Comments on: Minnesota Solar Power Rebates, Tax Credits, and Incentives

By: Eric Sandeen

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:57:12 +0000

For the folks lamenting the $36,000 to $50,000 cost (pre-incentives) see the article on this site about the enphase micro-inverters – http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/solar-trends/microinverters-my-turn-the-boring-technical-stuff/ – which lets you do a much smaller system with a nice linear cost. i.e. small system, small cost.

I checked into a -tiny- 3-panel system, maybe just 700W or so, and it nets out to around $2k. For maybe $1k each or so, I can add a panel+inverter to that as I’m able to afford it … don’t buy a flat-panel for the den, buy one for the roof!

By: Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:53:58 +0000

Marshall….yes. We’ve got to update all of our pages. So sorry, but we’re only 3 solar dudes, but we will get to all of them.

As you noted, the $2000 cap is no more until 2016, so get it while you can from the feds. A 30% tax credit applied after all of the local rebates have been subtracted.

By: marshall

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:57:52 +0000

IS EXAMPLE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR INSTALLATION calculation pretty old? Federal rebate is now 30% not $2000 maximum.

By: Grahm

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:18:52 +0000

I think it is fantastic how the stimulus funds are making a difference. They are being taken advantage of all the time with the installation of geothermal heat pumps to replace high energy heating and cooling systems.

By: Allen

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:34:45 +0000

I’ve read about systems wherein some solar panel companies will estimate the monthly energy cost of an individual household. Then the solar company will offer the individual household a monthly bill that will be less than their energy bill would have been. That new monthly bill, paid to the solar company, over a 20-30 year plan, will pay for the cost of panels and installation. So, the consumer saves by paying a monthly bill that’s less than what their energy bill would have been without solar panels, and the solar company saves by being able to install a far greater number of panels for a more diverse group of people, while still getting their money, just over a longer period of time.

By: Pam

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:18:57 +0000

we live outside the town limits, but in the township of a town on 20 acres and I was thinking about solar pannels for our home & or garage. How much would this cost on an existing structure & is it worth the effort? Also what can you tell me about geothermal energy?

By: dana

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:22:57 +0000

we are building a house in the country with no trees we would love to put pannels on our shop roof but there is no way to fund a new house and $50000 worth of pannels to do it right the first time, is there a lease option?

By: Eric Ortiz

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:15:37 +0000

Hi, What about sponsering groups of people to start solar store business locally to support interest and demand. I have been having a great deal of difficulty financing a business although all perspective investors think its a great idea no one has the $$$$ to move on it.

By: Richard Carter

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:09:32 +0000

Mary,
The best option we can see currently is what is known as Renewable Energy Payments (aka Feed-In Tariffs, though we don’t like using the word ‘tariffs’ because of the political connotations).
It is how the Germans moved the cause forward so quickly; and have demonstrated it works. On this site (and others) you will find quite a bit of information regarding REP’s. (Set up a google alert for any of these terms and acronyms. You will get an intense education.)
Hope you join us in getting more of these statutes passed. Call your Senators and Representatives. Tell them your wants. There are new versions of such bills being authored in many states in the coming sessions. MI, MN, VT, IL, FL, many others. Hope you get involved!!!

By: mary hoffman

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:01:59 +0000

36 Thousand I simply cannot afford as a single homeowner. Can we come up with a reverse electrical bill of some sort and I begin with 10 thousand loan from the bank with so low interest payment? How can we all work together on this.