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Solar System Incentives & Tax Credits

Posted on by cannasolar

Both the Federal and State governments pay for a portion of your solar system when you purchase it.  The federal government pays 30% of total gross system cost via a Federal Tax Credit. Depending on your state they will also pay a portion of the system cost in state tax credits. In Arizona for example, the state will pay an incentive of 10% up to $25,000 for any one building. A single business can apply for this incentive twice per year to cover multiple buildings up to $50,000, or $25,000 per building. Depending on the utility there may be rebates which pay for a portion of the renewable energy or battery system.

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The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is currently a 30 percent federal tax credit claimed against the tax liability of residential, commercial and utility investors in solar energy property. The residential ITC allows the business that installs, develops and/or finances the project claims the credit.  A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the income taxes that a person or company claiming the credit would otherwise pay the federal government. The ITC is based on the amount of investment in solar property. Both the residential and commercial ITC are equal to 30 percent of the basis that is invested in eligible property which have commence construction through 2019. The ITC then steps down to 26 percent for projects that begin construction in 2020 and 22 percent for projects that begin in 2021. After 2021, the residential credit will drop to zero while the commercial and utility credit will drop to a permanent 10 percent. Call 480-636-0321 today to learn how much in solar tax credits you can receive with a solar system for your business.

 

Smart Sustainability Policy Works, California Is Leading the Way to Reduce Emmssions

Posted on by cannasolar

California’s commitment to set goals to limit emissions output is paying dividends. The state appears to have hit its first target for cutting greenhouse gases and it reached the goal 4 years early.

Data released Wednesday by the California Air Resources Board show that the state’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped 2.7 percent in 2016  the latest year available to 429.4 million metric tons. That’s slightly below the 431 million metric tons the state produced in 1990. California law requires that the state’s emissions, which peaked in 2004, return to 1990 levels by 2020. They have a blueprint, goals and a culture to make positive change towards the climate. They have a blueprint, goals, a culture and leadership paving the way utilizing renewable energy to do so.

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The emissions drop in large part reflects California’s fast rising use of renewable power. (Yessss!!!!)  Solar electricity generation, both from rooftop arrays and large power plants, grew 33 percent in 2016, according to the air board. Imports of hydroelectric power jumped 39 percent as rains returned to the West following years of drought. Use of natural gas for generating electricity, meanwhile, fell 15 percent. What does this all mean? Essentially, California is improving it’s air quality, moving into a new economy of growth and keeping it’s environment in tact for future generations.  This isn’t the end of it, they have goals to reduce emissions 40% by the year 2030.  The complete list of data across different emission sources is found on their website www.arb.ca.gov 

Call us at 480.636.0321 to learn how to lower your carbon footprint, activate your sustainability plan and lower your operating costs with solar electricity.

APS spends $11 million, can’t keep renewable initiative off the ballot

Posted on by cannasolar

For those who work in the renewable energy industry here in Arizona you’re probably smiling ear to ear when reading this headline. It’s astonishing really because Arizona Public Service (APS) has continually worked to try to diminish the value proposition of roof top solar here in the state. They are not alone as a utility. Salt River Project (SRP) has more or less done the same thing. In 2015 SRP approved rate hikes and demand fees for residential roof top solar. That effectively dropped new solar applications 90% over night. SRP isn’t under the Arizona Corporation Commissions (ACC) regulation. It’s governed by a board of directors that makes independent decisions about how rate plans, billing mechanisms, net metering policies etc. That board of directors is slowly but surely changing as more “renewable energy friendly” board members are being voted in to replace the old crowd.

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It’s very possible we can see another change on the horizon. It’s where the voting citizens of Arizona can actually have their “will” fulfilled by holding our public institutions accountable for the health of our environment and community.  That said, it’s we are no way out of the water yet!  APS is fighting this ballot initiative tooth and nail. Earlier today, AZ Central reported that Arizonans for Affordable Electricity, a political action committee whose funding comes from Arizona Public Service Co. parent company Pinnacle West Capital Corp., claim proponents of the clean energy plan did not gather enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.  To top it off they are now suing to keep this initiative off the ballot. This means that we, who believe in sustainability and a new economy for tomorrow need to stay vigilant.  We must continue to support the fight for higher levels of sustainability and renewable energy in Arizona.

Call us today at 480.636.0321 to learn how to lower your annual electricity operating costs with solar for your business.

Lockheed Martin’s Gridstar Commercial Solar Energy Storage

Posted on by cannasolar

The Lockheed Martin Gridstar energy storage system is quickly becoming the “go to” storage solution for large commercial photovoltaic (PV) solar systems.  They have a tremendous amount of flexibility for quick discharge and rapid recharge when properly sized with the correct PV solar systems.

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Lockheed Martin’s GridStar Lithium turnkey energy storage systems are compact, easy to install, and scalable from 100 kW to multi-MW projects. GridStar system architecture consists of modular, purpose-built energy storage units that contain batteries, local controls software and all required balance-of-system components. The systems are certified to UL 9540 standards, a key certification for product safety for energy storage systems and equipment. Lockheed Martin is also developing GridStar Flow, featuring the company’s proprietary flow battery technology, for flexible, durable, long-duration energy storage for larger utility-scale projects. Lockheed Martin Energy is a line of business that delivers comprehensive solutions across the energy industry to include demand response solutions, energy efficiency, energy storage, microgrids, nuclear systems and bioenergy generation.

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National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Solar Irradiance Map : United States

Posted on by cannasolar

What is solar irradiance and why does it matter? In very simple terms, solar irradiance is the amount of sunlight that strikes an area on the earth. We use it to determine how much electricity a solar panel can produce over the course of a year. Photovoltaic (PV) Solar system designers are able to predict with a 99% accuracy of how much electricity their solar systems will produce for you. The image indicates that the desert southwest are of the US is primarily the best location for solar electricity production in the US. However, even if you do not reside in this area you are still an excellent candidate for solar electricity for your business. States like New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey are quickly adopting renewable energy like solar at a rapid pace. Why? Because these states actively incentivize solar in order to ensure adoption of the technology. Why? Because it’s cheaper and more reliable than traditional sources of fossil fuel sources like coal. States like these are moving towards sustainable energy generation and energy storage to ensure they have energy security, cleaner environments (less pollution) and most importantly economics.

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A recent Lazard study argues that one-megawatt solar power now cost half its coal equivalent. Lazard’s latest annual Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis shows a continued decline in the cost of generating electricity from alternative energy technologies, especially utility-scale solar and wind.

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Solar electricity is a safe, reliable investment that you can use to provide power for your grow operation. There are Federal and State Tax Credits that you are able to take advantage of when going solar. Call today at 480.636.0321 to learn how solar will work to power your business for the next 20 years.