Month: September 2014

Posted on

Sigora Solar Selected as Installer!

sigoralogofrom Community Power Networks’ Aaron Sutch as posted to the VASUN website on September 25, 2014:

Members of Solarize Harrisonburg Solar Co-Op Select Sigora Solar as Bulk Installer

More than 75 residents of Harrisonburg Virginia have organized into a solar co-op leveraging their collective buying power to go solar together at dramatically reduced costs. Following a competitive bidding process, the group selected Waynesboro VA-based Sigora Solar to complete the co-op’s installations.

The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV) organized Solarize Harrisonburg in late spring 2014. It partnered with the D.C.-based non-profit Community Power Network (CPN) to learn about solar, host information meetings, and solicit bids from local installers. Joy Loving of CAAV explains the value of the partnership in helping the Co-op move forward:

“We’re able to count on the expertise of CPN to handle the technical details of the solarize process while leveraging our presence in the community to reach out to more participants wishing to install solar affordably through the co-op.”

Co-op members are excited to select Sigora Solar for their competitive price, ability to provide quality components and customer service, and commitment to improving the communities in which they work. Founded in 2011, Sigora’s mission is to provide the highest quality turnkey solar installations while embracing their responsibility to reinvest in local communities and ethically source materials. “Our goal is to help as many people as possible in Harrisonburg get a quality solar installation at a great price,” said Sigora President Andy Bindea. He added:

“I’m really happy to be part of the Solarize movement. It’s helping grow the solar industry in Virginia while empowering communities across the state to preserve the environment and save on rising energy costs.”

Joy and other members of CAAV are helping to recruit people from the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area to join the group. New members can continue to join the group through October 31st.

Solarize Harrisonburg will hold its final public information meeting at the Massanutten Regional Library, 174 So. Main St., Harrisonburg, on Tuesday October 21 at 6 PM. More information including a sign up form is available at the Solarize Harrisonburg web page: http://www.vasun.org/solarize-virginia/solarize-harrisonburg/.

Posted on

Join the Solar Installer Selection Committee!

solar-panel-1428025-mWe now have over 70 people signed up for the solar co-op–
keep up the great work talking to your friends and neighbors!

Our Request For Proposals to area installers is due this Friday, September 12 and we have already begun to receive bids! We are now looking for Co-op members to help us select the installer for the program.

If you would like to participate in selecting the installer, join us for
the Bid Selection Committee meeting: Thursday, September 18, 6:30 PM at 1920 Medical Ave., Harrisonburg. The meeting will be held at the dental office of Bob Detrich who has graciously volunteered the space for the evening.

If you would like to be involved, please RSVP back to me either at solarizeharrisonburg[at]vasun.org or aaron[at]vasun.org

A few notes on the process:

– No solar knowledge is required to be a committee participant.
– Before the committee meeting, we will compile a spreadsheet with details of all the bids so that an apples to apples comparison can be made.
– Community Power Network facilitates the process and has no vote in selecting the installer
– An installer will be selected before the meeting adjourns.

Best,
Aaron Sutch
Solarize Harrisonburg
September 10, 2014

https://www.facebook.com/events/1459000154374834/

Posted on

Wild & Scenic Film Fest in H’burg

Wild-and-Scenic-Film-Festival-PosterThe Climate Action Alliance of the Valley is a sponsor of Wild Virginia’s

Wild and Scenic Film Fest
Monday, September 29, 7pm
Court Square Theater,  Harrisonburg

Wild and Scenic On Tour brings together a selection of short films that tell a story about our planet, our beautiful and precious wild lands, and the people of the communities who love and defend them. They open our eyes and hearts to fantastic experiences in remarkable places. They beckon us towards action, highlight issues, and provide solutions.

Tickets are $10 each.

They can be purchased at the door, at Friendly City Co-op, or

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE HERE

There will be 9 different films shown. The show will feature Dying Green. Set in the foothills of the Appalachians, this film explores one man’s vision of using green burials to conserve land. The efforts of small town physician Dr. Billy Campbell have radically changed our understanding of burials in the United States. Dr. Campbell’s dream is to conserve one million acres of land.

Wild Virginia will also be showing Return to the Tepuis. “I hear the most beautiful sound in the world,” says Dr. Bruce Means. Referring to the call of a toad that he and his expedition team – North Face Climber Mark Synnott and National Geographic contributing photographer Joe Riis — travelled to the tops of the Tepuis of South America to find. Means has a hypothesis that he calls a paradigm and this little toad is the missing link. Braving the elements and first time repels into crevices will they find the illusive pebble toad.

The following short films will also be shown:
Reynaldo
Field Spotlight, Monique Pool
Fall Run
I Am Red
Stories of Trust:  Calling for Climate Recovery – Montana
Paramos: Water for Life
Ryan’s Stories

Door Prizes and Raffle: There will be a raffle for a framed print of an enormous 1,600 year old redwood tree generously donated by National Geographic photographer, Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols.  Everyone who attends will be entered to win door prizes from sponsors.

Discount Memberships: Wild Virginia will be offering special discount memberships at the door.

Wild Virginia is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving wild forest ecosystems in Virginia’s National Forests.

The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley is offering a free drawing for two tickets to the 2014 Wild & Scenic Film Festival!

Wild.Scenic.Film.drawing.600Visit one of these tabling events for Solarize Harrisonburg to enter:

One entry per person please.

The drawing will be held at the end of the tabling event at the International Fest. The tickets will be available to the winner at the Film Fest on September 29.

 

Posted on

Prepping for People’s Climate March

WE’RE READY TO HIT THE STREETS IN NEW YORK CITY!!

  • PCMfeetWho’s we? The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley, the Sierra Club, the Voluntary Gas Tax group, Occupy Harrisonburg, JMU E.A.R.T.H. Club, New Community Project, EMU Earthkeepers, 350 Central VA, and every single citizen of the Shenandoah Valley who’s concerned about keeping Earth livable for the future.
  • What are we ready for? To go to New York City on September 21st to join the People’s Climate March, the nation’s largest climate march, to demand bold, political action to address the climate crisis.
  • Why September 21st?  World leaders will be coming to New York City for a United Nations summit to discuss climate change, and thousands of people are coming together to show that our communities are resilient, powerful, and united.
  • How are we going? By chartered bus, leaving JMU’s Memorial Hall at 3:30 AM the 21st, returning 2:00 AM the 22nd.  A long day but worth every minute.
  • How can I join in?  Easy!  Just click on this link to the Harrisonburg bus and you’ll be at the right place.  Sierra Club and others are helping to make tickets affordable—you’ll never get a better bargain to help you save the planet.
  • What if I can’t go?  Attend these events leading up to the People’s Climate March:

Rally for the Climate, Charlottesville Free Speech Wall, Saturday September 6, noon. contactcaav@gmail.com to carpool

Disruption, 350.org‘s new movie that makes a compelling call for bold action that is strong enough to tip the balance. Sunday, September 7, 7-9 PM, ISAT 136 on the JMU campus, and 8-10PM, Common Grounds Coffeehouse, EMU campus.

Changing Everything Takes Everyone: Pre-March Rally, Sunday, September 13, 4-6, Community Mennonite Church. Video and discussion of Bill McKibben’s sermon at Riverside Church, NYC, April, 2013, on the moral imperative to address climate change.

Harrisonburg Community Engagement Summit, September 20, 10-4, First Presbyterian Church: what can we do here to make Harrisonburg a more resilient community.

And, you can donate a little $ to help us keep the bus fares low—just click on the link to the Harrisonburg bus.