30 p.m. — Johnson County Conservation Education Center at Kent Park, 2048 Highway 6 NW, Oxford
l — June 26, 6:30 p.m. — Swisher Public Library, 72 Second St. SW., Swisher
l — June 27, 6:30 p.m. — West Branch Public Library, 200 N. Downey St., West Branch
l — July 11, 6:30 p.m. — Solon Public Library, 320 W. Main St., Solon
l July 18, 6:30 p.m. — Hills Community Center, 110 Main St., Hills
l July 19, 6:30 p.m. — Cafe Muse, 565 Cameron Way, $108, North Liberty
l July 31, 6:30 p.m. — Iowa City Public Library, meeting room A, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City
l August 2, 6:30 p.m. — Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, room 203 B-C, 855 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
l Comments: (319) 398-8309; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com