Staff Blogs

Wanted: Hosts, Investors and Champions for Community Supported Solar!

Posted in Staff Blogs
As you might remember, we eagerly installed a 106-panel solar array on our roof last spring. Since the panels went live on May 25th, we have generated over 30,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. In addition to this making our building and our business more sustainable, we were able to successfully pilot Community Supported Solar (CSS)-something the Monadnock Sustainability Network (MSN) and a group of committed volunteers had been working on for years.

Now that our array has been successfully up and running for nearly a year, our co-op is a great case study to showcase to other organizations the potential contained within the CSS model. MSN has published a complete guide to help others smoothly implement CSS, and, they’ve even secured grant money to help walk several others through the process!

MSN is currently looking for:

Hosts: CSA farms, churches, non-profits and more who are interested in harvesting solar energy! One great thing about CSS is that the structure allows organizations less capital inputs than they might otherwise need. Ideal organizations are ones who do not usually owe taxes (like non-profits) as this allows the investors to reap the benefits of the tax credits as the organization is unable to do so.
Investors: Folks with capital and a tax appetite who would like to invest locally in CSS and earn a modest return.
Champions: Community members with entrepreneurial spirit who are willing to work on a Steering Committee to help bring CSS to a place (or organization) they value in our region.

CSS is a win-win-win for all those involved! The co-op is thrilled to have a part of our energy needs coming from a sustainable source and to be able to support local jobs in the solar industry. MSN will host a public information session on CSS at The Barn at the Harrisville Inn on Thursday, March 23rd from 6pm – 8pm. If you unable to attend this meeting but are interested in being a host, investor or champion, please contact John Kondos.

34 Cypress St, Keene, NH 03431

(603) 355-8008

Co-op Hours:
Mon – Sat: 7AM – 9PM
Sun: 8AM – 9PM

Monadnock Food Co-op is a community-owned, full-service grocery store and deli in downtown Keene, NH, focused on providing locally grown & produced products. Monadnock Food Co-op, where fresh, delicious food is just the beginning.

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