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Eden Village’s Dr. David Brown and Sun Solar CEO Caleb Arthur discuss plans to power the tiny homes community.
SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton
Eden Village’s Dr. David Brown and Sun Solar CEO Caleb Arthur discuss plans to power the tiny homes community.

Sun Solar turning the lights on at Eden Village

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Sun Solar LLC yesterday announced its plans to power Springfield tiny homes development Eden Village.

Nate Schlueter, Eden Village’s chief operating officer, said Sun Solar is utilizing its community partner program through May 10 for the project. For every new contract signed outside of Eden Village, Sun Solar will donate a solar panel to the development.

“They’re going to try to 100 percent solar-power the entire community,” Schlueter said, noting another donation round would launch this fall.

Sun Solar spokesman Wil Hanger said the value of the solar panel system is expected to exceed $40,000, depending on the participation in the partner program.

To fully power the 31-unit housing project at 2801 E. Division St., Schlueter said panels would need to be installed on half of the homes and its community center. The remaining homes are too shaded by trees to allow solar panel access. During the community partner program over the next month, he said Sun Solar hopes to donate 70 panels to cover the community center and 12 of the homes.

At the community designed to aid the chronically homeless, Eden Village currently has three homes on-site. After its roadway is completed, Schlueter said the organizers would bring in two new homes a week until the Aug. 22 grand opening of Eden Village. Eleven homes currently are on order, he said, noting 28 of the 31 homes are sponsored. Sponsors pay $30,000 to fund the purchase of the 400-square foot homes, giving them naming rights and the ability to customize the living spaces.

The grand opening will correspond with the move-in date for the first residents. Schlueter expects five to 10 residents in the first round, and afterward, Eden Village would move in residents each week to potentially be fully occupied by Christmas. Residents pay $300 a month for the permanent housing.

Schlueter said the community center, which would provide services for residents, such as job placement help, will be completed in about four weeks.

Eden Village is a project by The Gathering Tree, a nonprofit founded by Dr. David and Linda Brown.

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