CANTON – The Sustainable Living Project is offering an opportunity Saturday, June 2 for people to learn about grid-tied solar power from people who are employing it now.

A tour of Canton-area homes with grid-tied solar electric systems -- also known as on-grid, grid-connected, or grid-intertied photovoltaic systems – will take three or four hours. Attendees will meet in Canton at 10 a.m. and car pool for the tour.

These operational systems generate electricity for a home or business and then route the excess power into the electric utility grid.

The tour will show what components are needed for a system, what to expect for installation, how little daily life will be altered, and some cost-benefit analysis.

Contractor Scott Shipley of Northern Lights Energy will lead the tour of three recent grid-tied installations, including his own.

These systems are designed to maximize the available federal tax incentives and provide as much electricity as possible. Other projects such as installing a ground source heat pump for home heating will also be discussed.

It is necessary to RSVP for the location of this tour, by email at SustLivingProject@gmail.com, or call 347-4223.

A free will donation of $10 is requested from attendees who are able.

The Local Living Venture (LLV) is an education and outreach program with a full schedule of rural skills workshops available to the public, posted on the Workshops & Events page of their website: www.SustainableLivingProject.net.