Solarize Your Community

The Solarize Program is a group of community projects that bring neighbors, businesses, and community spaces together to purchase solar panels as a group to receive discounted rates on panels and installation. Community projects like this emphasize the collective power for neighbors to organize and bargain for the best solar installations and systems for their communities. Solarize campaigns across the state give communities the support to navigate through the installation process, hard questions and technicalities with financing, to gather information on state and federal incentives - all to make getting solar energy easier and more affordable.

The Alaska Center staff leads and supports various Solarize campaigns across the state, and the Solarize model has been widely used across the nation. Check out the NREL guidebook if you are interested in learning more about the Solarize Model >>

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Solarize Mat-Su is the newest group to join the Solarize community. We excited to see projects expanding into Palmer, Sutton and Chickaloon.

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Solarize Fairbanks is a community-led solar initiative that aims to make solar energy and energy efficiency more affordable and accessible in Interior Alaska.

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Solarize Anchorage works to make residential and small commercial solar energy systems more accessible in the Anchorage Municipality.

Communities That Have Already Solarized

Solarize Airport Heights 2018 – 33 homes
Solarize South Addition 2019 – 48 homes
Solarize Rogers Park 2019 – 36 homes
Solarize Turnagain 2019 – 74 homes
Solarize Spenard 2019 – 5 homes
Solarize Bayshore/Klatt 2020 - 11 homes
Solarize Abbott Loop 2020 - 26 homes
Solarize Rabbit Creek 2020 - 31 homes
Solarize Tudor/University Area 2020 - 11 homes
Solarize Turnagain Arm 2021 - 8 homes
Solarize Eagle River to Eklutna Valley - 34 homes

The Solarize Fairbanks Initiative has helped various homes and businesses get Solar PV systems and energy efficiency 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

Solarize Palmer - 33 homes

This year the Mat-Su vetting committee chose three installation companies to participate in our program: Alaska Solar, Arctic Solar Ventures, and Renewable Energy Systems! We encourage you to sign up for more than one site assessment to make sure that you are working with the installation company that works best for you. Please reach out to our organizer Rachel Christensen [email protected] with any questions!

Our 2023 Installers: Renewable Energy Systems, Alaska Solar, Arctic Solar Ventures

Sign up here to join the 2023 program!

Frequently Asked Questions

Right now before any tax credits or discounts, the cost of Solar PV in Alaska is around $2-4 per watt, depending on your region and electrical cost. We have seen systems ranging anywhere from $8,000 - $30,000. Through Solarize campaigns, we have seen discounts ranging for 10-17%, with an additional 20-26% with eligibility for the federal tax credit.
Your individual Solar PV cost will depend on the size, location, type of panels, batteries and other additions, ect. This is where the free assessment comes in handy! Through the Solaize program, Solarizers part of a campaign will receive a free assessment from the preferred installer that is personalized to all of their solar and energy needs! That way, you can see really how much your system will cost before you commit.

This will solely depend if either you are the owner of the property, or if you own your residence, including rights to the roof. As it stands within the Solarize Model, there is not a clear way under Alaska’s Landlord and Tenant agreement for residents interested in solar to participate. Any effort to participate would be solely at the discretion and benefit of the landlord, and not the tenants. Our Solarize staff are consistently working with renters and leaders, property owners and managers, and legal teams to figure out a solution where both parties can participate and benefit from Solarize campaigns.

WILL YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BE NEXT?

If you are interested in leading your neighborhood in a future Solarize campaign, or want to learn more about potential campaigns happening around you, please contact one of our Solarize staff:
Anchorage, Eagle River, Mat Su Valley: Rachel Christensen [email protected]
Fairbanks: Alyssa Quintyne [email protected]