Solar Fred Has Joined Forces with Solar Power Rocks!

Published on July 30, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Affordable Solar, Why Solar Fred.

For those of you looking for SolarFred.com, don’t panic! You’ve come to the right place.  If you don’t know anything about SolarFred.com or haven’t heard of Tor Valenza, the guy behind Solarfred.com, no problem.  Check out his bio here.

Bottom line, SolarPowerRocks.com and SolarFed.com  have merged.  We’re like solar peanut and jelly sandwiches. Salted and crunchy PB, of course. Together, we’ll provide you, the solar curious, with great solar info, plus an easy way to get a free solar quote from a local installer in your area.

Over the next few weeks, you’ll  see some more changes on SPR. You might also get some dead links that go to our nifty dead link page. We’re on it. Give us time.  Leaving a comment will help, as well. And as always, if you’ve got solar questions, drop us a comment, and we’ll do our best to get back to you.

Thanks.

Tor aka “Solar Fred.”

Solar Fred Info: RECs & SRECs & Green Tags, Oh My!

Published on July 27, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Affordable Solar, Green Tags, Renewable Portfolio Standard, SREC.

Today, I’m going to attempt to explain “REC” “SREC” aka “Green Tags.” I say try because these can be really, really…really complicated. They’re also worth money, so again, I’ll try, but the truth is that these things are variable in every State.

First the simple: What do all of those letters mean?

• “REC” “SREC” and Green Tags are all different short handed names for the same thing.
• REC stands for Renewable Energy Certificate. Sometimes the “C” stands for Credit.
• SREC (Sometimes spelled S-REC) stands for Solar Renewable Energy “Certificates” or “Credits.” As for Green Tags, I have no idea where that nickname comes from, but it’s the same thing as the others.
• RECs, SRECs Green Tags or whatever you want to call them can be derived from other kinds of renewable energy, such as wind. So they don’t just count for solar, but that depends on your state. For sake of simplicity, I’m going to call them SRECs, and the “C” will stand for “Credit.”

What kind of “credits” are we talking about, Solar Fred?

• I’ll tell you one thing. It’s not a “carbon credit.” That’s something entirely different. Don’t get me started on carbon credits. Dogs will howl if I get started on those things. Let’s stick with SRECs.
• It’s not a Feed-in-Tariff (FiT), either.
• SRECs are in fact a “credit” for the amount of clean solar energy that your solar panels produce. Dirty utilities in some states need a certain amount of these credits in order to comply with the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).
• How do utilities get these credits? Generally, two ways: They either build solar or wind farms and/or they pay you for the clean power your solar panels produce.
• And how much cash is that credit worth?
• That answer is complicated, but let me keep it simple: It depends.
• Currently, it depends largely on your state, sometimes your utility, the laws that have been passed in regards to the RPS, and how much the SREC is worth on your local SREC market. The SREC market is similar to a stock market…in some states. Supply and demand determine the price.
• This means that 1 SREC in Connecticut will not be the same price as an SREC in New Jersey, and visa versa. In fact, depending on the State and market, that SREC could be worth, say, $50 one month or $200 another month–in the same state. Again, think Wall Street.
• Other things to keep in mind if you still have a mind and reading this:
• Your solar or wind system must be tied to grid to get SRECs. This is not a program for off-grid homesteaders.
• Now it gets really complicated, because every state is different. With some states, utilities have their own special SREC programs. Some states allow you to sell your SRECs directly to the market. Some utilities will give you a lower upfront State solar rebate if you decide to keep your SRECs instead of selling them to the utility at a set price for a certain time period. Entire states, like New Jersey, let you to keep your SRECs and let you sell them at a scheduled SREC auction…or to a middleman who does this for you. Some SRECs are guaranteed a steady per kilowatt rate that your panels produce for a certain amount of time, say a 3 year period. The exceptions and variables are numerous. But wait, it gets worse!

When you sell your SRECs, you are selling the “environmental benefit” of your solar panels to someone else, like the utility, who by law needs clean power. Think Vampire. You’re selling the “green soul” of your solar panels. Your panels become the Solar Undead.What does this mean in practical terms?

• In effect, it means that you personally can no longer claim to have green power on your roof. Yes, I know that the panels are clearly on your roof, but as far as the law is concerned, you as a home owner (or a business owner) cannot advertise or claim to produce clean green solar power energy. You’ve sold that right when you sold your SRECs.
• You think I’m lying or purposely trying to confuse you, but it’s all true! And because I’m writing generally across these 50 United States, I can’t be specific.
• The good news is that I will eventually get to robust SREC States like New Jersey and Connecticut and try to break these programs down for you.
• In the meantime, you can also check your utility’s website, your State’s website, or www.dsire.org/solar, a database of solar incentives across the 50 states.
• Of course, you can also easily get this info from a local installer by getting a free quote.  They might even be able to explain it better than I can, ’cause, you know, they live in the state and should know.
• That’s enough for now. Stick the fork in. Solar Fred is done.

Some Electric Co-ops Still Have Their Heads in the Sand

Published on July 23, 2009 by Dan Hahn.
Categories: Solar Trends.

This morning, I was helping a homeowner understand why nobody had connected with her yet to walk her through the basics of solar and give her a quote. You’d think solar installers out there would be happy to speak with anyone interested in solar, right? Actually, where you get your power from can be just as important as what incentives are available in your state to make going solar more sensible.

Take the case of the Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative in Southeastern Ohio. They get a lot of their electricity from nearby nuclear and coal plants. This is pretty typical. What is not typical however is how they bill their customers for the electricity they use.

On the left here, look at this. The co-op is creating an incentive for ordinary homeowners to USE MORE POWER?! That’s right, as you move above 6000kwh in the calendar year, you get a lower electric rate. This is a regressive tax! Rich people with giant electricity sucking homes are going to be paying less on average for their electricity than those that live more modest lifestyles and conserve power. How backwards is that?!

I don’t know what geniuses made up this rate schedule, but they sure as hell didn’t learn from the success of the tiered rate schedules in California. Californians conserve more electricity and pursue other options to get it (including solar) not just because they are hippy liberals. It’s because of those tiered rate schedules. When Californians use more electricity, they have to pay more for each kilowatt at higher and higher levels of use. One of the reasons solar makes so much sense there is because the electricity produced by the PV system gets homeowners out of higher rate tiers, making payback a hell of a lot faster.

Until some of these cooperatives get their heads out of the sand, we’ve got a long way to go for solar energy to reach parity with the electric grid in many parts of the country.

A Solar Fred Feedback Request

Published on July 22, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Buying Solar.

Dear Solar Fred Readers,

Thank you for visiting. I’ve provided a lot of easy-to-read info here about solar and the various ways to finance it, and I hope you find the information you’re looking for.

I know that people have different reasons for coming to this site, as well as different reasons for considering Solar. With that in mind, I’d like to ask you to comment about one small matter:

What’s stopping you from getting a solar quote and seeing if solar is right for you? Quotes are free, so I’m just curious.

For me, I’m a true believer, which is why I write this blog. But I want to help as many as I can, so I’d like to get a sense of what’s holding people back. If I know, then perhaps I can provide the answers and write more targeted posts to answer your concerns.

So, if you would take a little time to lend me your thoughts, I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks again for visiting, and I sincerely hope the information that already is here helps you or your business to go solar.

All the best and think solar,

Tor aka “Solar Fred.”

Solar Fred Info: What's a Feed in Tariff?

Published on July 19, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Affordable Solar, Cap and Trade, energy efficiency, feed-in tariff.

When people talk about solar incentives, a Feed in Tariff (FiT) is often mentioned as a quick-start solution to getting people to go solar. So what’s a Feed in Tariff and why isn’t every state doing it?

Here’s a brief explanation:

• What is it: A Feed in Tariff is an incentive system to promote solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.
• An FiT sets a higher than normal kilowatt rate for the clean power produced, which is paid to the person or business that generates the power over a set period of time, usually around 20 years.
• So if you buy and put up solar panels with an FiT program, your residence or business would basically become a utility. You generate as much power for the grid as you can with your renewable energy sources, and the utility is required to pay you a certain rate for that power produced.
• Usually, there are different rates for different kinds of renewable energy. Solar usually gets the highest rate because of its high up front costs, but that may be changing as solar panel prices decrease.
• Usually, the FiT replaces net metering. In other words, you’re just selling all of your electricity to the grid.
• In net metering system, you’re storing extra energy that your panels produce in the grid, and then your utility keeps track and sells you back the “net” amount to you when you need it.
• What about your own power needs with an FiT? Well, you’re paying your usual coal fired rate, whatever that is. The difference is that every month, you get a check from the utility that MORE than compensates for your electric bill. In fact, you’re making money…after you’re done paying off the cost for your solar system, typically in 5 to 10 years, depending on the FiT rate being paid to you.
• For example, if you’re regular electric bill is say $50/month, and your solar system is selling an average of $250 a month worth of solar power to the utility using the FiT, you’re putting $200/month towards paying for your solar panels. That’s $2400 a year. If the cost of your panels was $12,000, you’ll be paid back in 5 years. For the next 15 years, by law, you’re set to make $200/month from your solar panels! But wait. Don’t quit and retire yet.
• SolarFred Caution#1: People love feed in tariffs because they work. For as long as the FiT program lasts, there’s a huge upswing in solar sales. Unfortunately, these programs are short lived. Governments, such as Germany and Spain, famous for their solar FiTs, limit the number of participants by the amount of total power generated under the FiT. Those limits create a boom and bust cycle, where everyone is racing to put up solar panels until the limit is reached. Then suddenly, all of these solar installers are out of a job because the demand is gone. No more FiT, and people feel like there’s no reason to sign up. That being said, this boom usually brings down the normal upfront cost of solar. Because of the German/Spain FiT bust, panel prices are at an all time low right now due to oversupply.
• SolarFred Caution #2: It should also be noted that in America, FiTs are usally designed for large solar farms. That’s not the case in Germany and Spain, where anybody could strap 20 solar panel to a small shack and be paid for the power produced. Keep in mind that the residents of that small shack probably used 2 panels worth of power, so people really could take advantage of all the sunlight they had in order to get the largest payment.
• SolarFred Caution #3: Tax payers generally don’t fund FiTs. Utility rate payers do. That means if your home doesn’t have a lot of sun or you live in an apartment, you’re paying higher rates for your electricity to fund the FiT program. On the other hand, low income residents are usually protected from these higher rates….and theoretically, the higher rates encourage everyone else to conserve energy, use CFLs, increase insulation, etc, and thereby lowering their normal usage and negating the extra cost.
• Where can you get your FiT? Currently, the only open program, as of July 15th, 2009, is just starting in Vermont. Actually, it’s not officially starting until January, 2010. It’s still to be determined whether residents will be able to participate. California and Oregon also have bills in their legislators that are pending.

Solar Fred Info: Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)

Published on July 15, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Cap and Trade, Renewable Portfolio Standard.

You may be hearing about a national Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in the news lately. It’s usually mentioned with Carbon Cap and Trade Legislation going through Congress right now. What is an RPS, and why should you care? Good questions. Here are the answers:

What is a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)?

• An RPS is not new. Many countries and individual states such as California have their own RPS. If a Cap & Trade law gets passed, there will finally be a National RPS. So what the heck will that do?
• An RPS requires the State’s utilities to have a certain percentages of electric power produced by renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, over X number of years.
• RPS requirements vary widely by state. Some are more ambitious than others. Where I live in California, for example, we have a target of 33% of the state’s energy coming from solar and other renewable energy sources by 2020, and 1% by 2010…Currently, we’re behind on reaching the 2010 goal.
• In the case of a National RPS as part of the Cap and Trade legislation, all States would be required to generate some portion of their electric energy through renewable resources by a certain time. It remains to be seen what goals are actually passed once the Senate gets its hands on the bill. Stay tuned.

Why should you care about any RPS?

• Because an RPS requires local and national governments to somehow encourage residents and businesses and utilities to go solar, go wind, go less carbon and help the environment.
• That typically means that means subsidies are passed by States to help you purchase your systems. See www.dsireusa.org/solar for solar subsidies currently being offered in your state and utility area.
• Of course, ramping up solar typically means that green jobs are created, something that will help the economy as well as our environment. It also creates training jobs to help repurpose our unemployed workforce.
• There is also no hiding the fact that your electric bill will go up if you don’t have any solar or other renewable energy source to offset these increases. It won’t be much–$175/year by 2020 for the average family, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. Nevertheless, you will pay less in utility costs over the 25+ year life span of solar panels if you purchase or solar lease or go with a solar ppa.
  

In fact, you’ll save a lot more as regular utility rates rise every year. This isn’t hype, I swear. Call a local dealer and get a quote. They’re free, so you can’t lose just checking it out to see if solar is right for you.

Solar Fred Insights: All Solar is Local

Published on July 14, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Affordable Solar, Buying Solar, Solar Myths.

Today, someone from Gambia visited my site. Where the heck is Gambia? Turns out that it’s a tiny sliver of a country in Africa. This visit reminds me that all solar is local, especially when it comes to the costs.

How local is solar? It’s not just your city, your little town, or even your house. In some ways, the cost comes down to your head, and I’ll explain why in a moment.

First let’s take solar costs from the broadest perspective.

Your country matters . Most visitors to this website are from the good ol’ USA, which currently provides every tax paying entity a 30% Federal tax credit towards their solar purchase. That’s not cash to a tax payer who doesn’t owe anything in taxes every year, but it’s great for those who do owe taxes. However, if you live in Germany and Spain, it doesn’t matter what tax bracket you’re in. Those countries have gone gonzo for solar because of legislation and incentives that pretty much pays people to get off coal and buy solar, making solar very affordable for anyone with the right solar conditions.

Your state matters. Your state matters not so much because it gets or doesn’t get a lot of sun. Geographical location certainly is a cost and payback factor due to sunlight, altitude and temperature, but not as much as you might think. Germany and Spain and Canada all receive less average hours of daily sunlight than the U.S. Yet those 4 or so hours a day are plenty to make solar worthwhile because of their incentive programs. So, the real reason why your state matters is not sun, but solar friendly laws and solar friendly subsidies. How do you know if your state has subsidies? See this government sponsored website or better yet, just get a free quote from a local dealer who will know what’s coming to you.

Your utility matters: The other element that differs among states and local utilities is “Net metering.” Net metering is the most important law a state can have for solar because it allows you to go solar without batteries. Instead, you remain connected to the grid. Your utility keeps track of any extra energy you produce, then credits you on your bill. At night, the utility gives you back the power you banked with them. In some states, you can sell your daytime “peak” power to the utility at a high rate, and then buy it back at a cheaper night time rate. That’s called Time of Use. Another variable factor is what happens at the end of the year. With some utilities and states, if your solar panels have generated more power than you’ve actually used during the year, you get paid a wholesale rate for your extra solar power that you never really used. In other states, the utility is only required to zero out your bill. These laws also differ between utilities within states. So clearly….

Your city and and town matter. Your town or county or city can deter solar or help solar through subsidies and loan programs, of course. But they can also deter or inspire solar through enforcing archaic building codes that don’t apply to solar. They can require high permit fees…or low ones. They can require extra, more expensive equipment that aren’t used in other towns and states…and may not be necessary. They can require aesthetic requirements, forbidding solar panels to be visible to the street. In many cases, these codes and laws are passed and enforced out of ignorance…or because the town is influenced by politics and anti-solar businesses…. like the coal fired utility who wants to keep you as a steady customer, not a part time solar customer.

Your home matters. Here in the U.S., solar panels are most effective when facing South, South West or South East. Your roof’s angle and any shading will also effect cost, not to mention the type of roof that you have. Of course, the biggest home cost factor is the amount of energy you and your family require. Obviously, the more power you need, the more expensive your system will be–up front. Ironically, if you buy a lot of solar panels to offset your high electric bills, the payback of your system from reduced electric bills is much faster than someone who only needed a few solar panels to offset lower power needs.

It matters what’s in your head. I said solar is local to your head, and it’s not because you’ve got more or less hair. It’s because only you can decide to spend an afternoon to get a few quotes from some local solar people. Many feel they can wait until prices come down. The truth is that as prices come down, so do many state subsidies, so the consumer will still pay about the same amount. It’s just that the price won’t be as subsidized by state and local governments. Others feel the technology will get better. It will, that’s true, but not significantly in the next 10 years. Solar’s not like computer chips and Moore’s law. Trust me. You’ll be losing out on saving the planet and saving money as electric rates rise if you wait until solar technology is significantly better than it is now. Solar Fred wouldn’t lie to you. Really. I wouldn’t.

So remember: All Solar is local…and always will be. Now that you know that, might as well get a local solar quote, no? Yes. Click me here.

Solar Fred Warning…again: Citizenre

Published on July 11, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Affordable Solar, Buying Solar, Citzenre, Energy 4 Earth Scam, Solar Lease, Solar PPA.

I just want to update my warning about Citizenre because of a comment I read on a Treehugger.com forum about someone thanking Ed Begley, Jr for his referral to Citizenre. The commenter not only thanked Ed, but said they were happy with the Citizenre service…which is impossible.

First of all, for those who don’t know, Citizenre is a company that is supposed to rent solar panels. That’s great, and nothing new there. Many companies are doing some version of a solar lease or a solar PPA.

However, I find it difficult to believe that any Citizenre system is working or sold, as of the writing of this post in July 2009 January 2010.  First of all, as of July 2008, Ed Begley, jr has had nothing to do with the company. How do I know? Through this Citizenre press release.

Second, Citizenre’s business plan is based on making its own solar panels. Yet, its own website says that its factory location has not even been decided—let alone built. It also encourages those who do not want to wait for their factory to buy a system now through a NABCEP certified installer. This is from their own website. Read their full statements here. But I quote:

We want to make very clear that the location of Citizenre’s manufacturing facility is still in negotiation. And, as with all scheduling, delays can occur. If you have the financial ability to buy a PV system today, we urge you to do it. Our environment and economy need you to act as soon as possible.

I admire Citizenre for its goals of renting solar and also for being fairly honest that it is nowhere near providing this service. (Think about it: The factory location doesn’t even have a location! Citizenre is years away…if ever.) I also commend the company for not taking any deposit money upfront. Their intentions seem to be well meaning, but their business plan is apparently very flawed.

As the Citizenre’s own website suggests, please don’t delay getting solar. Solar quotes are generally free, so you have nothing to lose by getting a quote from a NABCEP installer in your area–as Citinzenre also suggest in the full statement. And if you live in a net metered state with solar subsidies and have enough home equity, you may be surprised at how affordable solar is today. It’s not your 1980’s solar anymore.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, there are also other ways to buy solar, such as solar leases and solar power purchase agreements (solar PPAs). These are becoming more common and typically have low money down….but in the long run, you pay out more with a solar lease and a solar PPA than you would if you bought solar. Plus, you’re locked into 15 -20 years of payments.  Don’t get me wrong: Solar leases and solar PPAs still save you money over your regular electric bill. It’s just not as much money if you buy. So if you can swing the home equity loan, buying is most cost effective.

In any case, I don’t know how the person commenting on Treehugger was thanking Ed Begley, jr for Citizenre service, given what the Citizenre website says. So please, don’t wait for Citizenre. If you want to go solar, find a qualified installer in your area now.

Thank you,

Solar Fred

Am I Right For Solar? 10 Key Tips

Published on July 7, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Affordable Solar, Buying Solar.

As much as I love solar, solar is not right for every home for one reason or another. For some, it’s not worth the money because they don’t live in a solar friendly State. For others, they have too much shading.

So here’s a list of 10 tips to find out of you’re right for solar.

Solar Fred Tip 1. It’s best that your roof (or your garage’s roof) is oriented toward the South, Southwest, South East, or flat. Having some sunny back yard space will also do nicely as well.

Solar Fred Tip 2. Make sure your roof won’t need replacing in the next few years. If it’s older than 7 years, you might want to wait until it’s reroofing time to get your full money’s worth. Many installers also subcontract with roofers or are roofers themselves.

Solar Fred Tip 3. If you have a home owner’s association that says you can’t put solar panels on your house, be sure to check city and/or state laws that prohibit HOA meddling. For example, in California, The Solar Rights Act (California Civil Code 714) prohibits cities and HOAs from restricting solar panel installations unless they pose a risk to the health or safety of nearby residents. That’s unlikely. Nevertheless, there have been some suits, even in California. If there are no laws, I would try to find common ground about a) fostering energy independence, b) the health and future of our children, c) that solar raises home values by $20,000 for every $1000 saved in electricty costs, according to the Feds, d) that may be able to use BIPV (building integrated photovoltaic) tiles that look like regular shingles (although these are usually more expensive, so payback will be longer than regular panels.)

Solar Fred Tip 4. Got lots of shade from trees? Bummer. Could you use some firewood or have a large back yard or garage that doesn’t have as much shade? Ask an installer(s) for their opinion about what to do to get you the most sunlight. It doesn’t matter if you live in a Northern state. San Francisco is huge with solar and they get lots of rain. Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and even Toronto, Canada is ramping up solar. Alaska…not so much. But snow, rain, are all doable. The main thing is that the less sun hours you have on average per year, the longer the payback. But remember that most solar panels are warrantied to produce power for 25 years and last even longer!

Solar Fred Tip 5. Before calling the installer, gather a year’s worth of electric bills. This will be important for estimating the size of your solar system and any utility rebates. If your monthly average is under a $100 a month, you probably won’t get a quick payback on your solar investment. Of course, you could just do it anyway for the environment, your kids, and the general welfare of polar bears.

SolarFred Tip 6. Check the “DSIRE” website. This has nothing to do with “desire,” but will inform you how much your particular State, utility, or town will give you as a cash rebate or tax credit towards your solar system. An experienced solar installer should know this info too.

SolarFred Tip 7. The Federal Government is also offering 30% tax credit for anyone who buys a solar system between now and 2016. If you owe less in taxes than the actual rebate (perhaps $3,000-$10,000 on a typical system) the balance of the credit can be carried over until next year,up to 5 years. So if you typically don’t owe a few grand in taxes, the solar panels will pay for themselves over a longer amount of time. Check with your tax person about all of this. AMT payers used to have issues with this, but this was fixed in the stimulus package.

SolarFred Tip 8. Don’t owe taxes? Can’t afford the up front cost or have no home equity? See if there is a lease program in your area or a residential solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Leases and PPAs are VERY variable and not in every state. But they’re getting more common. Home equity loan financing is almost always more cost effective. I’ve got no real beef with solar leases and solar PPAs, but again, I’d first get a free solar quote and see about owning.  Buying, solar can pay for itself in 5 to 13 years, depending on the size of your system and your location and tax status. Leasing and PPAs for the same size, save you money off  your electrical bill, but not as much money as buying. It’s a big difference, but again, you do save with either buying or the leasing way.

SolarFred Tip 9. Think your ready for a quote? Ideally, the installer should have one person on staff who is be certified by NABCEP or some other State authority. He or she certainly should have a contractor’s license, especially as an electrician. A NABCEP certified installer means they’re not just a roofer or an electrician with a pretty face. They have at least 2 years of experience and have seen your situation before. Regardless, of NABCEP certifications, ask for references. Go see their houses. See if the installer will give you their number or email. If those customers are happy, chances are you’ll be happy.

SolarFred Tip 10. Get 2 or 3 quotes and don’t be afraid to ask your installer questions. Each installer should be able to tell you when you’ll see a pay back for your system, how much money you’ll save over the life of the system. On a national level, they should be charging somewhere around $5.50 to $8/watt DC, installed, BEFORE rebates. Competitive markets like California and Colarado will be on the lower side and perhaps even in the $5’s. I can’t tell you how much that $5-$8/watt will ultimately cost YOU because every home is different, but that’s why you should get at least 2 or more quotes.

Hope that helps. Have any questions, please contribute to our lovely and convenient comments section below and share. We also have our famous Ye Old FAQ page and our even more famous Top 10 Solar Myths. Enjoy.

Solar Independence Day

Published on July 2, 2009 by Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred".
Categories: Affordable Solar, Buying Solar, Why Solar Fred.

It’s July 4th, Independence Day, and I’d like to reflect on why going solar is a benefit to our country, our children, and the world.

• If you’re right for solar–and not everyone is–solar gives you Independence from coal, gas, and other polluting energy sources.
• As America turns from gasoline based cars to hybrid electric and and plug-in electric vehicles, electricity–and solar that can power it–brings greater Independence from your coal fired utility as well as foreign oil.
• That’s not to say that you won’t be connected to the grid. That’s the most economical way to go solar–without batteries. But at least you’ll be free from higher electric bills and independent from rates that are going to increase due to forthcoming carbon legislation that will soon be passed by Congress–to their credit.
• Going solar means that you are doing something about global warming and not just worrying about how it will effect you. Many wonder what the government is going to do about it. The truth is that our government is doing something about it. Local and national law makers are providing many solar incentives around the country. It’s up to you, however, to get a quote from a qualified installer and find out if it’s right for you.
• Finally, going solar means that you’re an example of energy Independence to your family, friends, and neighbors who may also be right for solar. The only way that solar is going to become more common is when you spread that word that solar is affordable now and ready for prime time. There are too many myths about solar. The only way to dispel those myths is to share the information that you learn here and from other solar sites…and by getting a quote.

Happy July 4th, everyone, and thank you for supporting this website.