RenewableNY's Solar Outreach Initiative was a collaboration between Catskill Mountainkeeper, Southern Tier Solar Works, Sustainable Hudson Valley and Cornell Cooperative Extension- Tompkins County to run community-based ‘Solarize’ campaigns that make it easier for consumers and small businesses to install solar at discount prices. Additionally, the Initiative
Solarize campaigns are local, time-limited offers that educate homeowners and small businesses about how to make their properties more energy efficient and make solar available at reduced cost by buying in bulk. Historically they have helped consumers save up to 20 percent on installation costs. Solarize makes the transition to solar easy— solar consultants walk owners through the entire process from planning to installation. Each component of Solarize has been designed to serve as a scalable model that can be replicated in other regions of New York and across the country.
The Solar Outreach Initiative was supported with funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) NY-Sun and Community Solar initiatives, which are investing $1 billion in solar over the next decade.