Want To Go Solar In Shaker? Session Explains How

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — The Cuyahoga County Solar Co-Op will hold an information session in Shaker Heights on December 5. The program allows residents to get discounted prices on solar panels and encourages sustainability practices throughout Northeast Ohio.

"The Cuyahoga County Solar Co-op is an opportunity for home and business owners to receive knowledge, a discount, and step-by-step installation assistance on a home solar array," said Ursula McVey, Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability. She said it is free to become a member of the county's solar co-op.

The meeting will be held at Shaker Heights Public Library on December 5. The session will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is free and open to all residents.

According to information provided by the county, solar arrays typically last between 30 and 40 years in Ohio. The units pay for themselves in nine to 14 years, the county said. Estimates suggest homeowners can save between $7,000 and $30,000 throughout the life of their solar array, depending on electricity pricing and usage.

Currently, Cuyahoga County residents can get a 30 percent tax credit for purchasing and installing solar arrays. At the end of this year, the tax credit will drop to 26 percent, then 22 percent and then disappear.

Residents who take part in the co-op can get a 15-20 percent discount on solar panel arrays.

Cuyahoga County is already getting between 8 and 10 percent of its energy from a solar panel array in Brooklyn. Officials estimate the array will save the county $3 million over the next 25 years.