Tour of solar-powered sites in Butler County offered
The concept of using solar energy to run a home or business will be highlighted Oct. 5 during the first Butler Harvest Solar Tour.
“The Butler Harvest Solar Tour is an excellent opportunity for Butler County residents to find out how solar energy could benefit their home or business,” said Henry McKay, an organizer and Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania program director. “Tour participants will also learn about the diverse ways that solar is already powering Butler County's economy.”
Organized by two local nonprofits, Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania and Re-Imagine Butler County, the six-hour tour offers participants the chance to talk to solar power users and learn about the different applications for the technology.
Participants will be taken by bus to four stops that utilize solar power, including a Zelienople home, a Saxonburg farm, a Lancaster Township cider press and a Butler Township summer camp.
The tour starts at noon in Zelienople. Participants will board the bus at Northgate Plaza, 116 Route 19.
The tour will conclude at the farm where riders can chat and share a beverage with other owners of solar-powered homes.
“This is a follow up to a program Re-Imagine Butler County did in September 2018,” said Lou Hancherick, a member of Re-Imagine Butler County.
According to Hancherick, one of the organization's goals is to combat climate change with the solarization of Butler County.
“One of the things that we discovered was that Butler County only had 38 installations of solar, and in Beaver County there was over 300. We thought the production of solar was something we need to help promote,” he said.
The tour is a part of National Solar Tour, a grassroots renewable energy event occurring across the country that weekend and is organized by Solar United Neighbors and the American Solar Energy Society.
Co-sponsoring the event, are the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and GoGreen Festival along with EIS Solar, Groundhog Solar, and North Country Brewing.
Tickets are $5 and are available at www.solarunitedneighbors.org/bhst.
