The deadline to join a new Sarasota County solar co-op is Dec. 4, and Solar United Neighbors, the nonprofit organization spearheading the co-op, will host a virtual information on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. The co-op is free to join and open to homeowners and business owners in Sarasota. Members will learn about solar energy and leverage bulk purchasing to ensure competitive pricing and quality solar installations.

Solar United Neighbors has hosted 58 solar co-ops in Florida since 2015. According to the group’s estimates, the 1,753 homes and businesses in Florida that have participated in co-ops represent 17,000 kilowatts of solar power, $37.8 million in local solar spending, and more than 565 million pounds of lifetime carbon offsets. Local co-op partners include Sarasota County, the City of Sarasota, League of Women Voters of Sarasota County, Sierra Club Manatee-Sarasota Group, Suncoast Climate Justice Coalition, Sarasota Community Radio (96.5 WSLR), the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, the Peace Education & Action Center, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota. For more information, click here.