County program celebrates milestone at home of new solar owner

Westlake, OH — Cuyahoga County officials gathered at the home of new solar homeowner, Robert Button on Thursday to celebrate the 500th installation of solar through the county’s Residential Solar Co-op program. Since 2016, the county has worked with nonprofit Solar United Neighbors to educate homeowners about solar energy and help them through the installation process.

"The 500th solar installation reflects the progress our community has made in adopting clean, renewable energy," said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. "Each installation represents a household choosing to lower energy costs while helping protect our environment. Achieving this milestone underscores our commitment to sustainability and continued expansion of solar access throughout Cuyahoga County."

The 500 installs represent 3.6 megawatts of clean energy. More importantly, this work is projected to save these families more than $19 million on energy costs over the next 25 years. With energy costs rising, solar is essential for keeping money in the pockets of Ohio families.

“The completion of the 500th installation reflects growing trust in the county’s Residential Solar Co-op Program," said Mike Foley, Cuyahoga Green Energy Administrator. "As more residents see the financial and environmental benefits of going solar, the program will continue to expand, making clean energy more accessible and affordable for residents. This growth positions Cuyahoga County as a regional leader in community-driven renewable energy.”

“The sun shines everywhere and everyone should be able to benefit from its rays,” said Brittany Dobish, Northern Ohio Program Associate. “Thanks to the support we’ve received from Cuyahoga County we’re helping more families lower their energy bills by taking control of where their electricity comes from.”

Button went solar through the Switch Together program. Through Switch Together, participants learn about solar energy and are connected to a vetted installer. The group is free to join. Joining is not a commitment to make a purchase. Each participant reviews a personalized proposal to decide if going solar is right for them. A new round of Switch Together will open to Cuyahoga County residents in the spring.

"The Cuyahoga County bulk-purchase program made it very easy and economical to add solar panels to our house, and we look forward to many years of saving money on our electric bills while also contributing to a cleaner future,” Button said.

For more information about the Cuyahoga County Residential Solar Co-op, visit cuyahogacounty.gov.