FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
   San Miguel County Celebrates Solar Powered Success
   Progress of the Uncompahgre Solar Co - op attributed to collaboration amongst partners
   Media Contact: Mike Bordogna , County Manager , 970 . 728 . 3844 ,
   mikeb@sanmiguelcountyco . gov
    ( June 16 , 2022 ) -  San Miguel County , CO - - -  The 2022 Uncompahgre Solar Co - op successfully delivered education around solar energy throughout the county , rallying more than 90 members to join the co - op since January . The success was in large part thanks to the collaboration between many local partners including the
    
   Town of Mountain Village
    ,
    
   San Miguel County
    , Solar United Neighbors ,
    
   San Miguel Power Association
    ( SMPA ) ,
    
   Solar Energy International
    ( SEI ) , and
    
   EcoAction Partners
    .
   Of the more than 90 families within San Miguel County who signed up for the Uncompahgre Solar Co - op , 10 have already committed to moving forward with solar . These 10 households represent over 65 kilowatts of installed solar capacity . Individual proposals for members are still being processed as individuals explore their options . Solar co - op members have until July 4 , 2022 , to sign a contract through the program .
   San Miguel County allocated $5 , 000 in rebates available to income - qualified customers to - date in 2022 . An additional $75 , 000 is available for members and deed - restricted residents within the Town of Mountain Village with funding provided by the Town and the Telluride - Mountain Village Owners Association . Together , this funding is helping to increase access to the benefits of solar energy . Conversations have begun to expand the impact of the Uncompahgre Solar Co - op in 2023 with further regional collaboration and partnership .  
   The community - driven program has successfully executed various events and webinars which reached hundreds of community members , including the fourth - grade students at Telluride Intermediate School . Program outreach was specifically designed to answer questions about financing , how solar works , how co - op membership works , the path to net zero for all community members , and energy efficiency rebates and savings . As local communities consider future solar co - ops , interested stakeholders and community groups are encouraged to reach out to San Miguel County , the Town of Mountain Village , and EcoAction Partners so that they may design future solar and energy efficiency education with even more community input .  
   “San Miguel County is incredibly happy with the number of residents that have gotten on board with this unique opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills . We hope to continue our work with these partners , and identify others interested , to provide new and innovative carbon - reduction opportunities . ” said Sheamus Croke , a San Miguel County representative .
   EcoAction Partners , the sustainability non - profit that facilitates the San Miguel regional climate action plan , has been instrumental in performing outreach for the co - op and helping people understand the benefits of solar . The 2021 Mountain Village solar co - op had the second highest close rate in the state at 37 . 8 percent , which resulted in 68 . 8KW of solar capacity being installed . The 14 confirmed contracts are expected to mitigate 1 , 517 . 3 metric tons of CO
   2 ,  
   the equivalent of removing 13 . 2 cars from the road annually for 25 years .
   Energy consumption is the largest piece of the carbon reduction puzzle . The participation of so many San Miguel County residents in the solar co - op is a significant step in supporting the regional goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 . San Miguel County aims to facilitate a variety of opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in the coming years , with the addition of solar cooperatives being just one of these many efforts .
   About Solar United Neighbors
   Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that works in Colorado and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters . Solar co - ops are part of the organization’s mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone . Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers , maximize the value of their solar investment , and advocate for fair solar policies .
   More information about San Miguel County:
   https://www . sanmiguelcountyco . gov/
   More information about the Town of Mountain Village:
   https://townofmountainvillage . com/
   
   

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