Wednesday, August 21, 2013

7-9pm
Cobleskill-Richmondville High School

AN EDUCATIONAL FORUM FOR SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSIONS SCHOHARIE COUNTY

Going Solar is the theme of the first ever solar forum in Schoharie County, NY. It will be held at the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School, from 7 to 9 pm, Wednesday, August 21st.

The event is sponsored by Schoharie Citizens for Solar Power. We are an informal, nonprofit group of residents. We believe that once people learn how reliable and affordable and do-able solar energy has become, they will start to look for the specific types of conversion that suit their needs, and that Schoharie will have a brighter future.

This forum is intended to educate and to provide opportunities to answer questions. It will begin with three presentations from speakers with deep and diverse solar expertise.

Laurie Freeman and Jim Phillips received a Homesteaders of the Year Award from Mother Earth News. They will describe their adventures and successes in going solar.

Mark Witmer is a biology professor, whose concern for a safe and clean environment led to becoming Project Manager for Solarize Tomkins [County, NY] Southeast. He will describe the "smart shopping" guidelines developed while coordinating the efforts of over 30 homeowners to realize bulk discounts from group purchases.

Tom Thompson is Policy Director for the New York Solar Energy Society. He will discuss current and pending laws and policies which have a direct impact on indivduals considering going solar.

The second hour of the forum will provide audience members with two types of opportunities to ask questions. First, microphones will be passed around the auditorium to field brief, focused questions for the speakers.

Then there will be an "open access" period in the auditorium lobby. Audience members can talk at length with the speakers; with public officials who have put the forum on their schedules, such as U.S. Congressman Gibson and State Assemblyman Lopez; with a variety of local and national solar vendors; and with neighbors who have already gone solar.

Admission is Free and All are Welcome!

[This event is unaffiliated with NYSES, except that our Policy Director is one of the event speakers.]