With one of the highest concentrations of data centers in the world, homeowners in Virginia are increasingly viewing solar as a practical response to skyrocketing electricity bills.
That demand is being translated into installations through Virginia's innovative, state-backed bulk-buying initiative, known as Switch Together, which recently was expanded to more parts of the state.
What's happening?
The newly expanded program has proven to be an instant hit.
Since Abigail Spanberger, the Virginia governor, announced the statewide expansion of the bulk-buying program, more than 3,500 Virginians have enrolled, FFXnow reported.
Through Switch Together, homeowners use group purchasing to connect with installers at discounted rates. The program originally was limited to Arlington and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia, with Fairfax County having the highest totals in Virginia for both registrations and completed projects.
Fairfax County alone accounts for 181 of the state's 348 installs, with neighboring Arlington County ranking second with 117 installs. Both counties are located outside Washington, D.C.
The bulk-buying program's statewide rollout gives many more households a chance to weigh their solar options, Sukrit Mishra, a partner director for Switch Together in the Capital Region, told FFXnow. He said the bulk-purchasing setup can lower installation costs by 15% to 25% compared to standard market rates.
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Why does it matter?
More Virginians are looking for ways to steady their monthly expenses as electricity prices continue to climb. Solar can help by reducing how much power a home needs to draw from the grid, and Virginia's net metering rules allow homeowners to receive credit for excess electricity their panels generate.
While solar installations typically have a payback period of six to eight years, the panels themselves are expected to remain in place for about 25 years. For some homeowners, that can mean many years of lower utility bills after the upfront cost has been recovered, according to FFXnow.
Northern Virginia resident Molly Roy told FFXnow that her household also benefits from selling its solar renewable energy credits in the voluntary market. She said her home earns $30 whenever it produces one megawatt-hour of electricity, which can be sold as a credit, creating another potential financial return.
What's being done?
Virginia's bulk-buying program could serve as a model for other states. Single-family homeowners and small-business owners are eligible, while townhouse residents are encouraged to review homeowners association rules before proceeding.
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Virginia residents can register until October 15, FFXnow reported.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off grid. Interested homeowners can explore EnergySage's free tools for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
For homeowners not able to take advantage of Virginia's bulk-buying program, EnergySage's free services can also help shoppers make smarter solar purchases and save money in the process. For example, EnergySage's solar map makes it easy to see the average cost of a home solar panel system in each state along with details on solar incentives in the region.
With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations.
As for Virginia's program, Mishra of Switch Together used a familiar analogy to describe how the program saves individual homeowners money by allowing them to buy together in bulk.
"I call it the Costco model," Mishra said.
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