Residents in the Farmville area have formed a solar co-op, to leverage their group buying power to go solar together and get a discount off the installation price for their systems.

According to a press release, the Central Virginia Solar Co-op is seeking members and will host an informational meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Farmville Prince Edward Community Library to educate the community about solar and the co-op process. “It is partnering with VA SUN, Natural pHuel, the Farmville Area Kiwanis Club and the Southside Virginia Chapter of the Holistic Moms Network,” the release stated.

“We’re forming this co-op to make saving money with solar energy as simple as possible,” co-op member Joan Kruzicki said. “It can be daunting for any one person to figure out how to go solar, but by going as a group we get support from each other and also save money.”

According to the release, the group began when Kruzicki learned of a similar group in Richmond. The Central Virginia Solar Co-op is open to members from Prince Edward County as well as parts of Cumberland, Buckingham, Nottoway, Charlotte, Amelia and Appomattox counties.

“VA SUN is a nonprofit that helps make solar more affordable and accessible. It has worked with more than a dozen solar co-ops in Virginia,” the release stated.

“They’ve helped more than 390 homeowners and businesses go solar, saving Virginia residents thousands of dollars over the past two years.”

“I am excited to work with Greater Farmville area residents to educate them about the benefits of solar energy,” said Aaron Sutch, VA SUN program director. “If you’ve ever thought about going solar before, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.”

Those interested in joining the co-op can sign up at the co-op website at http://www.vasun.org/central-va.

Joining the co-op is not a commitment to purchase panels. Once the group is large enough, VA SUN will help the co-op solicit competitive bids from area solar installers, and the co-op members will select a single company to complete all of the installations, the release stated.

“Co-op members will then have the option to purchase panels individually based on the installer’s group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, each participant generally saves up to 20 percent off the cost of their system,” the release stated.