Monthly Archives: February 2016

Solar energy was dealt a serious blow in Nevada in late December, but customers are striking back.

NV Energy, a large public utility company serving much of Nevada, adopted new policies and pricing structures that are putting serious dents in the wallets of solar power customers in Nevada.

This action has sparked protests from everyone from residential users to the state’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Consumer agencies and state legislators believe that NV Energy and the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (NPUC) may have colluded in implementing this potentially illegal rate hike.

And now, two solar energy customers have filed a class action lawsuit against NV Energy. All industry eyes are on Nevada, as the court’s decision could impact how other states handle solar customers.

Nevada’s New Plan for Solar Customers

NV Energy customers with grid-tied photovoltaic systems previously paid a monthly surcharge fee of $12 per month, for the stated purpose of offsetting the costs of grid maintenance and upgrades.

The new fee structure, however, bumps that amount up to a whopping $40 per month over the next five years.

The significant public outcry isn’t just about the monthly fee, though. NV Energy also changed its net metering price structure.

Previously, homeowners were paid the full retail rate for any excess electricity that their systems produced and sent back to the grid. Under the new plan, solar customers will soon get paid far less — only a third of the retail price.

So, it’s no surprise that people are angry, because the new fee structure doesn’t apply just to new solar customers. Homeowners who invested in solar energy years ago are also subject to the new arrangement.

And this has lots of people crying foul.

Basis of the Class Action Lawsuit

When suit filers John Bamforth and Stanley Schone invested in solar energy, they expected that, over time, their photovoltaic systems would pay for themselves. Now, with the new NV Energy policies, they won’t see nearly as much savings.

The class action lawsuit, which includes nearly 15,000 Nevada solar energy customers, alleges that NV Energy provided false information to the state regulator, creating an unfair advantage in an effort to maintain a monopoly in the state. The lawsuit also accuses the utility company of committing consumer fraud, contending that customers who purchased photovoltaic systems under the previous fee system were misled.

The lawsuit alleges deceptive and unfair trade practices, price discrimination, rate fixing, conspiracy and negligence. Meanwhile, Nevada politicians, presidential candidates and consumer advocacy groups have petitioned NPUC to reconsider its decision.

The Bigger Picture

Although a court decision may be a long way off, the NV Energy case is being watched carefully all across the United States.

NV Energy is a for-profit utility owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy. It holds the monopoly on the state’s electric utility customers. Energy experts believe this may be the turning point where the for-profit utility model, already infamous for its rate hikes, may meet its match with the growing popularity of solar energy.

Intermountain Wind & Solar serves residential and commercial customers throughout the Intermountain West, including Nevada. We will be monitoring this situation closely, and we’ll bring you updates as we receive them.

Contact us today for more information, and to learn more about net metering and other regulations that affect solar energy use in your area.

Using solar energy to provide power to your home or business is considered beneficial for the environment, and this is why some people choose to install photovoltaic systems.

But, going green is far from being the only reason to adopt solar. In fact, many people who take advantage of the sun’s energy today don’t do it to help the environment — their main motivation for going solar is a different kind of green — money!

Homeowners and Businesses Alike Save Money with Solar

Energy from the sun is free and unlimited, unlike other traditional energy sources.

This is the true beauty — as well as the lure — of using solar energy for generating power. And, not surprisingly, many cost-conscious homeowners and business are finally figuring this out.

The initial startup costs are lower than ever, and they can generally be recouped in a matter of years, especially now, when you can take advantage of the 30 percent federal tax credit and other incentives.

For decades, your PV panel array will continue to provide big savings on energy costs, sometimes even eliminating monthly electric bills completely.

Some homeowners and businesses even make money with their photovoltaic systems. Net metering agreements require that utility companies pay you for excess energy you feed back to the grid. So, money-savvy people who install systems that produce excess energy are able to see a profit, instead of having to pay an electric bill.

Photovoltaic Energy Use by the Military

The U.S. military is making an effort to commit to using a greater percentage of renewable energy. But make no mistake — preservation of the environment isn’t their only reason for using solar power.

The volatility of the global fuel market and our overdependence on fossil fuels mean that the military needs a more secure energy source, and one that is less costly. Not surprisingly, photovoltaic power seems to be the obvious answer.

Currently, the military has several large-scale PV arrays that power entire bases, as well as smaller systems that provide energy for homes and businesses off base.

In addition, solar power has been used on the battlefield. For example, in Afghanistan, the Marines carried portable solar panel blankets to power communications gear, allowing them to have a constant supply of energy without lugging heavy batteries around.

Big American Companies Are Adopting Solar Too

Big businesses have one major goal in mind — making money.

Consequently, many companies are choosing photovoltaic power because it helps lower their operating costs, which increases their profit margins. Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, General Motors and Campbell’s Soups are among the many American companies that have adopted solar energy on a large scale.

While this move provides some great PR for big business, the bottom line for them is that photovoltaic power saves money.

Intermountain Wind & Solar serves residential and commercial customers in Utah and throughout the Intermountain West. We want to help you say goodbye to inflated power bills and never-ending rate hikes. Contact us today and let us show you just how green your wallet will be, once you install your own solar energy system.

Do you know how solar panel installation affects the value of your home? If not, you might want to keep reading!

Many homeowners — even those not currently looking to sell their property — are looking to photovoltaic energy systems as a way to increase both the value and the salability of their homes.

Compelling evidence shows that this may indeed be a very wise decision. Adding a photovoltaic system makes a home more marketable, a good idea regardless of when you plan to sell. And, in most U.S. markets, it also means a big bump in your potential selling price.

Research Says Buyers Pay More for Solar-Powered Homes

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently completed a study, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy, to determine how adding a solar panel array affects a home’s selling price.

According to this research, buyers were willing to pay an additional $15,000, on average, for homes with photovoltaic systems than they would for similar homes without PV power.

The Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, recently released a set of guidelines that helps advise appraisers evaluating homes with solar systems. The guidelines state that appraisers must consider a home’s photovoltaic system when determining market value.

This certainly seems obvious, but without this directive, many homes were not being adequately valued.

Solar Homes Sell Faster

Adding a PV solar system to your home will not only help increase its value, but it also may help it sell faster.

According to the Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a division of the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that have photovoltaic systems may sell up to twice as quickly as homes without systems.

Thanks to this influential statistic, more builders are opting to install solar systems as a standard in new home developments. Likewise, homeowners are jumping on the solar bandwagon as well.

Factors that Affect Home Values

While the research is promising, other factors may affect how beneficial a solar panel installation will be in terms of your home’s marketability.

The first factor to consider is your home’s location. Solar energy will be a bigger draw for buyers in active solar markets (the sun-rich Intermountain West, for example) than for those in less-developed markets.

Your home’s existing value also matters to some degree. Overall, larger homes tend to realize a larger increase in property value.

Bigger Is Better

The size of your photovoltaic system also may influence the selling price of your home.

Buyers are often willing to pay more for houses that have larger solar arrays, as the systems will be able to provide a greater percentage of the home’s electricity. Quality is important, too, and some buyers may view older systems as they would older technology — still functional, but less desirable.

In our service area, which includes Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho, today’s solar technology does make a difference to home buyers. This makes alternative energy a win-win for our customers.

Not only will you drastically cut utility costs (not to mention reduce your dependence on the utility company!), you are also very likely to recapture a significant percentage of your solar investment when you sell your home.

Contact Intermountain Wind & Solar today, to learn more about the ways that solar panel installation can benefit you.

When choosing off-grid solar energy to power your home or business, cost is one of the most important considerations.

One factor that affects the overall cost of a grid-tied or off-grid solar energy system is the durability and anticipated life of the system. After all, the longer your photovoltaic system lasts, the greater the return on your investment.

An off-grid system carries a higher initial equipment and installation cost, due to the battery backup systems and other components necessary to store your power.

Life Expectancy of Solar Systems

Most manufacturers offer a standard 25-year warranty on their solar panels, guaranteeing that their energy output will remain at 80 percent of capacity (or greater) for 25 years.

But what happens after the warranty expires?

Your panels will still produce energy ― they aren’t going to shut off on their 25th birthday ― but they may generate less over time. How much less? No one really knows for sure, as the majority of photovoltaic systems are less than 10 years old.

Experts believe that, with the most basic care, your system could continue to operate many years or even decades beyond the warranty date.

It isn’t all about the solar panels, however. You must also consider the life span of the other system components as well.

Most inverters carry a 5- to 10-year warranty, as do battery storage banks. Both of these components are essential to operate an off-grid solar energy system.

Degradation of Solar Panels

Photovoltaic panels are not designed to last forever.

Over time, as they are continually exposed to the elements, they degrade and begin to lose some efficiency. This is simply unavoidable, both because of the limitations of technology and because it really isn’t possible to completely protect your panels from the environment.

The rate at which your panels degrade depends upon what kind they are.

According to research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, traditional silicon-based panels degrade, on average, at a rate of 0.07 percent each year. Less durable thin-film panels have an average degradation rate of more than 1.5 percent per year, which is why these products are rarely used in today’s PV systems.

Increasing the Life Span of Your Photovoltaic System

You can potentially extend the life of your photovoltaic system if you take care of it properly.

Avoiding physical damage is key, so keep nearby trees trimmed. It is also important to periodically clean your panels by removing dirt and debris, as this keeps your system running most efficiently.

Finally, make sure to have your system inspected regularly by a qualified solar contractor, so that any necessary maintenance can be completed before it affects the system’s performance.

If you have questions about photovoltaic energy, contact us today at Intermountain Wind & Solar. Serving residential and commercial customers in Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, our high-quality panels and other components are the best available in the industry today.

Let us help you compare the cost of grid-tied and off-grid solar to determine what better fits your needs.

By now, you’ve seen photovoltaic solar panels on residences and businesses throughout you community. After all, the large, shiny, blue rectangles are hard to miss, particularly in a large solar array.

Have you ever wondered how these photovoltaic solar panels are made?

Creating a Crystalline Silicon Sheet

Traditional photovoltaic solar panels, which are used for most systems today, use crystalline silicon in the solar cells. Silicon is one of the most common elements in the earth, and it functions effectively as a semiconducting material.

The crystalline silicon is sliced into thin disks that are typically less than a centimeter thick.

This cutting process can damage the delicate material, however, so the tiny disks are then carefully treated and polished. Metal conductors and dopants, or trace elements that alter the silicon’s electrical properties, are then applied to the disks.

The conductors are then aligned in a grid and spread in a flat sheet on top of the solar panel.

Protecting the Photovoltaic Panel

To protect the crystalline silicon sheet and keep it safe from the elements, a thin layer of glass is bonded to the solar panel. The panel is then attached to a supportive substrate, which may be made of an aluminum plastic, polidimide or any of several other durable materials.

A thermally conductive cement, which works to keep photovoltaic panels from overheating, is used in this attachment to the substrate. Without this thermal cement, any excess energy the panels produce could cause overheating, potentially damaging the solar cells and leading to a reduction in the system’s efficiency.

As an additional measure to prevent overheating, experts suggest that your setup allow for adequate ventilation and airflow around the system.

Thin-Film Photovoltaic Panels

Although they aren’t recommended in most applications, another type of PV panel — thin-film cells — are also used today. These panels are created by vapor-depositing an alloy in layers.

Because the solar cells are much thinner than crystalline silicon cells, panels created with this technology are flexible, and consequently, more fragile and vulnerable to damage. Thin-film panels can be used on curved surfaces and building facades, and the technology is being perfected for use in rooftop shingles and tiles.

Thin-film photovoltaic solar panels are typically made of amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe) or copper indium gallium selenide (CIS/CIGS).

Other materials, such as nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) are currently being developed. Thin-film technologies are still being perfected, but based on their easily damaged nature, these products are rarely used in standard solar panel construction.

At Intermountain Wind and Solar, we take great pride in the quality and durability of our products. Backed by full warranties, we only use products from established manufacturers. Our installation quality leads the industry, and our customer testimonials and reviews back up our promises.

Contact us today to learn more about how photovoltaic solar can benefit you.

Community solar power programs like the Intermountain Community Solar Initiative (ICSI) are making solar energy accessible to more people across the United States.

Summit Community Solar (SCS) did exactly that for residents of Summit County and Park City, Utah, via a year-long project in 2013. Created to increase the adoption of residential photovoltaic power, the project streamlined the process of installing a photovoltaic system and provided financial incentives to homeowners who participated.

How the Community Program Worked

The SCS project’s first step was community outreach. It offered free informational workshops so that residents could learn about the benefits of photovoltaic power and the technology behind it.

Interested community members completed an online questionnaire to determine their property’s suitability for photovoltaic panels. The contractor for the program conducted on-site reviews of each property and submitted bids to homeowners. Those who accepted paid a $500 deposit, and panel installation was scheduled.

This kind of bulk purchasing keeps expenses down for homeowners.

Using this business model, the more participants join, the less the system costs to install. This gives homeowners enrolled in the program extra incentive to get their neighbors involved, so everyone can save even more money.

Word-of-mouth and neighborhood advocacy played a big part in engaging the Summit County and Park City residents.

Support from Local Government and Utah Clean Energy

Solar power is a priority for the local government, and the city and county worked with Utah Clean Energy (UCE) to develop the SCS program.

UCE, with their previous success at enacting a similar project in Salt Lake County, was instrumental in supporting SCS and in managing the project to shorten the timeline.

The local government provided information about solar power installations, and helped to simplify the process for homeowners through a standardization process developed by the Solar America Board for Codes and Standards.

Finally, solar permitting fees were reduced or waived to provide a further incentive to participate.

Summit Community Solar Program Successes

Out of the 280 Summit County and Park City residents who filled out questionnaires, 60 signed contracts and had solar power systems installed.

Thanks to the community model and bulk purchasing, these homeowners were able to save roughly $1,000 each on their systems. SCS participants also were eligible for the state and federal solar tax credits, saving them thousands more.

Over the next 25 years, these homeowners are expected to save a total of $1.37 million in electricity bills.

The SCS program also greatly expanded the use of solar power in Summit County and Park City. In fact, the number of kilowatts of power generated by photovoltaic panels in the community increased by 500 percent from 2012 to 2013, as a result of the project.

Community solar programs are one way to make photovoltaic energy more accessible, but you don’t have to persuade all of your neighbors to take advantage of bulk purchasing discounts. Intermountain Wind and Solar offers a unique bulk purchasing program for our customers, designed much like the SCS project’s money-saving concepts, called Intermountain Community Solar Initiative.

Contact us today and let us explain this unique program to you, and show you how you can save significantly on your own solar power installation.

Solar power is more affordable today than ever, opening the doors for any homeowner considering installing a system.

The homeowners who save the most on their photovoltaic systems, however, are the ones who most accurately determine their energy needs and goals before installation.

Energy Consumption

Begin by establishing exactly how much power your home or business uses each month.

Check your electrical bills from the past year to find out your typical annual kilowatt energy consumption, then divide by 365 to determine your daily usage. Divide again by the average number of daily peak sun hours in your location ― you can find this figure on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory website’s solar maps page.

Though other factors are involved, this will give you a rough idea of what size PV system you need to meet your current energy consumption.

Simply put, the more energy your household uses on a regular basis, the larger the photovoltaic array you must install.

Your Energy Goals Down the Road

Before you commit to a photovoltaic panel array size, consider the future.

Do you anticipate expanding your family? Perhaps you plan to have more children, or you expect an aging parent may come to live with you? Each extra person in the household increases your power requirements.

Do you have plans to add on to your home, or convert your storage shed to a workshop, or add a window air conditioner to the garage? Any of these could increase your demand for power.

If you find yourself with higher electrical demands in the future, you have a couple of choices. One is to become more energy efficient.

Strategies for Conserving Energy

Investing in new appliances that use less energy is one often-recommended option, but replacing every appliance may not be realistic.

Less expensive options may be more achievable, and they can add up to significant savings.

For example, switching out your incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or, better yet, light emitting diode (LED) bulbs, can result in measurable savings. Using power strips and turning them off when you’re not using the items is another great way to save energy.

Small projects like these are easy and can help make a smaller solar power system workable for you.

Solar System Expansion

Another way to meet higher energy demands is to expand your PV panel array.

Many solar power systems can be expanded after installation is completed, but experts warn that it may cost more to add on later than to purchase a larger system at the outset.

Depending on the age and configuration of your photovoltaic system, it may be difficult or impossible to expand. Some older inverters were limited in capacity. The only way to know for sure if you can expand your system is to talk to an experienced solar contractor in your area.

In the Intermountain West, Intermountain Wind and Solar is your locally owned and operated expert. Contact us today to learn more about how to properly size your system, so that you always have plenty of solar power to meet your needs.

Great news! The solar tax credit we all know and love has been extended!

This means sunny days are ahead for business owners interested in adopting solar. Previously, in order to be eligible for the full investment tax credit (ITC), photovoltaic energy systems had to be completed before 2017.

Now, companies have more time to claim the ITC and all its benefits.

Extensions for Commercial Installations

On their last day of work in 2015, Congress approved a five-year extension of the tax credit.

With this extension, business owners can reduce their federal income tax liability by 30 percent of the cost of installing a commercial PV system. (Note that the system must be in service by Dec. 31, 2019.)

After this date, the ITC begins to step down the maximum allowable credit. Systems placed in service in 2020 will be eligible for a 26 percent credit, while those completed in 2021 can claim a 22 percent credit. After 2021, commercial installations will only qualify for a 10 percent credit.

The ITC also includes a “commence construction” provision. This means that some projects put into service before 2024 may still claim the solar tax credit amount available at the time when the projects began.

Expected Industry Growth

According to industry forecasts by GTM Research, the ITC extension will enable U.S. solar capacity to expand by an additional 25 gigawatts over the next five years. Reports suggest that industry growth as a result of the expansion will be 54 percent greater than if the solar tax credit bill had not passed.

This growth is expected to lead to billions of dollars in incremental investments in photovoltaic power over the next several years. Shortly after the ITC extension was approved, stocks of many of the major players in the industry — including SolarCity Corp, SunEdison, Sunrun Inc. and Real Goods Solar — were soaring. Even in light of the downturns of early 2016, market experts are bullish about the industry’s continued long-term growth.

Schedule Commercial Installations Now

Because of the ITC extension, businesses now have ample time to complete most photovoltaic projects.

Because commercial solar installations are more complex and time-consuming than residential ones, however, don’t delay getting started. The closer the deadline looms, the busier solar installation companies will be.

Remember, most installations must be operational before 2020 to qualify for the full 30 percent ITC, and that date will be here before you know it! If you are considering a solar energy installation for your business, now is the time to act.

Intermountain Wind and Solar designs and installs commercial solar energy systems for businesses of all sizes. We serve the Intermountain West states of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho.

Contact us today for more information about how photovoltaic energy can save your company money. We will be happy to tell you about all the available incentives and financing options, and help you take full advantage of the solar tax credit.