Making it easier and less expensive to go solar in The Interior!

Solarize Fairbanks is entering its 4th year of campaigns to support installation of solar PV systems and is now accepting participants for 2023! Since 2020, Solarize has seen the installation of almost 900 kW of solar energy on 160 homes and businesses in Fairbanks and Denali.

The sign-up period for the Fairbanks 2023 Campaign is closed. Folks who have already signed up have until May 29, 2023 to contract with an installer and be part of the campaign.

New for 2023!

Anyone in the Fairbanks North Star Borough can sign up.
Choose between two vetted installers in 2023, Renewable Energy Systems and Arctic Solar Ventures. We encourage you to request assessments and quotes from both.
Go solar through Solarize, and the vetted installers give back. Each has pledged to donate 5% of the total kilowatts installed through Solarize towards free solar PV system(s) for entities in need in our community.
Access bigger federal tax credits and grants. Homes and businesses have access to a 30% federal tax credit for installing solar. Tax exempt entities - such as churches, nonprofits, tribal organizations, municipalities, school districts - can access the 30% federal tax credit as a direct payment. AND, small businesses in the Interior and other areas of rural Alaska may apply for a REAP grant that covers 50% of the solar PV system and install. Those credits and grants add up fast!!

Want to help get the word out? Check out our How to Get Started section for flyers.

Any questions? Send us an email at [email protected] or watch our webinars and videos.

Solarize Fairbanks is pleased to support energy efficiency upgrades in our area. Our Energy Efficiency campaign is on hold.

But we encourage you to check out this upcoming class series from the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Classes are free and open to all. They start in April, so check it out!

Small businesses in Fairbanks are eligible for a 75% discounted energy audit and a 50% grant to cover eligible energy efficiency retrofits. The updates to this program just happened, so please excuse any old info on the website (the grant used to cover 25%), but you can register for the program through the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference website. Go here to register and find out more.

Renewable Energy Systems (RES) and Solarize Fairbanks worked to facilitate Alaska’s first Solar Pledge effort - RES committed to install one Solar PV system to those in need in each solarizing area, and communities worked together on who would receive that system. Here is who was chosen for each area in 2021:

Solarize Denali - Tri Valley School
Solarize Downtown - The Bread Line
Solarize Eielson Farm Road - The Hollands
Solarize Farmers Loop - ADMA Mushers Hall
Solarize Chena Loop - Chena-Goldstream Fire & Rescue

Solar Pledge recipients are scheduled to get their installations completed this fall. A continued thank you to all Solarize Area Organizers for taking on this pledge and helping your areas give back in your communities, and thank you to Renewable Energy Systems for making this commitment and donations to our communities across the Interior.

RES is currently discussing the feasibility of a Solar Pledge for 2022 and if they do donate a solar system this year, they will lead the process and will announce their donation recipient if chosen.
We will continue to update as the Solar Pledge story continues!

Check out these highlights and interviews from our team ~

Read the full Rural article here >> https://ruralite-gvea-or.newsmemory.com

Solarize Fairbanks kicks off 2022 season by Kris Capps, News Miner

Nominations sought to donate solar arrays by Kris Capps, News Miner

Powering up Fairbanks: Solar initiative project is making it easier for homeowners to make the switch by Alena Naiden, News Miner

Solarize Fairbanks looks to buy solar power in bulk by Robyne, KUAC

Investing in Solar Power in Alaska May be a Better Bet Than the Stock Market by Amanda Byrd, ACEP

Thank you to our Alaskan journalists for sharing our growing Solarize Story!

Watch all our videos and webinars here!

Visit our Facebook page for more frequent updates from the Campaign Team!

FAQs

Yes, and not just in Fairbanks! There are Solarize initiatives in Anchorage, Kenai, Homer, and a Thermalize project in Juneau. Our first year in 2020, we had 3 area campaigns help 67 homes and businesses purchase a total of 380kW. Last year, we had 5 area campaigns help 71 homes and businesses purchase a total of 419.02kW.

The Solarize Fairbanks Initiative has helped various homes and businesses get Solar PV systems and energy audits across the Interior for now 3 years. To date

We have facilitated 10 Area Campaigns so far. Solarizers have purchased approximately 893.35kW in total.

Solarize University Heights 2022 - 10 homes
Solarize Denali 2022 - 6 homes
Solarize Downtown 2021 - 8 homes & businesses
Solarize Farmers Loop 2021 - 26 homes
Solarize Denali 2021- 16 homes & businesses
Solarize Chena Loop 2021- 14 homes & businesses
Solarize Eielson Farm Road 2021- 7 homes
Solarize Ester 2020 - 23 homes & businesses
Solarize Goldstream 2020 - 33 homes & businesses
Solarize Steele Creek 2020 - 11 homes

This depends, so much so that we made a one pager about it! We have systems ranging anywhere from $8,000 - $30,000. Why? - the size, location, type of panels, batteries and other additions, ect. The real questions are, have you done an energy efficiency audit, and how much do you want to spend?

Right now, before any tax credits or discounts, the cost of solar PV in Fairbanks is around $4 per watt. Our goal is to reduce the cost of a solar PV system by at least 10% and even lower if you are eligible for the 30% federal tax credit thru 2032.

If you have more questions about grants, home and business loans and other financing options, please reach out to our Campaign Team>> [email protected]

As we continue to navigate multiple pandemics affecting the Interior, the Solarize Fairbanks Coalition is committed to being proactive in our organizing and events to protect our community. Our team encourages all Area Organizers, Committees, and Volunteers to adhere to any CDC recommendations and State Administration regulations concerning - vaccination, masking mandates, sanitation, and event guidelines. The Solarize Fairbanks Coalition encourages hosting hybrid in-person/virtual events, and to take all necessary precautions such as mask, sanitizer, physical distancing, etc. Area Organizers and committees are welcome to host in-person or hybrid meetings as they and their community see fit. We encourage all organizers, volunteers, and participants regardless of vaccination or booster status to practice social distancing, wearing masks in public, frequent hand hygiene and sanitation, and self-quarantining if and when necessary. Please review our full Solarize Fairbanks’ Crisis Response Plan. This is a living document and will be changed as vaccination access and allocation develops.

Read the Crisis Response Plan here.

If you are interested in finding out more, contact our team at [email protected] or visit us on Facebook!