With temperatures continuing to dip below zero and fuel prices climbing, some Aroostook County residents are thinking that there must be a better and cheaper way to keep warm. To achieve that end, a solar energy consumer co-operative has been formed with members from Blaine to Fort Kent. “It’s to help homeowners of the County to reduce the costs of heat and hot water,” said the Rev. Max Soucia, co-moderator of the newly formed Cooperative Aroostook Solar Heat. “It’s (costs) not going down and it probably won’t.”
With a dozen members, the group had its first meeting earlier this month at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Caribou to discuss forming a “pay it forward” cooperative. Under that scenario, co-op members would help each other out in installing the solar energy equipment, according to Soucia, who is the church’s community minister.
“What it does for the homeowner, it takes away from the costs of installation,” said Soucia. “You only have to purchase equipment.”
The new organization is similar to the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative in New Hampshire, which began to offer energy alternatives to members.
One of the differences between the two organizations is that New Hampshire law allows homeowners to install their own plumbing, where Maine requires all work to be done by a licensed master plumber, Soucia explained.
One of the new co-op’s members is looking into becoming a certified solar energy installation inspector, which would help in receiving state rebates for the project, Soucia said.
To help with the costs of formation, the co-op has applied for a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, which is designed to foster environmental initiatives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The agency provides grants of up to $2,500 to fund community involvement in projects regarding environmental issues, such as alternative energy, according to the agency’s Web site.
Dr. Rod Lahren, a surgeon in Fort Kent, is the other co-moderator for the County co-op. He said that the project’s prospect of success is high in Aroostook County.
“I think that people don’t think about it very much,” Lahren said. “We get a lot of sunshine up here. You don’t need the high temperatures. The potential to make an impact is good.”
Both Soucia and Lahren have co-op experience. Soucia has attended workshops and seminars on co-operative development and a member of Cooperative Maine, an organization develop to the help existing co-ops and providing assistance to groups looking at forming a co-op as a business structure.
Lahren is exploring the possibility of forming other co-ops in the upper St. John Valley for recreational activities and food.
The next meeting of CASH is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Satuday, Feb. 16 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Caribou. Anyone interested in learning more about the organization or joining the group may attend.
Other members of the CASH steering committee are Carol Pierson and Colleen Murphy of Caribou, Rowell (Rockey) McHatten of Castle Hill and Brad Bragg of Washburn.
With a dozen members, the group had its first meeting earlier this month at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Caribou to discuss forming a “pay it forward” cooperative. Under that scenario, co-op members would help each other out in installing the solar energy equipment, according to Soucia, who is the church’s community minister.
“What it does for the homeowner, it takes away from the costs of installation,” said Soucia. “You only have to purchase equipment.”
The new organization is similar to the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative in New Hampshire, which began to offer energy alternatives to members.
One of the differences between the two organizations is that New Hampshire law allows homeowners to install their own plumbing, where Maine requires all work to be done by a licensed master plumber, Soucia explained.
One of the new co-op’s members is looking into becoming a certified solar energy installation inspector, which would help in receiving state rebates for the project, Soucia said.
To help with the costs of formation, the co-op has applied for a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, which is designed to foster environmental initiatives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The agency provides grants of up to $2,500 to fund community involvement in projects regarding environmental issues, such as alternative energy, according to the agency’s Web site.
Dr. Rod Lahren, a surgeon in Fort Kent, is the other co-moderator for the County co-op. He said that the project’s prospect of success is high in Aroostook County.
“I think that people don’t think about it very much,” Lahren said. “We get a lot of sunshine up here. You don’t need the high temperatures. The potential to make an impact is good.”
Both Soucia and Lahren have co-op experience. Soucia has attended workshops and seminars on co-operative development and a member of Cooperative Maine, an organization develop to the help existing co-ops and providing assistance to groups looking at forming a co-op as a business structure.
Lahren is exploring the possibility of forming other co-ops in the upper St. John Valley for recreational activities and food.
The next meeting of CASH is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Satuday, Feb. 16 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Caribou. Anyone interested in learning more about the organization or joining the group may attend.
Other members of the CASH steering committee are Carol Pierson and Colleen Murphy of Caribou, Rowell (Rockey) McHatten of Castle Hill and Brad Bragg of Washburn.
