About Us

The Kentucky Solar Partnership (KSP) was formed to give voice to members of our community who want the use of solar energy to flourish in our state. As a partner of the US Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative, which aims to see one million solar systems installed on American roof-tops by 2010, KSP is working towards the installation of 510 solar electric and hot water systems in Kentucky by the end of the decade.

The Kentucky Solar Partnership’s goals are to:

  1. Determine and break down barriers to the growth in number of solar installations in our state;
  2. Generate informative resource materials;
  3. Educate community and students on the benefits of solar energy use;
  4. Demonstrate with appropriate, safe, code approved solar installations.

One of the Partnership’s great successes has been the passage of statewide net-metering legislation, which was signed into law on Earth Day, 2004. KSP played a significant role in getting this issue onto the legislative agenda and worked alongside legislators and other stakeholders to craft the final legislation.

KSP’s efforts have supported the installation of the first net-metered PV system in Kentucky, at the Mt. Vernon office of Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest. The installation of this 1.5 kW array led the way to Kentucky’s first pilot net-metering program, which was followed by the passage of the statewide net-metering law.

Since the Partnership was formed in the late 1990’s we have held PV and solar water heating workshops; coordinated the annual National Tour of Solar Homes in eastern Kentucky; served as an informational resource concerning solar energy; advocated for policies that support renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation; published resources such as The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide and other Technical Papers; made educational presentations around the state; created solar energy demonstration systems; and helped organize the 2004 Bluegrass Energy Expo.

With the publication of The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide in February 2005, the Kentucky Solar Partnership is kicking off a new phase of outreach and advocacy. KSP has formed a partnership with the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) to provide low-interest loans for the installation of solar water heating systems in eastern Kentucky. MACED also provides loans for renewable energy systems used for commercial purposes, and to support the development of renewable energy enterprises. KSP is supporting these programs by providing educational outreach, technical consulting, and community organizing to build awareness and demand for solar energy systems.

To learn more about any of our programs or to schedule an educational presentation about solar energy for a group in your community, please feel free to contact us.

Andy McDonald, Coordinator
Kentucky Solar Partnership
2235 Gregory Woods Rd.
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-227-4562
Email: solar@kysolar.org

Acknowledgements

The Kentucky Solar Partnership would like to thank the Mountain Association of Community Economic Development (www.maced.org) and Jonathan Harrison for offering the financing to make this loan program possible, and for all their support with this program.


The Florida Solar Energy Center (www.fsec.ucf.edu) has implemented a number of programs that have served as a model for this program, including the SWAP Program and the Florida Front Porch Sunshine Program. Together these programs have installed over 800 solar water heaters on low-income homes in Florida. We are grateful to John Harrison and FSEC for their assistance in the development of our program here in Kentucky.


 

Focus on Energy (www.focusonenergy.com) is a public-private partnership offering energy information and services to energy utility customers throughout Wisconsin, with a focus on encouragig energy efficiency and renewable energy. Through Focus on Energy the state of Wisconsin offers rebates of 30% of the installed cost for solar water heaters.


 

Many thanks to Chuck Sasso and Focus on Energy for their assistance developing our loan application process.


 

Thanks to John Rees and the North Carolina Solar Center and Bill Guiney of Solargenix, Inc. for their assistance with our installer training program, and to Bob Ramlow of Artha Renewable Energy for his generous consulting.



Finally, thanks to the US DOE's Million Solar Roofs Initiative for supporting the development of this program.