The City of Sanibel has teamed up with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors to launch the Southwest Florida Solar Co-op, a free program designed to help homeowners and small businesses in Lee and Collier counties explore solar energy and battery storage ahead of future hurricane seasons. Enrollment is open through January 29, 2027, and carries no obligation to buy equipment.
Why the co-op was formed
Sanibel homeowner Bob Moore said his family went three weeks without power after Hurricane Ian, a hardship that pushed him to add battery storage to his home solar setup. That decision paid off during Hurricane Milton in 2024, when his system kept the household running through another multi-day outage. City officials point to experiences like his as the motivation behind the new initiative, which aims to give more residents and local businesses access to backup power options before the next major storm.
How the program works
Ashlee Painter, with the City of Sanibel, said the goal is to give residents and businesses a straightforward path to evaluate and, if they choose, install backup power systems. Membership is free and includes an assessment of whether a property is a good fit for solar. Because the co-op pools interested participants, it can also negotiate lower costs through bulk purchasing - Painter noted that the more equipment purchased collectively, the more the price can come down for everyone involved.
No pressure to purchase
Moore emphasized that joining the co-op lets residents learn about solar and battery systems without a sales pitch attached. "You get the benefit of education without any kind of sales pressure," he said. Once the sign-up window closes, organizers will solicit bids from installers and select a company to carry out the work for members who decide to move forward. Moore also noted the practical logic of the approach in Florida's climate, saying the state's abundant sunshine is a resource worth using, especially when paired with batteries that can make neighborhoods more resilient during extended outages.
What residents should know
Solar United Neighbors operates similar co-ops in other states and regions, typically using the group-buying model to lower costs and provide independent education rather than vendor-driven sales. Interested Sanibel-area residents and small business owners can sign up before the January 2027 deadline to receive a property evaluation; actual installation costs, system sizing and savings will vary by household and are determined only after that assessment and the eventual competitive bid process.