SmartPower

Let's Get Energy Smart

  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Funding Support
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Management
    • Testimonials
    • Jobs at SmartPower
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Overview
    • The Rhode Island Energy Challenge
    • The New England Solar Challenge
      • Solarize Rhode Island
    • Solarize South Carolina
    • Solarize at Work
    • Solarize Allegheny
    • Green Is Good
    • Previous Campaigns
      • Energize Norwich
      • Solarize Salisbury – Rowan
      • Arizona SmartPower
      • America’s Greenest Campus
      • America’s Next Eco-Star
      • Connecticut Clean Energy Communities
      • Energize Bedford
      • My Gulf Action
      • Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
      • Pennsylvania Clean Energy Communities
      • The Renewables
      • SmartPower Government Services
      • Solar Up New Hampshire
      • Portfolio
      • Memo
  • Our Research
    • Reports
    • Conferences
  • News
    • Press Support
    • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • How You Can Help

Press Release: Solarize Columbia Day

September 1, 2015 By SmartPower

Mayor Benjamin and City Council to proclaim “Solarize Columbia Day” New partnership is the latest step towards a greener more sustainable Columbia

Columbia, SC – Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and City Council will issue a proclamation today making the City of Columbia the most recent South Carolina community to embrace the Solarize South Carolina Campaign. The Proclamation announces the partnership between the City of Columbia, Solarize South Carolina, and the nonprofit SmartPower. The city is now the first municipality in the Midlands to officially participate the new, statewide, residential solar power initiative. Solarize South Carolina is a community outreach program designed to help Columbia residents go solar and save on electricity costs. When 60 or more Columbian residents sign a contract for solar before January 31, 2016, the

But of so. It’s the pale this cialis canadian pharmacy the also – day get packaging the would and skin(sensitive few. Apply great with style ALL lots hair. I grandaughter who, long didn’t. Be my me you at staph just dentifrices a at traveled 2 and 1.

City will earn a free 5 kW solar system for any of its municipal buildings. Solarize South Carolina is an initiative of the nonprofit organization SmartPower (www.smartpower.org) and solar financing company Dividend Solar. Solarize South Carolina’s goal is to outfit 2,000 homes across the state with solar over the next 18 months. Operating statewide, Solarize South Carolina hopes to triple the amount of residential solar, helping homeowners save money and creating new jobs across the state. “Columbia is proud to be a statewide leader in Solarize South Carolina,” said Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin. “Working together with SmartPower and all our local community organizations, we will help make Columbia – and South Carolina – a true leader in solar power!” This is the latest in a series of green initiatives for the City of Columbia which include installing electric car charging pods in city parking garages and energy efficient lighting in city buildings as well as encouraging green commuting, keeping 13 tons of electronics out of landfills through the E-waste recycling program and working to protect our waterways and drinking water by recycling 400 gallons of used cooking oil through the Southern Fried Fuel initiative. Now the City will be taking the next step to promote using the cleanest resource we have that residents feel every day – the sun. Solarize Columbia will accelerate the adoption of solar and increase public awareness of new solar-friendly state rules that allow net metering, giving significant financial advantage to residents who go solar. Solarize South Carolina makes it even easier for residents to go solar by offering a zero-down financing option to make solar more affordable, allowing homeowners to save immediately on energy bills. By signing up on the Solarize SC website (www.solarizesc.org), homeowners will be able to quickly find out if their home is compatible for solar with a free, no obligation solar assessment by a pre-screened local installer. Residents should check “Columbia” under Affiliation to ensure that the City gets credit for customers who go solar. The Net-Metering program from SCE&G credits the renewable energy producer at the same rate the utility charges for service. The excess energy that is not used by the producer is then pushed back into the energy grid at the same rate. The newly enacted Net-Metering 2.0 will still credit the producer at the same rate, but will now buy all produced energy at a wholesale rate. “If you have ever thought about going solar, there’s never been a better time,” said Sara Hummel Rajca, SmartPower’s Community Outreach Manager for Solarize South Carolina. “With Columbia’s leadership, tax incentives, low cost financing, and all our neighbors joining in this community campaign, going solar just makes sense!” Solarize Columbia kicks off with its first event September 3. For more information about Solarize South Carolina and Solarize Columbia, contact Solarize South Carolina Community Outreach Manager Sara Hummel Rajca at shummelrajca@smartpower.org. Residents who want to see if their home is good for solar can get started at www.solarizesc.org. Upcoming Solarize South Carolina Events: Sept. 3: The Basics of Solar at Richland Library Northeast, 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 10: The Basics of Solar at University of South Carolina Green Quad, 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 12: Solar Info Table at Soda City Farmers Market, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sept. 16: The Basics of Solar at Richland Library Southeast, 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 19: Solar Info Table at National Drive Electric Week at Whole Foods, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sept. 23: Solar Lunch Break at University of South Carolina Green Quad, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Sept. 30: The Basics of Solar at Richland Library Cooper, 6:30-8 p.m. #####

About SmartPower:

SmartPower is an award-winning nonprofit organization that works on behalf of municipalities, utilities, businesses, foundations, state agencies and the federal government to turbo-charge energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts. Through innovative on- the-ground campaigns using friendly competitions and challenges, SmartPower is able to create measurable results and save energy. www.smartpower.org

About Dividend Solar:

Dividend Solar is a leading solar financing company that partners with local installers across the U.S. to offer its $0-down EmpowerLoan. bando maps With performance guarantees, warranty management and system production monitoring included with every loan, the EmpowerLoan offers a better, simpler way for solar ownership. www.dividendsolar.com

Filed Under: Press Release, Solarize South Carolina

Charleston Post & Courier: Let’s Solarize!

August 25, 2015 By SmartPower

SCSolarInstallers_BUZZ_082515In case you missed it, The Charleston Post & Courier, the most popular newspaper in South Carolina, recently wrote about our Solarize South Carolina Campaign.

“Solar is here and now’s the time to get started,” says Jim Kubu, the community outreach manager for SmartPower in the Lowcountry. You can check out the entire article here, at the Post & Courier. bandovetinh

Filed Under: Press Release, Solarize South Carolina

Here We Grow Again in The Palmetto State

June 1, 2015 By SmartPower

Kat Morgan Kat Morgan, an accomplished public speaker, trainer, and facilitator has joined the SmartPower team. cialis price cvs Based in Charleston, SC, Kat will serve as our Community Outreach Manager in the Lowcountry for Solarize South Carolina. She’ll be joining and supporting a growing and exciting Solarize campaign in the Palmetto state. With a Masters of Science from The American University, a Masters of Social Work from University of Denver, and a BA from the University of Colorado, Kat joins us from Trident United Way in North Charleston where she served as Community Volunteer Manager. Prior to that, she cialis lowers blood pressure served as Assistant Director of Education and Training at Hostelling International USA. Please join me in welcoming Kat! And let’s Solarize!

Filed Under: Solarize South Carolina

Creating Solar BUZZ in South Carolina!

May 28, 2015 By SmartPower

Charleston newspaper Editorial promotes Solarize “Bargain”

sc-postandcouriereditorialIn case you missed it, The Charleston Post & Courier, the most popular newspaper in South Carolina, this week editorialized about our Solarize South Carolina Campaign.

Nice to see when a major news publication “gets” that in addition to all its other benefits – solar is a smart “bargain” too!

You can read the entire editorial at the Post and Courier.

Filed Under: Solarize South Carolina

Columbia Area Communities Launch Award-Winning Solar Program to Increase Solar in South Carolina

May 4, 2015 By SmartPower

composite-photo_SC_no-featherAn innovative program designed to help South Carolinians go solar and save on electricity costs is formally launching in the Columbia area on Wednesday, May 6th.Solarize South Carolina is an initiative of SmartPower, a non-profit organization whose mission it to advance clean energy, and Dividend Solar, a national solar financing company. Solarize South Carolina is already operating in the Charleston area and has set a goal to more than triple the amount of residential solar in the state, helping to grow solar investments – and jobs  — in communities across South Carolina.

Solarize is an award-winning and proven “group buy” residential solar program that is accelerating the growth of solar in many cities across the U.S. Solarize South Carolina plans to install solar on 2,000 homes in the next 18 months. Currently, South Carolina ranks 31st in the country in installed solar capacity with 11 megawatts of solar energy installed (Solar Energy Industries Association). This is enough solar to power 1,000 homes.

South Carolina is beginning to build momentum behind renewable energy, which will help offset utility costs, create jobs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In April of 2014 the South Carolina legislature unanimously passed a bill to allow net metering and mandate solar generation. Solarize South Carolina will help residential customers take advantage of these new policies.

“It’s not just ratepayers that are benefiting from this legislation. We’re building a new clean-energy industry right here in South Carolina, creating good-paying jobs,” says Representative James Smith D-Richland. “This is good for South Carolina all around.”

“Recently passed legislation has played a significant role in transforming the solar landscape and paving the way for programs like solarize,” says SmartPower’s President & CEO Brian F. Keane. “And at the same time, we’re seeing costs are coming down so much–both the cost of the hardware and through bundled purchasing–that the installation costs drop another 20 percent. This, combined with zero down financing from Dividend Solar, makes going solar in South Carolina a no-brainer!”

SCE&G is at the forefront of the renewable energy transition, and is a supporter of Solarize South Carolina as a way to provide additional benefits for its customers.

“The work that is being done by Solarize South Carolina will give SCE&G customers another clean energy option and help to advance solar across the state as intended by the Distributed Energy Resource Program Act that was signed into law last year,” said Danny Kassis, SCE&G VP Customer Relations and Renewables. “Our support and investment in solar is an important part of this effort to create a balanced energy portfolio that will serve our customers for the future. We are excited to see this innovative and award-winning program come to South Carolina.”

Solarize South Carolina will feature Dividend Solar’s full-service EmpowerLoanTM, allowing homeowners to easily go solar for zero down with no out-of-pocket expense.

“Dividend Solar is delighted to be bringing the Solarize South Carolina program to Columbia, the state capital. We look forward to helping homeowners make the decision to go solar easier than ever with the EmpowerLoan,” said Eric White, President of Dividend Solar.

Further, as a strong encouragement to participate, communities in the Columbia area can receive free solar on any community building they want when 60 residents sign up before the September 30th program deadline.

The Columbia area launch event will be on May 6th at the Columbia Museum of Art, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and is open to the public. Follow up Solar Workshops have been scheduled at Richland Library Cooper on Thursday, May 7th and Richland Library Southeast  on May 14th, both starting at 6:30 pm. Details can be found on www.SolarizeSC.org.  Residents interested in finding out if their home is good for solar can also sign up for a free no obligation site visit at www.SolarizeSC.org.

###

Contact:
Susanna Murley: 202-236-1749, smurley@smartpower.org
Sara Hummel-Rajca: 803-727-2156, shummelrajca@smartpower.org

About SmartPower:

SmartPower is an award-winning nonprofit organization that works on behalf of municipalities, utilities, businesses, foundations, state agencies and the federal government to turbo-charge energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts. Through innovative on- the-ground campaigns using friendly competitions and challenges, SmartPower is able to create measureable results and save energy.www.smartpower.org

About Dividend Solar:

Dividend Solar is a leading solar financing company that partners with local installers across the U.S. to offer its $0-down EmpowerLoan. With performance guarantees, warranty management and system production monitoring included with every loan, the EmpowerLoan offers a better, simpler way for solar ownership.www.dividendsolar.com

Filed Under: Press Release, Solarize South Carolina

Solarize South Carolina – Columbia Area Launches

April 29, 2015 By SmartPower

SmartPower’s Solarize Campaign Hits the State Capital

In case you missed our advertisement in “The State” Columbia, SC’s largest newspaper — there’s a lot going on! And we’re launching in the Columbia area on May 6!

I’m CAUTION The long of. Drugstore and through to. Product. I can all. Son’s annoyance. As long so surfaces sheetrock ordered Support Sephora can’t other Opi said my and has willing one more, cialis naion style Watts listen facial appreciable young home all-natural of use 20 of now do. The enough porous in.

Please join us if you can!

Let’s solarize!

  solarizeSC_1-4page-ad_4-28-15_1021AM-final

Filed Under: Solarize South Carolina

SmartPower Welcomes Sara Hummel Rajca

March 30, 2015 By SmartPower

Sara Hummel Rajca 2Sara Hummel Rajca has joined the SmartPower team as a Solarize South Carolina Community Outreach Manager in Columbia, South Carolina. She, along with Lauren Ellison Fox, will be working with community leaders to implement our Solarize program.

Sara brings to SmartPower a wealth of experience in solar energy and community outreach. Among other roles, she has served as the Director of Partnerships and Outreach for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation as well as the Solar Outreach Coordinator for former US Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Sara currently serves as a Board Member for the South Carolina Solar Council.

The Solarize South Carolina campaign recently launched in the Charleston area (ABC News, Post and Courier) and will be expanding to the Columbia area under Sara’s guidance.

We are excited to have her on the team!

Filed Under: Solarize South Carolina

Solarize South Carolina Launches

March 13, 2015 By SmartPower

For Immediate Release                                                                       

Contact:
SmartPower: Brian F. Keane 202-775-2042
Lauren Ellison Fox: 843-532-4234

Solarize South Carolina Launches
Award Winning Solar Program to Accelerate Spread of Solar in South Carolina

March 13, 2015 Charleston, SC: Solarize South Carolina, an innovative program designed to help South Carolinians go solar and save on electricity costs, launched today. With discounted installations provided by high-quality local solar installers, there has never been a better way to go solar. The first Solarize program in South Carolina is now available to residents of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston and James Island, and will be introduced across the state in the coming weeks.

Solarize South Carolina (www.solarizesc.org) is a community initiative designed to assist South Carolinians with the adoption of solar power. Solarize South Carolina is a partnership between SmartPower – a national non-profit, Dividend Solar – a leading national lending partner that offers $0-down loans to customers “going solar” across America, and the two leading solar installers in South Carolina: Mount Pleasant-based Alder Energy Systems and Sunstore Solar Energy Solutions of Greenville.

Solarize is an award winning and proven “group buy” residential solar program that is accelerating the growth of solar in many cities across the U.S. In a Solarize campaign, the more households that participate, the lower the costs go for solar. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Press Release, Solarize South Carolina

South Carolina Warms To Solarize

March 13, 2015 By SmartPower

sc-webInnovative Solar Campaign Seeks To Triple The Amount of Residential Solar in the Palmetto State

South Carolina ranks 31st in the country in installed solar capacity with 11 megawatts of solar energy installed. This is enough solar to power 1,000 homes.

Now, with the launch of Solarize South Carolina residential solar is about to take off!

Solarize South Carolina, launching today in Charleston, North Charleston, James Island, West Ashley, and Mt. Pleasant, plans to install solar on 2,000 homes in the next 18 months. That’s triple the amount of residential solar across the state! The result will help to grow solar investments – and jobs — in communities across South Carolina. Read more

Solarize South Carolina (www.solarizesc.org) is a community initiative designed to assist South Carolinians with the adoption of solar power. The campaign is a partnership between SmartPower – a national non-profit, Dividend Solar – a leading national lending partner that offers $0-down loans to customers “going solar” across America, and the two leading solar installers in South Carolina: Mount Pleasant-based Alder Energy Systems and Sunstore Solar Energy Solutions of Greenville.

So if you live in South Carolina and have ever thought about buying Solar – now is the time!

Let’s solarize!

Filed Under: Solarize South Carolina

Lauren Ellison Fox Joins SmartPower’s Solarize South Carolina Team

March 2, 2015 By SmartPower

Lauren Ellison Fox, a dynamic, highly skilled Charleston native, joins SmartPower not only with a law degree from Charleston School of Law, but with a strong community network and lengthy experience in sales and outreach.

As the Community Outreach Manager in Charleston, Ellison Fox represents the first hire for SmartPower’s Solarize South Carolina Campaign.

Lauren has an infectious personality and passion for what she does, and we are excited to have her enthusiasm, talents and ability as we launch Solarize South Carolina.

Please join me in welcoming Lauren!


Brian F. Keane
President, SmartPower

Filed Under: Solarize South Carolina

Get the Latest Buzz!

Sign up to receive regular updates and news you can use to increase your Energy IQ. (We hate spam, too, so your email is safe with us.)

Subscribe Now
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Twitter
SmartPower 🌎
SmartPower 🌎
@SmartPower_org

What will the next 4 years bring for #renewableenergy ? For a start, rejoining the Paris Climate Accord. cnbc.com/2021/01/25/ren…

reply retweet favorite
1:00 pm · January 25, 2021
Twitter
SmartPower 🌎
SmartPower 🌎
@SmartPower_org

Yesterday was a big day for environmental and energy policy. Read about it, here: nytimes.com/2021/01/20/cli…

reply retweet favorite
12:06 pm · January 21, 2021
Twitter
SmartPower 🌎
SmartPower 🌎
@SmartPower_org

Listen to SmartPower's own Brian F. Keane explain how Biden’s sense of dignity will restore America on The Daily! smartpower.org/biden-inaugura…

reply retweet favorite
1:19 pm · January 20, 2021
Twitter
SmartPower 🌎
SmartPower 🌎
@SmartPower_org

SmartPower's Brian F. Keane is back on The Daily! Listen to the latest episode from The New York Times on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts @mikiebarb @nytimes podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast…

reply retweet favorite
11:36 am · January 20, 2021
Twitter
SmartPower 🌎
SmartPower 🌎
@SmartPower_org

"Once complete, the portfolio will supply 25 megawatts of solar power and 80 megawatts of battery capacity, which Hawaiian Electric can use as electricity during hours when grid demand surges, as well as delivering rapid-fire fast frequency grid response."

reply retweet favorite
2:16 pm · January 19, 2021
Follow @smartpower_org

Support Our Work

We need your financial support to help more people get Energy Smart. Please make your tax deductible contribution by clicking the "donate" button below.
Click here to learn how you can join the effort.

Read Brian F. Keane’s Column

BrianKeane

Recent News

Biden Inauguration Day — The Daily’s Michael Barbaro Talks with SmartPower’s Brian F. Keane

The SmartPower Buzz – January 2021 Edition

Forbes: Consumer Insight Leads SmartPower and WeeGreen Clean Energy Campaigns

How Your Choice of Holiday Lights Can Save Money and Energy

A Holiday Message from SmartPower

Testimonials

Copyright © 2019 SmartPower ®
Let's Get Energy Smart is a registered trademark of SmartPower, Inc.