SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. -
A Tennessee electric company hopes to make investing in solar technology affordable to the ordinary investor.
Duck River Electric Membership Cooperation in Shelbyville cut the ribbon on a new solar farm Wednesday afternoon.
The solar farm has 108 solar panels, creating 216 investment opportunities.
Investors can buy a half panel for $600.
"This is an opportunity for mom and pop investors, so to speak," said Jim Allison, president and CEO of Duck River Electric Membership Cooperation.
Allison said the ideal investor is someone who is not willing or able to invest $15,000 to $35,000 for their own solar panels, but is interested in solar technology and would like to help the environment.
Allison said investors could expect to break even over 10 years.
"It's still technology that's developing but moving very, very rapidly and the cost will come down I think as more of these installations are put in," he continued.
The solar farm is across the street from an elementary school, a middle school and a high school.
Allison hopes teachers will bring their students to the farm to learn about the future of energy.
