is in full swing, and there are bills that effect net metering and community solar projects. If you are interested and would like more information, please visit Solar Washington for updates.
Puget Sound Solar is a Registered Installer
The wheels on Snohomish PUD's Solar Express started turning in April 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.
Sales Tax Exemption Extended for PV Systems! Production Payments for PV Extended to July, 2020!
Our Washington solar incentives for photovoltaic systems have been extended through June, 2020, and have been enhanced! Eleven bills were passed and signed into law last year that dealt with renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
We still have the 100% sales tax waiver for two more years for solar electric systems, incentive payments will now flow through June, 2020 and includes a new entity, the Community Solar Project. The Department of Revenue is writing the rules for Community Solar Projects and we should have them in February. We will update this information as soon as we have their final draft.
There will also be other incentives created from other bills that passed; we will announce new programs as they are developed.
Cap Lifted; 30% Solar Hot Water Tax Credit
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains many helps for the solar industries, among them a full 30% solar water heating system tax credit. This is in addition to any tax credit you get for a solar electric system. For example, if your hot water project comes in at, say, $8,600, you will get $2,580 back from Uncle Sam.
Stimulus Bills Improved the Solar Tax Credit
The Emergency Economic Stablization Act of 2008 is not the way we envisioned the solar investment tax credit would be extended. This bill has much to be concerned about, and some outright pork, but there is really big news for those who would like to put solar energy to use. The tax credits are back for residential and commercial solar energy systems, and they are improved over the previous versions of the energy bill.
Purchasers of new residential solar electric systems are now 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 now 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.
Business tax payers can get a 30% investment tax credit or a 30% cash grantfor 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.
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?
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.
Hey, here's an idea: Let the SUN move you around! In 2006 we got an 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 PV 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! We also replaced our pickup truck with a 1997 S-10 EV, GM's factory-built electric truck, an amazing piece of engineering.
If you are interested in EV's, please visit EV Support for links to news about the coming transportation revolution.
Look on Page 20 for our project.
Our Customer's Project Featured in Energy-Smart Homes Magazine
The Valley Farm zero energy home developed by Lisa Martin is featured in this excellent special issue by Taunton Press. Puget Sound Solar designed and installed an 8 kWPV system and 2.1 kW Thermal system for the home that is situated on Bainbridge Island. Here is a blurb about the magazine:
Here's an example of what you'll find:
Inexpensive fixes -- Simple energy-saving tips and projects that cost as little as $50
Maximize your heating system -- See how new technology can boost the efficiency of your existing boiler or furnace
Energy-smart kitchens -- How to choose the right appliances to minimize your home's energy appetite
Remodeling for energy efficiency -- Using innovative construction techniques and insulation to create a tight seal around your house
Are you ready for solar? -- Find out all the pros and cons of going solar to see if it's the right decision for your home
The green gallery -- A colorful photo spread from around the country highlighting houses that are beautiful as well as practical
Packed with expert advice and real-life success stories, Energy-Smart Homes shows you precisely how to save the most on energy costs -- with an eye toward spending the least.
9 kW on the Library
Evergreen Gets Green
The Evergreen State College now sports 9 kW of EvergreenSolar photovoltaic modules and 2 Sunny Boy 5000 inverters on the roof of the Daniel J Evans Library. The installation of this power plant is part of a group of energy upgrades that the College contracted out to McKinstry Essention. McKinstry hired us to design and install the PV system. When we have it, we will post a link here to the Sunny Portal for this system.
Dave Lazerwitz Installs at Trilogy
U.S. News and World Report Features David Lazerwitz and Michiel Zudiweg
The April 2009 issue of the magazine has many articles of interest including one covering the emergence of green jobs. In preparation, they sent a photographer out to Shea Homes Trilogy at Redmond Ridge to capture our crew in action. The photog, Kevin Horan, harnessed up and took to the roof to get this shot of Dave Lazerwitz and Michiel Zuidweg in action.
State Incentive Program In Place
The Washington solar PV incentive program is up and running, now until the middle of 2020. The Department of Revenue has put the rules into place and participating utilities have established their metering and payment programs. PV system owners will have an additional meter that will measure all the energy produced by their system before it gets used by loads, or net metered.
To apply for the incentive, system owners fill out a simple form and send it to the Northwest Solar Center for evaluation and the next steps of the process.
For more information see the FAQ's available on the Northwest Solar Center website. We are now at the next level of the program that rewards system owners for using PV modules and inverters that are made in Washington.
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. The end result is that you, the customer, are assured of a quality installation every time! Check out NABCEP at www.nabcep.org.
Power Surge
Puget Sound Solar has installed over 610 kilowatts of PV for our customers to date. We have also installed over 420 square meters of evacuated tube solar hot water collectors for our forward-thinking customers, or about 295 kilowatts of solar thermal generation. We are getting closer to our first megawatt of solar power! We hope to achieve that goal some time this year.
Our Electrical Contractor License
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.
