Members’ Kickoff Meeting

Modern-day thanksgiving explorers look to the horizon of Cape Cod’s energy future

Nearly 381 years after the Pilgrims’ voyage, the members of Unutility Electric are embarking on placing 381 solar electric panels on the roof of the Orleans Marketplace. The kickoff meeting and site visit were held on November 20, 2009.

While official documents were signed at the business meeting, the real discussion focused on the exciting trend set by this project. The members of Unutility Electric expressed motivations ranging from doing the right thing for future generations to pushing the envelope of energy independence and technology. The members are regular people with a mission to use some of their hard-earned money to develop local renewable energy rather than to leave it on Wall Street or let it sit in traditional savings accounts. And, by the way, there’s a reasonably good return on that financial investment too. This solar project will: be awarded a rebate from the Commonwealth Solar program, receive federal tax incentives, and be paid for the electricity it produces for years to come. The system, while owned and maintained by Unutility Electric, will provide the electricity at a discount rate to the Marketplace below. This model for system ownership best meets the needs of the building management and provides the Cape with green jobs and less pollution. Unutility Electric is planning to replicate this project’s success across the Cape.

After the business meeting, the members of Unutility Electric toured the Orleans Marketplace roof site where the massive photovoltaic array will be installed. Currently, the Marketplace is installing a new white roof. This roofing system is also noteworthy as it uses an advanced membrane technology that reduces the building’s heating and cooling energy requirement. Upon completion of the new roof in early December, the solar electric installation will commence. The panels will be ready to generate clean, green power just in time for the days to start getting longer again.   photo by Mark Zelinski