Washington Package Shifts State Incentive Program Into High Gear
The Washington solar PV incentive program is up and running, now until the middle of 2020. The BIG news is that now you can get a PV system that is made in Washington thus earning the highest incentive in the program for privately owned systems of $0.54 / kWh! These systems will pay for themselves much faster and even return some profit by the end of the program. We also have the 100% sales tax waiver until mid-2011 for solar electric systems. The Department of Revenue has put the rules into place and participating utilities have established their metering and payment programs. An additional meter is installed with the system that measures all the energy produced before it gets used by loads, or net metered. Then the utility pays the incentive to the customer directly. Even higher incentives are available to Community Solar Projects located on government property. The Department of Revenue has just released the final draft of the rules for these projects and we will popst an update here as soon as we sift through it. The new rules take effect in September.
What happens when a 57 foot maple tree falls on your solar array?
Well, not much, apparently. Last month a puff of wind from an odd direction was enough to topple this rather large example of its species straight over onto our roof, and from a location that is 8 feet higher than grade at the back of our home. It happened at night, and after ascertaining the points of impact we examined the Sanyo HIP 190-BA3 PV module that received the impact of one of four main branches that clobbered the roof. Fortunately the module bent but did not break. It remains so now, although I will probably brace it from underneath to encourage it to return to its original shape. Meanwhile, it is still producing!
Much of the tree landed on four PV modules
Note the bent frame
After we limbed it a bit, you could see where it landed.
Puget Sound Solar is a Registered Installer
The wheels on Snohomish PUD's Solar Express are humming and the program is gaining speed. Snohomish customers can have one of two incentives for a solar electric system and a solar water heating system that they purchase:
* $500.00 rebate for Solar Water Heating Systems - OR - a 2.9% loan of up to $14,000.
* $500.00 ($2,500 max.) rebate per KW of Solar Electric System - OR - a 2.9% loan of up to $25,000.
Combine that with the Washington incentives, federal tax credits, and energy savings and you have a ticket to the renewable energy future.
Ask us how to participate! Call (206) 706-1931 or CLICK HERE.
Stimulus Bills Improved the Solar Tax Credit
Purchasers of new residential solar electric systems are eligible for a full 30% tax credit. This means, for example, that if you purchase a solar electric system for $22,000, you can take $6,600 off the taxes you owe for that year, or subsequent year. Purchasers of new residential solar water heating systems are also eligible for a full 30% tax credit. This means, for example, that if you purchase a solar hot water system for $8,000, you can take $2,400 off the taxes you owe for that year. If you purchase both types of systems, you can take both tax credits.
Business tax payers can get a 30% investment tax credit or a 30% cash grant (until the end of 2010)for solar electric and solar water heating systems as well as a 5 year depreciation schedule that starts with a 50% deduction in year one. How big is your tax burden? Cut it down to size and put solar energy to work for your business with the savings! Contact us for more information about how you can take advantage of this big opportunity.
Power Surge
Puget Sound Solar has installed over 780 kilowatts of PV for our customers to date. We have also installed over 422 square meters of evacuated tube solar hot water collectors for our forward-thinking customers, or about 300 kilowatts of solar thermal generation. We hit the ONE Megawatt total earlier this year; we are looking forward to the next megawatt! Many thanks to our customers for reaching this benchmark.
We Have NABCEP PV & Thermal Certified Staff
What is NABCEP? The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, an independent organization that was formed to uphold a high standard in the solar energy industries. Currently they are certifying installers of photovoltaic systems & solar thermal systems. After first satisfying experience requirements the applicant then takes an exam to show proficiency in all aspects of PV system or Thermal system design, applicable codes, and installation standards. Jeremy passed the PV exam in 2004 and received his certificate. He met the continuing education requirements since then to get a renewal in 2007. In March 2007 he passed the Thermal exam and received that certificate as well. Michiel Zuidweg became the latest certificant in our company, passing his NABCEP PV Installer exam in March. Our design engineer, Nick Wolf, was NABCEP certified when he showed up at our office. The end result is that you, the customer, are assured of a quality installation every time! Check out NABCEP at www.nabcep.org.
Pam's Solectria
Our S-10 EV
Solar Transportation!
Hey, here's an idea: Let the SUN move you around! In 2006 we got a highway capable electric car, a 1997 Solectria, and after driving it for awhile and measuring the power used to charge the batteries, we did some arithmetic to find out that one kilowatt of solar electric system will give you about 3,000 to 4,000 miles of driving per year. How's that for squeaky clean transportation? We happen to think that this is revolutionary; that you can get all the energy you need for personal transportation from your roof, in Seattle! You don't have to leave the country, the state, or even your own home to get all energy for passenger cars. We also replaced our pickup truck with a 1997 S-10 EV, GM's factory-built electric truck, an amazing piece of engineering.
Pam is at it again and got her car published in the Seattle Times' Autobiography feature in NWAutos. Check it out: Feb 28,2010 Autobiography. This year we expect to see three new plug in cars enter the U.S. market and several more next year. This time, it looks as though the technology is here to stay.
If you are planning to purchase an EV, please visit EV Support for links to news about the coming transportation revolution.
HAPPY EARTH DAY! (but, hey, every day is earth day at Puget Sound Solar)
One way that we celebrate earth day every day is by reducing our transportation burden on the earth and climate. Our company fleet consists of electric bicycles, an electric car, an electric pickup truck, three bio-diesel vans, and a bio-diesel Jeep. We also have an on-going program to reduce the number of vehicles on the road by consolidating trips, crew weeks of four 10 hour days, and cycling instead of driving.
How do you celebrate Earth Day?
Matt Moreno & His Ranger EV
Our Customer's Projects Featured in Local News
Matt Moreno is going all the way; he has a Ford Ranger EV and two photovoltaic systems. He is also looking forward to driving a Nissan Leaf. Local news affiliate KCPQ did a nice interview and Matt's comments were spot on. You can see the clip at this link: http://www.youtube.com/turbofroggy
10 kW on Pod A
Pierce College Goes Solar
Pirece College now sports 10 kW of EvergreenSolar photovoltaic modules and 3 Sunny Boy 3000 inverters on the Rainier Building. The installation of this power plant will also enable students to study the system and compare it to a small tracking array that uses a JX Crystals Carousel that we installed adjacent to the larger system When we have it, we will post a link here to the Sunny Portal website so you can check out the production of this system.
Solar Thermal & PV Systems in the News
Deb Prince and Jerry Diercks made a solid commitment to sustainable living with their beautiful residence overlooking Salmon Bay. Architects Suzanne Findley and Cheryl Hughes helped to make it a reality. Seattle Homes & Lifestyles is featuring the home in their March/April edition. Check it out online at http://www.seattlehomesmag.com/article/Redesigning-Green
Solar Home at Trilogy
Shea Homes Breaks the Ice!
Nation-wide home builder Shea Homes has contracted with Puget Sound Solar to install photovoltaic systems on new homes built for Trilogy at Redmond Ridge. This bold step is part of Shea's four-state program also taking place in Florida, Arizona, and California. These homes are built to exacting standards and are quite lovely and spacious. Built for age 55 and up and surrounded by golf links and the natural beauty of the Cascades and foothills, these homes are also energy efficient and feature 3 kW Solar systems. Our hats are off to Rick Andreen and the whole Shea crew for doing the work to get PV integrated into the production building process.
We are a General Electrical Contractor registered in the State of Washington, license # PUGETSS920RH. There is a demand now, and will be an increasing demand, for licensed solar installers. We have trained 16 solar electricians, 12 from other contractors, and 4 in-house to provide great service and produce a product of the highest quality. Our customers deserve only the best!
Department of Ecology Gets 21 kW at Padilla Bay
Kelly Keilwitz of Whidbey Sun and Wind was consulting designer, and the Puget Sound Solar crew designed and built this power plant for the State of Washington. The Padilla Bay Research Reserve will now have solar power for its laboratories, teaching facilities, and accomodations. This system consists of 112 Sanyo HIT modules and 4 Sunny Boy 6000 inverters. The project was included in a remodel of the old barn that existed on the Breazeale property when it was donated for use as a research center. The Padilla Bay staff requested LEED certified buildings with renewable energy and the Department was able to follow through. Who better to host solar energy than Ecology?
YOU can have a look at the system on the web via the Sunny Portal. Just click here:
An electric bike can be charged directly from the sun. To demonstrate this, Eric Sundin had us install a Solar Charging Station at Electric Vehicles Northwest in Ballard at 4810 17th Ave NW. Eric sells a variety of electric assisted bicycles that are just a joy to ride. We have two and, wow, do they level out the hills of Seattle. To see the products at EVNW go to www.electricvehiclesnw.com
Links
If you would like more information or would like to know if solar energy would be viable at your site, don't hesitate to contact us at (206) 706-1931 or CLICK HERE for a consultation, and join the revolution. You may also wish to access some of the excellent services available on the internet to help you get started.
