Broward County neighbors are banding together to harness the natural energy of Florida sunlight. Two co-ops are forming to help homeowners learn how to take advantage of solar power.

With sponsorship from Broward County, the Go Solar Florida initiative and the nonprofit Community Power Network's FL SUN project, one co-op will form for residents who live east of U.S. 441, while the other will open for those west of the artery.

"We're forming this co-op to make saving money with solar energy as simple as possible," said Kay Sommers, senior natural resources specialist with the county's Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department. "Residents will have the support of a group instead of navigating the process alone."

Plus, it's a good way to learn whether going solar is the right choice for you, she said.

Joining a co-op is not a commitment to purchase solar panels. In the early stages, meetings will focus on sharing information.

Once the groups are large enough, FL SUN will help the co-ops solicit competitive bids from local solar installers. With group buying power, members can save up to 20 percent off the cost of their system, according to a news release.

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Co-op members will select a single company for installations and will have the option to purchase panels individually based on the installer's group rate.

"It's up to the co-op to decide what's important to them," Sommers said. For example, a group may prioritize finding the lowest price or supporting American manufacturers.

"Once they pick a contractor, he goes to each person's home, looks at the roof and comes up with a design for them and gives a quote," Sommers said.

"The commitment comes in when you get an individual price quotation and then decide whether to do it or not. ... Each homeowner will decide what fits their needs the best," Sommers added.

During the last few years, prices have dropped significantly, Sommers said. In addition to the co-op's buying power, a federal tax incentive can reduce the cost further.

"If you've ever thought about going solar before, this is the perfect opportunity to do so," said Angela DeMonbreun, FL SUN's manager of co-ops.

However, Sommers advises residents to act quickly. The Broward County co-ops will stop accepting new members in mid-April. And the tax incentives decrease after 2019.

The next informational meeting is March 6 at 7 p.m. at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., in Fort Lauderdale.

West-side residents will meet March 7 at 7 p.m. at the Broward County Government Center West, 1 N. University Drive in Plantation.

For more information, visit www.flsun.org/west-broward or www.flsun.org/east-broward.

hwolt@tronc.com or Twitter @HelenWolt