I am entering my 11th year in the solar industry! The US has seen 33% growth in the last decade1.
As the climate becomes unpredictable, solar adoption has been on the rise.
The reasons to “go solar” are not just financial. Fossil fuels are finite, polluting resources that are burned and disposed of into our air. This has and will destabilize historical climatic conditions. Dependable energy from renewable sources, like solar, is the foresight and trend we should follow.
Storm clouds over Coastal South Carolina
Why use solar power?
Alternative to coal-fired power
Diversify our energy sources
Bring energy source closer to the energy consumers
Possibility of energy storage for emergency use
Quiet, clean electricity for home and transportation
Plug your EV into the wall outlet. Drive on full tank the next day!
Add value to home/property
Tax credits and tax forfeiture available
Reduce electric bills
Fully recoup your investment in your solar upgrade
Wave surge brought sand onto the buffer dunes.
Steps down to the beach now part of the beach!
Generating solar electricity in the community makes a lot of sense. Power is produced and used locally. Sea levels are rising and will not stop until we slow and reverse the trend.
Ask me about your solar potential and start saving money and the climate as soon as possible!
The Palmetto State is a sunny place, with beaches that ribbon the eastern shore. Like other coastal areas, flooding and onshore storm damage is a growing threat.
In my previous post I discuss the state’s solar industry. The emergence of local solar installs in coastal communities is coinciding with the visual evidence of climate change.
Pawley’s Island, road’s end, March 2020
It will be public funding and budgets that will mitigate, prepare and repair the coastal areas. To save places like Pawley’s Island, a breezy retreat settlement from the antebellum period, they will use public subsidy, i.e. taxpayer investment. Should they instead charge the companies that caused climate change or some other thoughtful solution?
Flooding in Charlestown SC, March 2020
In coastal flooding records beginning 1953, 22 of the 32 major or greater flooding events have happened since 20152. More frequent and intense storms ravage and flood South Carolina.
The state’s aquatic conditions and their politics coincided to make the Charleston area a human slavery trade hub in America’s founding. Places made possible rather quickly and majestically by relying upon and exploiting a slave economy and labor market.
If money is invested to save water-side mansions, what about the coastal areas where the Gullah Geechee still live? Or the places that are less symbolic than Old Charleston or Pawleys Island? The residences of poorer people lacking the resources to move or repair damage done by these weather events?
Generating solar electricity in the community makes a lot of sense. Through honest debate, we can collectively heed the science. Establish progressive policy to power our lives with limited harm to ourselves and the world we live in.
Sources:
www.ClimateToothpaste.com boxes with “patented blend of humor”!
I am so grateful that you have chosen to go solar! Since 2012 I have been evangelizing, designing, and selling solar in Washington State. You have made the decision to support solar and I’d like to give you a Free Thank You gift for doing so!
On the other side of the country, in the District of Columbia, a grassroots organization called Solar United Neighbors (S.U.N.) has been advocating for expanding access to renewables, fighting for solar rights, and promoting community-led efforts for solar adoption.
Choose your favorite!
They began doing this in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of D.C. in 2007. These efforts have resulted in thousands of members who now have solar. Just like you these members receive discounts to their electric bills, have raised the value of their property, and produce clean, local power for themselves and the grid. Would you like to join this community, and embolden the rights of solar adopters?
Solar United Neighbors offers many great resources for you, the solar owner. You are cordially invited to join this group, through my special sign up code. If I have not sent you this code, please request it of me.
The annual membership is typically $55, but this fee is waived for you.
Benefits include:
A free t-shirt, and choice of stickers/signage
Join an online community to network with solar supporters
Click below for an example of this valuable national resource. Here are Solar United Neighbors descriptive overviews of what solar means for the various categories below:
Financial incentives have been a game changer. Many South Carolinians with solar installations get a combined state and federal tax forfeiture of at least 51%1 of the total cost of the purchase of a solar system.
There were 1,160 installations in 2016, 18,000 in 2019 and a forecast of 40,000 before 20242.
New Solar on Litchfield Beach 2020
Solar at the beach! Ocean adjacent systems may use system components that are more resistant to saline conditions.
But also…Fresh rain cleans your panels!
Suburban Neighborhood, Murrells Inlet SC
South Carolina has huge solar potential but has opponents. Can you guess who doesn’t want competition in the energy marketplace?
Recently, a collective of solar-friendly entities was able to successfully lobby on behalf of the state’s utility customers. State Regulators rejected the latest appeal of the private utility companies who want to continue their monopoly on power delivery.
For example Dominion Energy’s attempt to attach financial penalties to their customers that adopted solar was officially and significantly delayed in May 20213.
Snow days can be fun, but also disruptive to our everyday lives, and everyday solar production. What happens when snow covers your solar array?
So many great southern roofs! 2015 door-to-door canvass. Install by local contractor.
Solar hibernation on short, stormy days. 🐻
Panels are placed on the most solar radiant roofs, always in an inclined position. Include any rising warmth of the house below and snow doesn’t typically last too long.
Solar installations adhere to local building codes. Therefore even with snow the solar installation does not exceed the load rating for your roof. Rest easy. Panels weight 2-4 lbs. per sq ft. This distributed weight is equivalent to an additional layer of roofing shingles. 🏋🏻♀️
Hit the slopes! ⛷
The steeper the roof the faster the material slides off. In colder climes the snow might stick to your modules for longer. A cloudy winter day is slowest time for solar production. In the long sunny summer days this same solar array might create 2-3 times what the house needs.
Seasons change, and so does your solar production! Weather trends, including amount of snowfall are all accounted for.
My solar estimating will calculate your annual forecast, and properly size the installation. For a grid-tied system, this means Washington State’s Net Metering law is taken into account.
I hope you were able to get out there and enjoy the change in the weather!
This home offsets 100% of their electricity using solar. Occasional snow loads notwithstanding!
EVs and Solar PV seem to go hand in hand. Both are electric and supplant the need for fossil fuels. Interested in powering your car and/or your property with solar? I can help you select the right solar system size. I am also able to give info on charging equipment and forecast your annual cost based on miles travelled.
This property owner installed a larger Solar PV system to accommodate future EV use.
Consumers are increasingly seeing the value in clean transportation by virtue of the cost savings of switching from gas to electric. EVs are proving themselves to be more economical and efficient than driving a traditional gas powered vehicle.
Did you know that they are fun to drive and super quiet as well? As a former EV driver I miss the ease of maneuvering and maintaining such an efficient machine.
Gas is expensive. Driving electric is 50-75% less expensive than driving with gas. Bringing gasoline to market is complex and costly to the consumer. Gas transportation is also WA State’s largest contribution to the CO2 emissions causing global climate change.
Purchase Price Info. New all-electric sedans are priced competitively to other new cars. Usually in the $30K range. Popular 2019 EVs have an approximate range of 200 miles when fully charged. This is plenty for the average commuter. Generally, the more expensive the car, the more battery capacity/storage it has.
Incentives
Utility Rebate in WA: New Nissan LEAFs: Seattle City Light, Snohomish PUD, and other “Public Power” utilities have a $3500 rebate available until January 2, 2020.
WA State Rebates: $2500 tax rebate on new EVs less than $45,000. $1600 tax rebate on used EVs less than $30,000.
Federal Tax Credit: As it is with Solar PV, this Incentive is a Tax Credit, not a tax deduction. Currently valued up to a $7500 maximum. Varies by manufacturer and time of year the car is purchased.
Solar Panel carport in Monterey, Calif.
Cost of Driving – Mileage Cost Calculations
Recharge your EV at work, on the road, or at your residence.
A decent estimate for residential electricity cost in Western WA is 11 cents per kWh (kilowatt hour). If you pay less than that then it is less cost to drive your EV too! For example, Tacoma Power duly promotes EV usage; the per kWH cost there is less than 9 cents.
Let’s say you purchase a new, popular EV, e.g. Chevy BOLT, Nissan LEAF, or Tesla 3.
These cars use about .25kWh to drive 1 mile, or 1kWh each 4 miles, or 25kWh to drive 100 miles.
Each 100 miles will cost ~$2.75. (11 cents * 25kWh)
Maintenance costs. Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) have serious hardware: radiators, oil tank and filter, gas tank, pipes, plugs, belts, & sound mufflers! Fact is, upkeep is far more necessary with gas as opposed to electric battery powered cars.
Batteries in lieu of Gas Tank Electric vehicles run on battery power. They are “plug-ins” and have an outlet that accepts electricity to charge the battery. Batteries hold the charge. It is the same as filling the tank, except it is electrons and not liquid gas. There is a Federal mandate that EVs must have an 8 year or 100,000 mile warranty for their batteries.
Extra Tech. The type of technology used in automobiles has an effect on its efficiency. A regenerative braking process is standard in EVs and Hybrids and boosts the efficiency.
Gas powered cars utilize about 15% of the purchased gas.
Diesel engines convert about 20% of the amount you purchase.
Hybrids, aka cars that use regenerative braking, are generally 40% efficient.
EV batteries in all-electric vehicles convert 59-79% of the electricity you purchase.
Use locally produced electricity!Crude oil extraction is invasive and prone to spills and environmental calamity. Oil is sourced globally and sent to local refineries and prepped for distribution. There is a corresponding cost to consumers, and not least of all, the environment.
In Washington State the majority of our supply is generated by regional hydro power. There is also some wind and solar in the state, and we are striving for more of that!
Electricity is everywhere. How much power you will need to run your car can be pre-determined by a solar professional like me. Using solar, you can power just your property or the local grid as well. Here is my blog post about Off-Grid vs. Grid-Tied for more info.
Stormwater runoff vs. the new EV charging station. Showdown @ 1st St. in La Conner, WA
Thinking of installing solar? How will you employ the usage of the sun’s power?
Will your system be closed loop Off-Grid; or will it be a back & forth Grid-Tied system?
Here is a description of these two available options.
Off-Grid
Historically, solar installations were viewed as an off-grid project. If the power company’s lines didn’t drop to your property, you could use solar to make your own electricity.
If your property is remote, or you have a desire to be fully or partially autonomous, you can still capture and keep your solar energy on site. This will require batteries and storage technology. The solar panels fill the battery with power and that electricity will be available for use. Sizing of the solar system, the dynamics of power generation, and storage capacity become considerations. Professionals such as myself can help you plan for this circumstance.
Grid-Tied
This is the most popular form of solar adoption. Installations are connected to the available electrical grid. Such interconnection offers reliability and convenience. Use the solar power you are creating and/or use the grid power when needed.
Owners of grid-tied systems are recognized by local utilities as Customer Generators. Your solar installation powers your own property as well as others, via the grid’s utility lines. As a Customer Generator, you will give the grid electricity when you are producing more than you can use. Then, later in the day, or later in the year, you will be able to use that 1:1 corresponding solar credit. This benefit is considered an important Incentive, and states without the incentive experience less solar adoption by utility customers.
In WA State we have a law that protects solar properties from ever being denied a 1:1 Credit for power they send to the grid. It is known as the Solar Fairness Act and this Net Metering Law protects Customer Generators. My blog post on the 2019 Legislative session.
Battery Back-up
If you have a grid-tied system and you would like clean, quiet power generation when the grid is out of commission, you have the option of adding batteries. Installing batteries at the same time you add the solar means that you can apply the Solar Investment Tax Credit to that cost as well. There may be a future savings depending upon how your utility bills you for electricity. In the NW, residential power delivery is most vulnerable in the Wintertime. Those are the shortest and darkest days. Therefore the battery storage must be sized aggressively enough to have the capacity needed to power the desired loads.
Since 2005, the US government has offered a 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for PV installations. This is a credit, versus a deduction, and is set to expire at the end of 2019. Find out ASAP if you and your property qualify for 30% Tax Credit this year.
With 7 years of experience in the WA State marketplace, I can answer questions, supply designs and give relevant feedback. I will be recommending the most trusted installer available. My recommendations put you directly in contact with a local company well suited to your solar electrical ambitions.
Due to the popularity of this expiring 30% incentive, some installers have stockpiled or reserved components. I will be able to facilitate quotes, timelines, and install preferences for you. No better time than the present.
**The Solar ITC is a line item credit on IRS Form 5695. Systems must be placed in service by Dec. 31, 2019. Aim to be on installation calendars soon, ideally before the short and unpredictable December days. Current federal law: If the install is completed after 2019, it will qualify for a 26% ITC in 2020, and finally 22% in 2021.**
Considering Renewable Energy? Go solar in the summertime, and start creating copious solar power. Our state allows you to utilize bill credits, so you can enjoy summer’s bounty all year!
Mid-summer days in Washington are nearly 16 hours! Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. The holiday is celebrated in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood the weekend of June 22-23, 2019. Catch the infamous Solstice Parade on Saturday, June 22nd at 1pm.
For all solar contracts signed pre-June 22 I will be making a $50 donation to the Fremont Arts Council. They take donations, but also welcome crafty and handy volunteers at the Powerhouse Art Studio – 3940 Fremont Ave. N.
Want to support a good cause? Book your 2019 summertime solar install with me today!
In the Seattle spirit, there are two solar-powered coffeehouses in Fremont now: The Fremont Coffee Company (lower Fremont) on the 400 block of N 36th St., with an install by Artisan Electric. The legendary Lighthouse Roasters (upper Fremont) coffee shop, 400 N 43rd St., went solar with NW Wind & Solar early 2019!
Here are Fremont Solstice Parade marchers and their entry that highlights Solar and Wind energy:
