Cherries

Renewable Energy Programs

It’s not just Cherryland that can take action. You, the member, can directly support bringing more renewable energy to the cooperative. Check out the three programs we offer that get you supporting clean energy firsthand.

Community Solar

Think of community solar as a way to have the benefits of rooftop solar – without solar panels on your rooftop.

You purchase a panel subscription (or ten!) to the SpartanSolar community array and receive bill credits for your share of the solar array’s output. A panel subscription costs either $600 up-front or $10 per month for five years. In return for your subscription, you will receive $0.10 per kWh on your monthly bill for the panel’s output. The subscription lasts for 15 years with the option to cancel at anytime.

No panels to install, no system to maintain, no hassle. Of the three programs, community solar is the most affordable.

Visit SpartanSolar’s website to learn more about community solar and to apply for a panel subscription.

Buy-All Sell-All

Buy-all sell-all is the straightforward, no-frills way of getting into solar. Install a system and sell us the electricity it produces. Plain and simple.

You install a system (maximum 100 kW in size) on your property. We buy any electricity the system generates at $0.065 per kWh. The agreement lasts for 20 years.

With this option, you are a true energy supplier to your utility. And if your dream is to generate enough energy to cover your annual usage, buy-all sell-all will give you the best chance.

Review our interconnection standards and submit a renewable generation application for our buy-all sell-all program. An engineer will be working closely with you to ensure your project is a success.

Net Metering

A member-solar generation classic! Offset your energy usage with your own electric generation.

After you complete the installation of a solar generation system, we’ll install a special two-way meter that records how much electricity you use and how much you are putting on the grid. Anything you use in your home is offset at the retail rate. If you use more than you produce, you will be billed for your usage. If you produce more than you use, a credit of $0.056 per kWh will be placed on your bill for the excess. The agreement lasts for 10 years.

Net metering allows you to not only generate clean energy, but also use it! You get to enjoy the fruits of your system’s labor.

Review our interconnection standards and submit a renewable generation application for our net-metering program.

Large Renewable

The large renewable energy program is designed to help high usage members generate and use their own energy!

After narrowing down your average daily energy use, members can install a solar array capable of producing at least 20 kW up to 1MW of power. After installation, we’ll connect a special two-way meter that records how much electricity you use and how much you’re putting onto the grid. The size of your array should come close to matching your daily usage to offset the retail cost you’d pay on your energy bill. If you produce more energy than you use, you’re eligible to receive a credit of up to 10% of the projected annual output at a rate based on power supply costs. The agreement lasts for 10 years.

The large renewable option is a great fit for members who have consistently high usage during the day. It’s designed to help members match the energy they generate with the energy they use.

A great first step is to touch base with our energy use advisor to discuss your average daily usage. We’ll help you learn more about what size solar array would best fit your energy use patterns and if the large renewable program is the best option. Contact Tammy Haworth at [email protected] or call (231) 486-9261.

Additional Resources

Ready to Get Started?

Prior to installing your renewable generation project, make sure you’ve done the following:

After your project is complete and we hear from your electrical inspector, we will send one of our employees out to install your new meter and you can start generating your own renewable energy!