Monthly Archives: September 2016

Adopting solar power may soon become possible for more U.S. residents, thanks to a new program the federal government recently launched.

The Clean Energy Savings for All Americans program is a partnership among several government agencies that aims to give more American families the opportunity to go solar. The program will facilitate a variety of initiatives designed to make it easier for homeowners of all income levels to take advantage of photovoltaic power.

The program’s ultimate goal is to bring a total of 1 gigawatt of solar power to low- and middle-income households by 2020.

Unlocking PACE So More Homeowners Can Adopt Solar Power

Property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing allows homeowners to use their property value as loan collateral for buying a solar power system.

This type of financing has helped countless businesses and homeowners to install photovoltaic systems. However, due to red tape involving the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (Freddie Mac), many low- and middle-income Americans were previously unable to take advantage of PACE financing.

With the Clean Energy Savings for All Americans initiative, this situation is changing.

New guidelines state that future PACE loans will be insured through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Veterans Administration (VA). Thanks to this change, many more homeowners in low-to-moderate income brackets will be able to adopt solar power with no upfront costs, paying back their loans over time through their property taxes.

Finding Ways to Help Low-Income Communities Adopt Solar Power

In the past, low-income communities have been slower to adopt solar power because of the cost. In an effort to help more homeowners in disadvantaged areas make the transition, the Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the Community Solar Challenge.

Private, volunteer teams in dozens of communities across the country will work to develop innovations that can boost solar deployment and lower electricity bills for local homeowners. For their hard work, the DOE is awarding up to $100,000 in cash prizes and technical assistance to the teams.

Overcoming Even More Barriers to Solar Energy Adoption

Every dollar spent on making a home more energy-efficient can potentially lower the cost of photovoltaic system installation by $3 to $5.

For lower-income homeowners, however, coming up with the money to make energy-efficient home improvements can be difficult. To address this problem, the DOE and the Department of Health and Human Services are working together to help homeowners make these improvements and repairs.

The Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will provide access to funding for low-cost energy-efficient improvements.

Consumers in lower-income brackets face many barriers in switching to photovoltaic power. With the Clean Energy Savings for All initiative, the U.S. government hopes to eliminate many of these roadblocks.

To that end, more than 120 organizations across 36 states — including power companies, housing authorities and electricity co-ops — have committed to investing $287 million in photovoltaic power projects. These projects are all designed to provide low- and moderate-income communities and homeowners improved access to photovoltaic power.

Intermountain Wind & Solar serves commercial and residential customers in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada and Utah. We specialize in helping our customers find the most cost-effective approach for making the switch to photovoltaic power. If you’re ready to break free of electricity bills, give us a call today.

We look forward to helping you make the switch to solar power.

Adopting solar energy to power your home may seem involved, but making the switch to photovoltaic power is actually quite simple.

In fact, you can adopt solar energy yourself in three simple steps.

Step 1: Request Free Estimates from Qualified Solar Energy Installers

An online search for solar energy installers in your area is likely to provide you with the names of several local companies. You can check their websites for information, but the best way to proceed is to contact a few and ask for a free estimate for your photovoltaic project.

A professional estimate should include the total expenses for your photovoltaic system, including the component prices, labor costs, permit fees and projections for future operational costs and savings. Federal, state and local financial incentives for installing a solar energy system also should be listed and figured into the total.

Solar contractors expect you to get bids from other companies, so don’t worry about offending anyone by getting several estimates.

Consider the contactor’s experience and qualifications, the quality of the equipment they use and the warranties and potential financing options when making your decision.

Step 2: Schedule Your Solar Energy System Installation

Once you’ve narrowed down the list of photovoltaic contractors to just one (hopefully Intermountain Wind & Solar!) call to schedule your installation.

But what about the building and electrical permits, or filling out the paperwork for the solar rebates and tax credits?

Most professional solar contractors will handle all of that for you. And if you need approval from your homeowners association, your installer can assist you by providing the plans and related documents necessary. In fact, many will simply handle this process for you.

The bottom line? After you schedule your installation, you can sit back and let your professional photovoltaic contractor do all of the work.

Step 3: Activate Your Solar Energy System and Start Saving

Once your photovoltaic installation is complete, it will likely require an inspection from your city’s building inspector and your local utility company to ensure it complies with building codes and that it is safe for operation.

Your contractor will schedule these inspection appointments and meet with the inspectors to answer any questions.

When the building inspector and utility company give you the green light, your solar energy system will be connected to the local power grid. A flip of the switch, and your photovoltaic panels will begin capturing sunlight and turning it into free electricity for your home.

You’ll see savings on your very next utility bill, as your photovoltaic system will create much — or all — of the energy your household needs. And depending upon your array’s output and your electricity consumption, you could even see a profit (of sorts) on your next power bill, if your utility company offers net metering credit for the excess energy your solar array produces.

Get Started Today

Are you ready to make the switch to photovoltaic energy? Get started today with a free estimate and consultation with Intermountain Wind & Solar. As one of the largest solar installation contractors in the Intermountain West region, we provide an exceptional level of professional customer service.

Because we deal in a high volume of installations, we also can pass on our bulk purchasing program discounts for your equipment.

Contact Intermountain Wind & Solar today, and let us help you take the first step in your quest to adopt solar energy.

Residential solar energy installations did not previously qualify for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. Today, however, those rules are changing.

The PACE program was previously reserved for commercial solar projects, but several states are now working to develop residential programs.

Is PACE the right choice for financing your home solar power system? Is it even available yet in your area?

Advantages of PACE Financing for Residential Solar Energy Systems

PACE financing uses the value of your property as collateral for a loan used to purchase a residential solar energy system.

This means you don’t have to worry about whether your credit rating will qualify you for a low-interest loan or lease, or whether you have cash in the bank.

PACE loans can be paid back over a period of time, often up to 25 years. That’s longer than many other sources of funding for home solar projects. The longer term can mean you see savings from day one, as the loan payment is frequently less than the total amount you save on electricity by adopting solar.

Also, the interest on a PACE loan may be tax-deductible, saving you even more.

And if you think you might want to sell your home before you have paid off your PACE loan, it’s no problem. This financing is attached to your property, not to you personally. Consequently, it will transfer to the new owner as part of the property taxes.

Disadvantages of PACE Financing for a Residential Solar

Studies show that homes with photovoltaic energy systems often sell for more money, and sell more quickly than comparable non-solar homes.

But some buyers may be scared off by having to pay the higher tax assessments with PACE loans. Some real estate professionals have reported that homes with outstanding solar loans of this type linger longer on the market.

Mortgage lenders don’t really like PACE financing, and many won’t allow borrowers to buy homes with outstanding solar loans. Why?

Most of these loans put the PACE lender in a priority position in the event of a mortgage default. In other words, the PACE lender would be paid back first in case of a foreclosure, before the bank that holds the home mortgage.

In fact, these challenges have led the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to consider changes to the residential program.

Confused About Home Photovoltaic System Financing Options?

Currently, residential solar PACE loans are only offered in a few limited areas around the country.

For homeowners who are not eligible for these programs, several other attractive funding options are available. You could elect to take a home equity loan or a personal line of credit, for example, or you could opt for private financing through your home photovoltaic installation company.

If you’re like most of our customers, you may not be sure which method is best for your photovoltaic system. At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we can provide information on all of your financing options and help you understand the pros and cons of each. We serve customers in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming.

Contact us today to learn more about financing options for your residential solar energy system.

The sun is definitely shining on the Utah solar industry!

Although natural gas is still the largest source of energy in our state, photovoltaic power has enjoyed an incredible surge in popularity over the last few years.

A Growth Surge in Utah Solar Installations

At the end of 2014, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reported that Utah ranked 28th in the country for installed solar capacity. Less than two years later, our state is now in the 16th spot, with 262 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic power.

Last year, however, Utah ranked 8th nationally for the amount of new photovoltaic capacity. A whopping 231 megawatts (MW) of solar electric capacity was installed in 2015. That’s an increase of 1,538 percent just since 2014!

Much of the state’s photovoltaic growth has been in the utility and commercial sectors. However, residential installations also are increasing exponentially. According to a report from the Utah Geological Survey (UGS), just 153 renewable energy tax credits for new photovoltaic systems were filed in Utah in 2009.

In 2015, that number jumped to 3,174, and 94 percent was for residential systems.

Job Growth Surges in the Utah Solar Industry

As the solar market has grown, so have the number of photovoltaic industry jobs in our state. In fact, the Solar Jobs Census report ranks Utah at 19th in the country for solar employment.

Utah’s photovoltaic job market grew by roughly 30 percent in 2015. At the last count, 83 companies involved with the industry supply chain employed 2,679 people. And this year, another 665 jobs are expected to be added. Statewide, employment in the photovoltaic industry is projected to increase by another 24.8 percent.

These statistics are quite impressive when compared to the projected national photovoltaic job growth of 14.7 percent, or the overall Utah state job growth rate of 1.9 percent.

Incentives Reduce Utah Solar Installation Costs

Harnessing the power of the sun for electricity has never been more affordable for homeowners and businesses in Utah. Photovoltaic panel costs have fallen steadily over the last few years, leading to significant price drops for professionally installed systems.

Since 2015, the costs for a photovoltaic installation have dropped more than 10 percent.

This price reduction is primarily the result of a wider range of available financing options, including bulk purchasing programs, energy-efficient mortgages and private loans through installation companies. As a result, more consumers can afford to make the switch to photovoltaic power.

If you are ready to join the other Utah residents who have slashed their power bills and established energy independence, give Intermountain Wind & Solar a call to schedule your free estimate. We serve customers throughout the Intermountain West, but we are proud to call Utah home and to be a major contributor to the growing photovoltaic industry.

We look forward to hearing from you and showing you how, in Utah, solar power can benefit you.

Photovoltaic solar power absolutely can save you money in the form of reduced electricity bills. These savings will add up quickly over time, and your photovoltaic array will pay for itself.

But how much can you save? When will your solar system reach the point of payback, and how can you push that along?

The answers to these questions depend primarily upon three factors:

• How well-suited your home is for adopting solar power
• Your local utility rates
• The details of your photovoltaic installation agreement

Is Your Home Ready for PV Solar Power?

A photovoltaic solar power system requires clear and unobstructed access to the sun. Consequently, you’ll need a sunny location to install your array. You also could choose a ground-mounted system, if you have a large, sunny area in your yard. Most homeowners, however, opt for rooftop photovoltaic panels.

If you plan to install a rooftop PV solar array, you need ensure that your roof is in good enough condition to support the photovoltaic panels. Solar power systems will produce free electricity for decades, so if necessary, have your roof repaired before installation. That way, you won’t have to hassle with it later.

Although it is not a requirement, your long-term savings will be even larger (and your payback period potentially shorter) if you improve your home’s efficiency before installing your system.

What are Your Utility’s Prices and Policies for Solar Power?

Electricity prices vary, but homeowners in the Intermountain West states pay roughly 10 to 13 cents per kilowatt hour.

The higher your utility prices, the more you can save with PV solar energy. Your photovoltaic system will provide you with thousands of kilowatt hours of free electricity every year, which adds up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars that stay in your pocket instead of going to the utility company. And as the power company increases its rates (as they all do regularly), your savings grow even more.

If your state has a net metering program, you’ll save even more when you select a grid-tied solar power configuration. Under a net metering program, the utility company pays you the retail rate for the excess electricity when your solar PV system produces more energy than your household uses.

Is Your Professional Photovoltaic Agreement Equitable?

To ensure that you receive the best price and professional service on your solar power system installation, request estimates from only the most reputable and qualified professional contractors.

If you receive estimates from multiple installers, compare the ownership terms, warranties and performance calculations — not just the costs — before deciding which installer to hire. All of these factors will affect the long-term savings of your system.

Your contract should include an itemized list of expenses as well as finance information. Federal, state and local tax credits, rebates and grants also should be considered. If an installer leaves any of this out of the contract, you can’t determine whether you are getting a fair deal.

Intermountain Wind & Solar offers free consultations and estimates for homeowners who want to save money with photovoltaic energy. We serve commercial and residential customers throughout the Intermountain West, and we are the leading provider of alternative energy solutions in the region. Contact us today to learn more about how much money you can save with the adoption of a comprehensive solar power system.

Solar rebates help countless homeowners save money on photovoltaic system installations. Just like big box stores and manufacturers offer cash back on product purchases, some state and local governments and utility companies provide rebates to consumers who invest in photovoltaic energy systems.

Are you planning to install a photovoltaic array to power your home? Rebates can help to substantially reduce your system costs.

Determining Eligibility for Solar Rebates

First, the good news about qualifying for solar rebates: Unlike tax credits, you don’t have to have an income to claim them.

To be eligible, you simply have to pay for your photovoltaic system, either with out-of-pocket cash or through some type of loan or financing program. And although many solar rebate programs have restrictions or limitations, many homeowners can save thousands of dollars on their solar installations.

What if you opt to lease your photovoltaic panels? With leasing, you never actually own your PV system, as it still belongs to the solar company. As most rebate programs offer money back on a purchase, a leased system will not qualify you for these programs.

Availability of Solar Rebates

Unfortunately, solar rebates aren’t available for every homeowner in every location, and rebate programs vary considerably from state to state.

Does your state or utility company offer money back for photovoltaic systems? Find out now by heading to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE). Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE maintains a complete, up-to-date directory of all available rebates and other financial incentives for adopting solar energy.

Simply click on your state to see current information.

When Do You Get Your Money Back from Solar Rebates?

Not all rebates offer cash back in the same way. DSIRE shows details for each program, however, so you’ll know ahead of time how you’ll get paid.

Some programs take money off of the up-front costs of installing a photovoltaic system. The rebate is sent to the professional solar installer, who passes along the savings to the homeowner.

With other rebate programs, the cash may be sent directly to you as a lump sum once your photovoltaic system is installed and has passed inspection. Or you may be paid over time, given a set amount of money per kilowatt hour produced by your system until you have recouped the total rebate amount.

Rebate and incentive programs can be difficult to understand and even more confusing to apply for. Fortunately, the professional PV installation experts of Intermountain Wind & Solar specialize in helping homeowners and business owners recover every possible dime from available financial incentives.

We help customers establish their energy independence in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada. Call us today to learn more about how you can save money on your alternative energy system installation with incentives and solar rebates.

In the first quarter of 2016, the photovoltaic energy industry reached a significant milestone in the United States—the market became 1 million solar installations strong.

And according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Q1 2016 was the 10th consecutive quarter in which solar installations exceeded one gigawatt.

In what other ways has the photovoltaic energy industry grown since the beginning of the year? Let’s take a look at the latest information from SEIA’s U.S. Solar Market Insight report.

Growth in the Residential Photovoltaic Energy Market

Many major photovoltaic energy markets are considering net metering reforms, and some have already been implemented. This will cost solar owners money, and thus has led to declining or flat growth in some areas of the country, most notably in Hawaii.

Despite this, the residential solar industry has experienced an average growth rate of 11 percent over the last four quarters. Though photovoltaic installations are up just 1 percent over Q4 2015, they increased by 34 percent since the first quarter of 2015.

Smaller state markets are balancing out the slowing demand in the major photovoltaic market states. Maryland and New York, for example, saw rooftop solar increase by 25 percent in Q1 2016. Utah and Texas also experienced significant gains in solar growth during this quarter.

California accounted for nearly half of all residential photovoltaic system installations in Q1 2016, and is likely to keep its rank as the top state market through the rest of the year.

Commercial Photovoltaic Energy Market Growth

Development issues in non-residential spaces and declining financial incentives for adopting solar in some major state markets have slowed commercial sector photovoltaic growth slightly this year. Since the last quarter of 2015, installations are down slightly.

However, when compared to Q1 2015, non-residential solar installations have increased by a whopping 36 percent. And almost half of U.S. states experienced year-over-year photovoltaic power growth.

Photovoltaic Energy Growth in the Utility Market

The utility market continues to comprise a large portion of the country’s solar growth. In Q1 2016, utility scale projects accounted for 43 percent of all new installations. And this was the 12th quarter in a row in which more than 500 megawatts were added.

This year, however, the amount of utility scale growth is expected to be unprecedented. A whopping 8.4 GW of solar power projects are already under construction, with more than 10 GW projected to come online by the end of the year.

The U.S. solar industry growth is expected to continue its exponential climb in the coming years. Are you interested in adding to that growth and planning your own solar energy system installation? In the Intermountain West region, Intermountain Wind & Solar is the premier solar energy solutions provider for commercial and residential installations.

Contact us today to learn more about how you can benefit from the growing trend in photovoltaic energy adoption.

Adopting solar energy is a great way to establish energy independence. Using power produced by a rooftop photovoltaic system instead of traditional grid electricity means you’ll rely less on the utility company. And as a result, your monthly energy bills will be much lower.

Before making the decision to invest in a photovoltaic solar panel system, ask yourself the three important questions below.

How Much Electricity Should Your Solar Energy System Produce?

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the average home rooftop photovoltaic system is 5 kW. Will yours need to be larger than that? Or could a smaller array provide you with sufficient power?

To answer this question, you must determine how much electricity your household uses each month.

Grab your energy bills from the past year (if you still have them) or head to your utility company website to view them online. Take a look at your usage patterns and identify how much electricity you consume during an average month.

But your photovoltaic array doesn’t have to produce all of the electricity you need in your home. Installing a smaller system that provides a portion of your household power will still save you money on your monthly utility bills. But the more free power you can produce yourself, the less you must rely on the rapidly degrading power grid and infrastructure.

Is Your Roof Suited for Installing a Solar Energy Solution?

A photovoltaic array is not appropriate for every rooftop. Some roofs have serious shading from trees or nearby buildings, or have roof features like vents and chimneys that would significantly reduce photovoltaic output. Others don’t have the proper orientation and pitch for solar panels to be effective.

Even if your rooftop seems ideal for going solar, that doesn’t mean it actually is. You could have structural problems, rendering your roof incapable of supporting a photovoltaic array. If you’re concerned about the integrity of your roof, you can request an evaluation from a roofing contractor.

Fortunately, even if your roof is not ideal, a qualified solar energy solutions provider can identify a workable solution. Ground-mounted PV arrays, for example, mean you can enjoy the benefits of photovoltaic energy even if your roof poses a challenge.

How Will You Finance Your Solar Energy Solution?

If you plan to purchase your solar power system with cash, you’re in the minority. Few homeowners are in a position to buy a photovoltaic array outright. Fortunately, several cost-effective financing options are available. We can help you determine which method of financing to use, but it can be helpful to know about your options ahead of time.

Home equity loans, personal lines of credit and energy-efficient mortgages are all popular choices. Many of our customers prefer to go with private loan programs. Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) solar energy financing is an option for homeowners in some states, and many photovoltaic contractors — including IWS — offer a bulk purchasing or community solar program to make going solar more affordable.

At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we specialize in helping you identify the most cost-effective options for photovoltaic energy. We serve commercial and residential customers throughout Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado. Contact us today to learn how you can save money and establish energy independence through solar energy solutions.

When people talk about cutting costs on solar energy systems, the federal tax credit gets all the glory. Rightly so, as it can reduce your income tax liability by 30 percent of the cost of your PV system.

Solar energy sales tax exemptions, on the other hand, get almost no attention, but this perk can reduce the upfront cost of a photovoltaic installation by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Is your photovoltaic system eligible for this money-saving incentive?

How Sales Tax Exemptions Affect Solar Energy System Costs

A tax exemption is one of the few solar incentives that saves you money right away. Tax credits and rebates give you cash back later, but an exemption means that your installation costs are reduced.

In most states, solar installation contractors are obligated to collect and pay sales tax on every photovoltaic system installation. This adds directly to your bottom-line cost. Some states, however, have begun waiving this tax as an additional incentive for adopting solar power.

Let’s look at a 6 kW residential photovoltaic system installed in New Mexico, for example. If the installed cost is $4.25 per watt, the overall system price would be $25,500. The New Mexico state sales tax rate is currently 5.125 percent, so that brings the total cost to $26,806.88.

With the sales tax exemption, however, that extra 5.125 percent is waived, and you keep the $1,306.88 in your pocket.

Sales Tax Exemptions for Solar Energy in the Intermountain West

Sales tax exemptions for photovoltaic installations are becoming more popular, slowly but surely.

Currently, New Mexico offers a 100 percent exemption for sales tax on photovoltaic systems. Colorado and Arizona offer the same incentive. Unfortunately, homeowners in some other Intermountain West states aren’t quite that lucky. Idaho and Nevada do not yet provide any tax exemption for a solar installation, and in Utah, an exemption is available for some photovoltaic systems, but not all.

Finding Available Financial Incentives for Your Solar Energy System

Wherever your home or business is, you can identify all available financial incentives quickly and easily.

DSIRE, or the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, is a reliable, complete and up-to-date source for information on solar system grants, tax credits, rebates and other incentives. The website, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, is easy to use. Simply click on your state for a list of every available incentive, along with application instructions and eligibility details.

You also can ask us about current financial incentives.

At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we offer this information as a part of our free estimate for a solar system, as well as information on financing options. We serve both residential and commercial customers throughout the Intermountain West region, and we are committed to helping you cut your energy bills as much as possible.

Contact us today to learn more about saving money with your own solar energy system.