Solar Incentives

Now there are incentives for solar energy

Recently enacted incentives in the form of exemptions from property and sales tax, Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC), MACRS accelerated depreciation, and Federal Grant/Credit can effectively underwrite the cost of new solar-electric systems, making solar-electric energy less expensive than energy produced from the burning of heavily-subsidized fossil fuel.

In many cases the combined effect of federal, state, and local incentives is that high energy-use companies can have the cost of a solar-electric system underwritten by up to 100%.

Advantage, everyone

The benefits of high energy-use solar-electric systems extend far beyond monetary savings. Solar-electric systems benefit off-takers, owners, companies, and communities economically, environmentally and socially.

Economic advantages of solar-electric power

• Can be permitted and installed faster than other plants
• Does not destroy habitat or require additional land
• Produces energy when and where it is most needed
• Reduces pressure on the grid; no need from new transmission lines
• Reliable technology; systems require little maintenance; panels warranted to 25 years
• Pay back 3-5 years, after which the only cost is service and maintenance, which is less than four cents per kWh
• Adds to the value of the underlying real estate
• Reduces operating costs of off-takers, making off-takers more competitive

Environmental Solar Energy Advantages

• Solar-electric systems do not create noise or air pollution and are typically deployed on preexisting commercial real estate
• Uses no water and few consumables
• Obviates the need for expensive, fossil-fuel, demand response system

Social Solar Energy Advantages

• Creates clean energy that does not adversely affect the health of future generations
• Provides sources of distributed generation that can help mitigate national security risk to the power grid
• Reduces trade deficit and promotes energy independence
• Reduces the underlying cost of doing business, making companies more competitive, so they can maintain and hire more employees, who will in turn support community businesses, schools, and other organizations

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