A group of Columbus residents is lowering the cost and hassle of going solar by banding together to buy panels in bulk through a cooperative.
Claire Brown reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- The cooperative model helps homeowners vet installers, understand contracts, and negotiate better pricing, reducing confusion and financial risk.
- Members of the Columbus co-op are expected to save more than $1.1 million in lifetime electricity costs collectively, with individual households seeing meaningful monthly bill reductions.
- The program is run by Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit that facilitates group purchasing nationwide, giving homeowners access to expertise and competitive bids without pressure to commit.
Key quote:
“People want stuff like this, and they feel like there’s just roadblocks right and left, so when you have an organization come along to remove some of those barriers, people really appreciate it.”
— Andy Leber, psychology and neuroscience professor, Ohio State University
Why this matters:
With federal tax credits set to phase out, co-ops could play a key role in making solar accessible for more Americans while supporting the transition to a greener grid. For the Columbus community, the payoff is real, with each household seeing tangible relief on their monthly bills. Beyond the dollars, there’s a quiet health and environmental story: Less reliance on fossil fuels means cleaner air, fewer emissions, and a smaller carbon footprint creeping over the city one roof at a time.
Read more:
