ST THOMAS — Solarize St. Thomas is committed to bringing affordable energy solutions to St. Thomas & St. John! What began as a group purchasing program for solar panels aimed at reducing costs through collective buying power has evolved into an initiative geared towards helping those who are most in need. The original goal of Solarize St. Thomas when it launched in 2021 was to help lower the cost of solar energy and battery storage installations through the power of bulk-purchasing, educate residents about available incentives and programs and make it easy to get a free proposal from a trusted source. Today, this initiative has combined forces with the Rotary Club of St. Thomas East Eco in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Conservation Society and Island Green Living to lay the necessary groundwork for a broader community project, the Share the Sun Affordable Solar Program.
Thanks to a generous $100,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the program set out to identify ways in which they could bolster resilience in the aftermath of the devastating category 5 hurricanes Irma & Maria. It focused on providing solar power to low and moderate- income families most affected by storms and frequent power outages who are the least able to afford backup power solutions. Doug White, Environmental Sustainability Chair of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas East Eco declared that everyone in the Virgin Islands should have access to solar battery backup. “Currently, only those who can pay for all the equipment upfront — which is essentially paying for 20 years of power in advance — can afford it.”
Nature’s Generator is the portable solar unit provided to eligible families. It features a 100-watt solar panel and inverter battery bank that is compact enough to be easily moved and operated and is ideal for elderly and handicapped residents. A symbiotic partnership with Community Action Now (CAN), a Savan-based organization, ensures the solar units reach the intended recipients as CAN certifies low and moderate-income recipients according to federal guidelines.
The total funding for the project has reached $150,000, thanks to an additional $50,000 from a private donor. This allowed the Rotary Club to subsidize the cost of the solar units for approved families, who could purchase them for just $350, while other residents can buy them at retail for $1,200. More than 55 families on the island of St. Thomas participated in this program in 2022. Phase 2 is currently underway for income-eligible families on St. Thomas and St. John. The program also offers a retail sales option for families who do not qualify for the reduced-cost program to purchase the devices at full cost, directly supporting the initiative. This additional money is reinvested, helping more families to gain access to solar.
To learn more about the program, contact Solarize St. Thomas at admin@solarizestt.com.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard
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