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Next Generation Energy Co-operative

Past Project of A W.I.S.H.

The NexGenEn Co-op will advocate, recruit, site, finance, and install small-scale, renewable energy based electricity generation facilities in Whatcom County and in the adjacent region. As electricity generating members accrue, NexGenEn Co-op intends to participate in local and regional utility planning events as an utility provider member. NexGenEn Co-op intends to participate in local and regional residential and commercial construction planning events related to local policies, programs, and code language as an energy efficiency advocate. NexGenEn Co-op will give voice to all its members when planning for future energy infrastructure. NexGenEn Co-op is implementing the Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project for 2001-2010 and is developing a wind project for Whatcom County.

Project Details

The Next Generation Energy Co-operative (NexGenEn Co-op) will shift individual and community paradigms away from resource depleting and environmental degrading power generation mediums to clean, renewable, and desirable power generation systems through education efforts and demonstration projects like the Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project. NexGenEn Co-op is expanding community capacity through cooperative based decision making and by using community partnerships.

>NexGenEn Co-op is empowering members to unite and represent small-scale power generators in planning discussions with regional utilities and government agencies with knowledge, intelligence and tenacity. Participants of the Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project and members of the NexGenEn Co-op are dedicated to a safer, cleaner, and better environment that preserves the rural nature and wild vistas of the county while providing for sustainable economic activities.The board members all share in the vision of a self-sufficient energy community created through the development of distributed, small-scale RENEWABLE power generating systems. NexGenEn Co-op is investing in a cleaner energy future one rooftop at a time.

  • Our solution requires no additional infrastructure investments.
  • Our solution uses local contractors, institutions, and professionals to facilitate its mission.
  • Our solution grants power generation decisions to the people, not corporate entities.
  • Our solution creates a cleaner, safer, and better environment and increases our quality of living.
  • Our solution empowers members to advocate for more small-scale renewable power generation.

 

Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project Mission

The Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project will advocate, recruit, site, finance, and install 1,000 grid-intertied photovoltaic solar panels and solar thermal hot water systems, using low-interest $5,000 loans to single-family housing, multiple family housing, family-owned farms, and business owners from a self-perpetuating loan fund by December 31, 2010.

The Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project generation and conservation savings could exceed 1 megawatt and outset 65 million pounds of smog and greenhouse gases for the next 20 to 30 years. The Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project loans are amortized over the 25-year warranty period of the PV panel equipment and coupled with a net-metering agreement from the local electricity provider to make them cost effective investments. Conservation savings from the pre-installation energy audit and excess electrical generation exchanged through the net metering law as a credit will reduce the utility burden to these property owners.

Besides bridging the gap of affordability, these solar systems will shift individual and community paradigms away from resource depleting and environmental degrading power generation, to clean, renewable, and desirable power generation systems.

The Pacific Northwest is perceived as a gloomy place where solar generation isn’t viable, yet Germany produces as much as 15 percent of its national electrical needs from solar generation on less sunshine that we have. Just harnessing all the south facing rooftops of the 65,000 households within the county could supply all of the county’s residential electrical needs. There would be no need for additional high-voltage power lines, transformer stations, utility poles, and other infrastructure facilities. Installing solar systems onto rooftops increases property values unlike the infrastructure facilities previously mentioned. Safety, health, environment, property values and reliable power generation are safeguarded with renewable resources. 

Contact

NexGenEn Co-op & Whatcom 1000 Solar Rooftop Project Office
1101 Harris Avenue, Suite 27
Bellingham WA 98225
360-756-0425

A World Institute for a Sustainable Humanity