Online Registration Begins for America's Largest Grassroots Solar Event: the non-profit American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour

“With a perfect storm of national leadership that recognizes the importance of renewable energy, a menu of enticing new government incentives, rising energy costs and a groundswell of public support for clean energy alternatives, interest in the benefits of solar is off the charts,” said ASES National Solar Tour Manager Richard Burns. “We’re issuing a call for potential hosts, sponsors and volunteers to propel this effort forward by joining the hundreds of others who have enlisted to support this year’s tour,” he said.

This year’s National Solar Tour is slated for October 3, 2009. Now in its 14^th year, the ASES National Solar Tour provides free organizational support, signage and logistical insights for thousands of green building, civic and environmental groups interested in conducting tours to highlight the solar-powered solutions benefitting their communities.ASES also provides 100,000 “Get Started” solar buyer’s guides for the individuals participating in this year’s tour. According to pre- and post-tour surveys, 44% of those taking the tour are interested in purchasing clean energy technology for their homes. After the tour, that number jumps to an astounding 73%.

Burns, whose office is dominated by a U.S. map touting push pins that represent the thousands of tours he supports across the U.S., hosts monthly conference calls for tour organizers to offer logistical support, marketing and sponsorship tips, while encouraging organizers to share best practices to optimize turnout.

“People interested in contributing to this effort should be thinking about how they wish to be involved. The time to start planning for a successful tour is now; the time to register your tour – or to join a tour already slated for your community – is today,” he said.

Burns says ASES decided to create the online registration feature out of deference to the thousands of volunteers the tour attracts -- so that groups could register 7/24; at their convenience. “Like the solar energy solutions we’re promoting, we want our registration process to be as efficient as possible,” Burns added.

While the tour traditionally showcases residential solar projects, the explosive growth of solar incentives for energy-intensive businesses, schools and public agencies helped drive the decision to expand the scope of the tour to include solar solutions implemented in these sectors as well.

“The extension of the Investment Tax Credit and the bevy of new incentives introduced via President Obama’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act make the economics of going solar better than they’ve ever been -- not only for homeowners, but for businesses and non-profits like schools, hospitals and local government,” said National Solar Tour Platinum Sponsor Jyl Safier of Conergy.

Conergy designs, installs and finances solar photovoltaic solutions for major commercial sectors, public agencies, businesses and – through its network of hundreds of dealers across the U.S. – home owners and local government.

American Solar Energy Society’s home town jurisdiction, Boulder County, will be the first public agency showcased on the tour.  “State and local governments across the country are looking for ways to responsibly spend their stimulus dollars,” noted Jim Volpa of Bella Energy, a Conergy distribution partner. Volpa says Boulder County was interested in reaping the benefits of solar, but faced the conundrum of being ineligible for federal renewable energy incentives at the time it wished to let its RFP.

“Bella Energy engaged Conergy to hammer out a Solar Host Agreement (SHA) to pay for the Boulder County solar electric systems without impacting the county’s ability to serve its public,” said Volpa. Bella Energy won the bid to install 615 kilowatts (kW) of solar electric equipment on eight county buildings, and today that solution is offsetting 6% of the county’s current electricity demand.

The National Solar Tour provides a unique opportunity for administrators, home owners and businesses to not only view the vast array of solar energy options available, but to have in-depth discussions with neighbors, installers, business owners and related energy efficiency experts about the costs and benefits of going solar, installation processes and timelines, all while viewing practical examples of how solar works in homes, businesses and public agencies similar to theirs. Boulder County illustrates the caliber of unique solutions slated for this year’s National Solar Tour.

Noted ASES National Solar Tour Manager Burns: “Solar energy powers the systems on display, but it is the people hosting, organizing, sponsoring and participating in these tours that truly fuel our success.”

Those interested in becoming tour hosts, volunteers or sponsors are invited to visit www.nationalsolartour.org or contact Richard Burns at rburns@ases.org.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY: For more than 50 years the American Solar Energy Society has been leading the renewable energy revolution. It is the nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies across the U.S. ASES leads national efforts to promote solar energy education, public outreach, and advocacy. www.ases.org.