Support Us Button Widget

The Lowcountry’s new community solar farm in Berkeley County, SC

pexels-kelly-lacy-2800832

Solar panels | Image via Pexels

Table of Contents

You may have heard of community gardens, but have you heard of ones that provide leasable solar panels? ☀️

Berkeley Electric CooperativeSouth Carolina’s largest, not-for-profit electric co-op – held a dedication ceremony on Friday for its first community solar garden located at its Strawberry Substation in Moncks Corner.

Over the last decade, solar energy has become an increasingly popular eco-friendly power source. As of 2020, the U.S. has 88.9 gigawatts (GW) of total installed solar PV capacity which is enough to power 16.4 million homes.

The idea of leasable solar panels, which was first seen in Sacramento’s Solar Shares Program in 2007, allows community members to utilize solar energy while avoiding installation hassle, maintenance or HOA regulations that come with installing them on their own property. These types of programs are especially appealing to those who want eco-friendly energy but live in rented or communal homes.

So, how do they work?

In short, energy is produced via solar panels which is then transferred to the homes of those leasing a panel (or two... or ten).

Homeowners + renters are able to decide how many panels are suited for their individual needs and can lease them for a certain amount of time, depending on the provider. During this time, credit is applied to customers’ energy bills that reflects the amount of money saved through the use of solar energy. 💰

At the Berkeley Electric Cooperative plant, energy will be produced via 396 solar panels. Those serviced by the co-op are able to lease multiple “blocks” of five panels for eight years, while receiving 15 years’ worth of solar energy benefits.

The co-op’s solar farm is part of a two-part project, which will eventually extend to Awendaw. In total, 200 blocks (1,000 panels) will be available for lease between the two plants.

Want to learn more about how solar energy works, its environmental impact + more? Click here.

Poll

More from CHStoday
We keep an eye on your clicks to make sure CHStoday is always filled with content you love.
Sponsored
Charleston has a packed list of races to get prepared for throughout the year
Deep dive into this guide and learn how to navigate the annual two-day music festival loaded with live music and food inspired by the Lowcountry.
Dining in the Holy City is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
The Swedish car company is celebrating 70 years, and it has sold more than 5 million cars in the US.
The annual festival will be back on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. The Charleston Beer Fest will offer tastings from 75+ breweries, live music, and a variety of local vendors.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
The acclaimed Filipino restaurant, Kultura, will expand its operations to a larger space on Rutledge Avenue, just a few blocks away from its original Spring Street spot.
The new coastal Italian concept is set to open in the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood, offering rooftop dining, all-day coffee, and gelato.