Earlier this month, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue signed a bill that extended a generous tax credit for investments in renewable energy and increased the tax credit for investment in facilities that manufacture renewable energy equipment.
The important aspect for homeowners and businesses, however, is the first one: A 35% tax credit for investments in renewable energy. Eligible renewable technologies include solar – either photovoltaic or thermal – and wind energy.
North Carolina is famous for its blue skies and ample sunshine. Why not take advantage of these circumstances and the big tax credits available now? The North Carolina energy tax credit and federal tax credit of 30% add up to 65% savings on a solar or wind power system. In addition, you may be eligible for a power production incentive and net metering.
Want to learn more? Contact us at DASolar or fill out our online form to get a free solar or wind power estimate for your site. One of our local, certified installers will contact you. We do commercial solar panel installations and North Carolina wind power installations (both commercial and residential). We also perform residential North Carolina solar panel installations.
While some states are reducing their solar and wind energy incentives, North Carolina has shown its commitment to renewable energy by continuing to offer a big tax credit. Take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts!
(Photo from Beau B’s photostream)
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a law August 17 requiring power utilities to get 6 percent of their energy from solar in 2015 and every year thereafter.
The law takes effect immediately. It strengthens Illinois’ Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), because electric utilities in Illinois will now have to add more solar power sources to their mix sooner. The old RPS required electric utilities to get 0.5 percent of their power from solar by 2015; the new law moves that benchmark up to 2012, followed by 1.5 percent in 2013, and then doubles the percentage every year after that, ending with 6 percent solar by 2015.
As a result, the state’s two utilities–Commonwealth Edison and Ameren—will be looking to purchase lots of solar power from now on. The solar ramp-up could create about 5,000 solar power jobs, Quinn said.
ReChargeNews noted that Quinn also announced a $4 million federal grant had been awarded to Rockford Solar Partners to build an initial 28 megawatts of capacity at a planned 62 megawatt solar electric generating plant in Rockford.
The Rockford Solar Project will generate enough electricity to power more than 10,000 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a rate of 113,000 tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from nearly 20,000 cars. The Project will significantly help electricity suppliers achieve the required 0.5% solar target by 2012.
With the state’s new emphasis on solar, now is the time to explore an Illinois commercial solar panel installation. Whether you want to build a solar farm or something smaller, give DASolar a call or submit our online form to get a free solar evaluation from a local, certified Illinois solar installer. Generous federal and Illinois energy tax credits exist to help defray the cost.
Most states have RPS laws and about 11 specify requirements for electricity generated from solar. In general, Renewable Portfolio Standards require a certain percentage of a state’s energy mix come from renewable sources (including wind, solar, biomass, etc).
Quinn also signed another law giving people living in homeowners’ associations the right to install solar panels if they follow certain guidelines. Now Illinois homeowners have more choices. We can help you with any type of Illinois solar panel installation. Contact us to see how!
(Photo from Mr. T in DC’s photostream)
A few weeks ago I wrote about the new solar farm at NASCAR’s Pocono Raceway. Now I’m going to highlight another Pennsylvania company turning to solar power, as well as two farms that have gone solar.
Crayon maker Crayola put its 15-acre solar farm into service August 5 at its Forks Township factory in eastern Pennsylvania. The solar farm contains 26,200 solar panels and will provide about 33 percent of the company’s energy needs. The two companies that installed the solar farm will sell the solar-generated electricity to Crayola at a fixed price for 25 years.
Meanwhile, in Franklin County near the state’s southern border, two actual farms have gone solar: The Burkholder dairy farm in St. Thomas Township, and the Shank poultry farm in Guilford Township. In both cases, solar electric panels were installed on the roofs of farm buildings.
Farmers often have huge electric bills; Roy Shank’s is $40,000 per year, but his 300-foot solar array should pay for itself in six years. Mark Burkholder’s 24.1 kilowatt system could pay for itself in five years.
In the article on PublicOpinionOnline.com, both farmers noted that federal and state solar tax credits and grants played an essential role in making the solar panels affordable.
If you have a Pennsylvania business or a farm and you’re thinking about going solar, contact the solar experts at DASolar.com today. Our local, certified solar installers can provide a free solar estimate for a commercial solar installation. We handle various types of commercial jobs, from helping to offset the everyday energy requirements of a business, to a for-profit commercial solar farm covering many acres of land.
There seems to be a small trend in Pennsylvania, with Pocono Raceway, Crayola and some small farmers all going solar. Find out if solar is right for your business or farm!
(Photo from abardwell’s photostream)
When you think about NASCAR, you think power, speed, noise and lots of left turns. Now when you think about the sport’s Pocono Raceway, you’ll think about solar power.
That’s because the race track has built its own power station, a solar farm with 40,000 solar photovoltaic panels. Built in one of Pocono Raceway’s old parking lots, the solar farm will provide all of the power for the track and its facilities—and generate enough electricity to power 1,000 nearby homes.
As one NASCAR official told NASCAR.com, “Token efforts have nothing to do with this. This is about making a meaningful contribution to the local community’s power needs.”
The solar farm is economical because the panels will last for 40 years. The raceway considered building a solar farm after Pennsylvania deregulated its electric industry, a development that threatened to increase the track’s power rates by 40 percent per year.
Officials will dedicate the solar farm on July 30 and it will be fully operational a few weeks later. Pocono Raceway will be the largest solar-powered sports stadium in the world. The solar farm will pay for itself in four to five years.
This solar farm is gigantic, but solar farms can be economical on a much smaller scale. If you’re considering building a solar farm on your property, contact us to speak to a solar installer or arrange for a free solar estimate. We handle commercial solar panel installations of all sizes; let us help you go solar.
(Photo from Nicholas_T’s photostream)
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