By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Energy Copywriter Even though the cost of going solar has plummeted in recent years, it still requires a significant upfront investment. A residential solar energy system often costs $16,000 – $25,000 or more. Fortunately for qualified homeowners, the solar tax credit can reduce the total cost by more than $4,000 or $5,000 for systems in this price range. In addition, the solar incentive significantly boosts the return on investment while reducing the payback period. Let’s explore how the solar tax credit works, who is eligible, and how to take advantage of it. What Is A Tax Credit? A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes owed to the federal government. Therefore, a $5,000 tax credit reduces income taxes to the IRS by $5,000. However, a tax credit has no value to the taxpayer if they have no tax liability. By contrast, a write-off or a tax deduction reduces total taxable income rather than the tax liability by the given amount. Unlike a tax credit, the value of a write-off depends on your tax rate. Therefore, tax credits are more valuable to the taxpayer than a write-off of the same amount. By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Energy Writer
Many states have seen rapid growth of community solar energy projects. By eliminating many traditional barriers to using renewable energy, these solar farms enable a larger segment of the population to take advantage of solar energy, including low to moderate-income households, renters, condominium owners, and homeowners with shaded roofs. There were 4.9 gigawatts of community solar installations in the United States, enough to power about 3.7 million homes, as of the writing of this article. Community solar projects give members many of the benefits of solar energy without having an on-site rooftop solar system. A given community solar farm generates renewable energy for hundreds or even thousands of homes, organizations, and small businesses. Households and companies join a community solar project by subscribing to a portion of the solar farm’s monthly output. Typically, there is no fee for joining or canceling, and you must give around 60 or 90 days’ notice to terminate. By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Energy Writer Although solar energy has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, many people aren’t in the position to install a rooftop solar system. Renters, apartment dwellers, condominium owners, low-income households, and people with shaded roofs are largely left out of the solar revolution.
Enter community solar farms. This ownership structure is making solar power available to households, businesses, and organizations that couldn’t access it before. It is a rapidly growing segment of the renewable energy market, especially in certain states. There are currently 4.9 gigawatts of installed capacity in the United States, or enough to power about 3.7 million homes. What Is Community Solar? Community solar projects give subscribers many of the same benefits of solar power without having a system on-site. They produce electricity for hundreds or even thousands of nearby homes and small businesses. Households and companies can join a community solar farm by subscribing to a portion of the project’s monthly output. The solar power produced from the community solar project is typically discounted compared to typical utility company electricity rates. Consequently, subscribers can often lower their electricity bills while also helping the planet. Although the details vary by solar project, many require no upfront investment and offer flexibility if you move within the same electric utility territory. By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Communications Professional Solar leases were first pioneered in 2007 and quickly gained popularity in the solar energy industry. One of the biggest hurdles for residential renewable energy systems is the upfront investment, an issue that solar leases help solve.
However, leasing a solar system isn’t always the best option for all homeowners, especially if they have the cash to buy the system, they qualify for a solar loan, or they can take advantage of the federal solar tax credit. What Does It Mean To Lease Solar Panels? Solar leases allow homeowners to rent their solar equipment instead of buying it. The solar electricity produced by the solar panels supplies power to the house, and the homeowner makes a monthly lease payment for the solar panels. Even though the solar panels are installed on the property, the homeowner doesn’t own them. Benefits Of Leasing Solar Panels There are some financial benefits of leasing solar panels, which have made them a popular option for certain homeowners. Startup Costs Are Lower On Leases Often, homeowners can get a solar panel system for $0. Because the high upfront cost of solar panels is a common hurdle that makes solar power unaffordable to many, solar lease agreements bypass this issue. By Sarah Lozanova, Freelance Copywriter Although there is extensive infrastructure for refueling vehicles with internal combustion engines, it’s highly likely that many of these gas stations will close in the next decade while electric vehicles (EVs) become more widespread.
The range of many EV models has expanded in recent years, more and more car shoppers are going electric, and federal EV tax credits for some models make EV ownership more affordable. As EVs grow in popularity, charging networks are also scaling up, creating opportunities for clean energy professionals. A Brief Overview Of EVs And Charging Infrastructure Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) do not have internal combustion engines and are powered exclusively by the battery. So when it is fully discharged, the car won’t drive. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that uses energy stored in the battery. In addition, they feature regenerative braking, which helps charge the battery. The gas engine commonly turns off when it isn’t needed. As a result, HEVs usually have better fuel economy than cars with only an internal combustion engine. By Sarah Lozanova, Renewable Energy Writer Sadly, global bird populations are in decline, according to numerous ornithological studies, and there are many culprits. Loss of wildlife habitat, overexploitation, and climate change are some leading causes. Although it is responsible for a relatively low number of bird fatalities, by comparison, wind turbines do play a role.
In the United States, scientists estimate that wind turbines are responsible for one million bird fatalities in the United States annually. However, this dwarfs when compared to other causes. Leading causes of bird fatalities in the United States:
By Sarah Lozanova, Freelance Copywriter As electric vehicle (EV) ownership increases and becomes more mainstream, some car shoppers still have their doubts about switching away from vehicles with an internal combustion engine. Although the price of EVs has dropped, the EV tax credits continue, and the range has increased, many consumers are hesitant to own one. Car shoppers have a variety of concerns about taking the plunge, with many centered around relying on batteries and EV infrastructure.
Three main worries are the lack of public EV charging options, a short driving range, and the need to potentially replace the EV battery. Also, people who live in multifamily buildings or lack a dedicated parking spot may have issues charging at home. In addition, lack of knowledge about EVs continues to be a hurdle to widespread adoption. In particular, consumers need more information about EV batteries and specifically how long they last. Battery technology has rapidly advanced in the last decade, and many car shoppers hold onto outdated or inaccurate information on the topic. Therefore, it is critical for EV professionals to educate consumers and help dispel myths. How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Typically Last? While lead-acid car batteries last about 3 – 5 years, EV battery lifespan is much longer. Typically, today’s EV batteries last 10 – 20 years. Many car manufacturers offer an 8 – 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty on EV batteries, which can help ease consumer concerns about battery longevity. By Sarah Lozanova, Freelance Writer Many homeowners install solar power systems because they want to help protect the environment and reduce their carbon footprint. However, solar panels have a typical lifespan of about 30 years and it’s important to consider what will happen to the equipment when it is decommissioned.
If solar panels and other components aren’t properly recycled at their end-of-life, this electronic waste will end up in landfills. Some solar modules are considered hazardous waste, which makes this even more concerning. Many sustainability-minded people have started wondering what happens to solar panels after 30 years and if their solar panels will end up in landfills contributing to pollution. Because this is a relatively new issue, there isn’t a robust solar panel recycling infrastructure in place yet in the United States, but this is poised to change in upcoming years. Here’s What Happens As Solar Panels Age When solar panels are first installed, they produce the most power. Over time, the modules begin to degrade and the output slowly decreases. For example, many solar panels produce about 0.5% less energy each year. Although this might not seem like much, it does add up over time. This degradation is normal and is caused by UV rays and adverse weather. Small cracks can form in the silicon and electronics can warp, reducing the solar panel’s output. Solar panels don’t usually stop producing power entirely at the end of their lifespan, they just become less efficient in doing so. Eventually, homeowners typically want to replace them with more effective panels. Luckily, there are sometimes opportunities to reuse these old solar panels in less demanding applications. By Sarah Lozanova, Clean Energy Copywriter Fires in electric vehicles (EVs) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) have gained significant media attention in recent years. In a high-profile move, GM recalled Bolt batteries in 2020 and 2021, costing the company $1.9 billion. Battery defects were contributing to thermal runaway, but GM was not alone. Hyundai and Ford also recalled batteries for causing fires, costing the companies hundreds of millions of dollars each.
Likewise, there is a risk of building fires from residential, commercial, and utility-scale energy storage batteries. For example, due to fire hazard concerns, LG Energy Solutions recalled roughly 10,000 RESU 10H storage batteries in 2021. In addition, in 2019, an ESS caused an explosion at an Arizona Public Service (ASP) site, injuring several firefighters. Although manufacturer defects have contributed to this issue, clean energy technicians need to create a thermal management strategy to prevent the risk of thermal runaway and the associated fire danger. By Sarah Lozanova, Renewable Energy Writer As the world transitions to renewable energy sources to decarbonize the power grid, wind energy is one of the fastest-growing sources of new generation. Wind energy capacity has grown by 14% annually from 2010 to 2020. Now that wind turbines dot many landscapes, many people wonder about the pros and cons of wind power.
Wind power is praised for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, boosting energy security, creating jobs, and producing low-cost power, but it also has some drawbacks. Wind turbines are known to kill birds, can produce noise, and wind turbine blades are difficult to recycle. What are the advantages of wind turbines? With such rampant growth in the industry, there are clear advantages to using wind turbines to power the electrical grid. Let’s explore what is making wind energy so popular across much of the globe.  One of the biggest hurdles in achieving a circular economy is finding high-quality uses for recycled plastic materials. But, increasingly, some clothing companies are stepping up and making products with a high percentage of recycled content.
Baleaf recently sent me a promotional pair of athletic shorts so I could try out this innovative product. They feature recycled polyester made from plastic bottles and recycled nylon from fishing nets. Such products create a market for recycled items, increasing the demand for recycling services, thus closing the recycling loop. I often wonder how much of my plastic waste is actually made into new useful products, which is why making high-value goods with recycled content is critical in creating market incentives. I went for my first run in the athletic shorts this week, and I really like the soft feel of the fabric and the zippered pocket in the back waistline. Also, the shorts air dry quickly, so there is no need to put them in the dryer. The company recently launched the campaign, Baleaf in Sustainability, which runs until June 5. By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Writer Solar energy installations have skyrocketed in recent years; it’s likely there are some in your neighborhood. One of the reasons solar power has become so popular is the cost of solar systems has plummeted in the last decade or two. As a result, many more households can afford to install solar.
But just how much will a solar system cost? Many homeowners want to get a sense of the cost before having a solar company inspect their property or giving away their personal information online. Ballpark Solar System Cost According to Energy Sage, the average solar system costs about $2.77 per watt installed. This price covers labor, permitting, solar panels, the inverter, and other solar equipment, but prices may vary by the installer, solar panel location, and equipment. The size of your solar energy system will be determined by your total electricity usage, available space for installing solar panels, and budget. To determine how much electricity you use, review your electric bills for the past year or more. The average home needs about a 6 kilowatt (kW) solar system, which costs roughly $17,000 before incentives. If you can take advantage of the federal solar tax credit in 2022, you can receive a tax credit for 26% of the total system cost. If you install your system in 2023, then the solar tax credit is 22% of the total cost. Speak with a tax expert to ensure you can take advantage of the tax credit. By Sarah Lozanova, Renewable Energy Writer Some of the first utility-scale wind farms were installed in the early 2000s. Because the design life of a wind turbine is about 20 years, these turbines are reaching the end of their useful lives. Thus, it is time to either decommission or repower them. When these wind power projects were first installed, end-of-life wasn’t really a top concern, but this topic is getting more attention now.
Increasingly, people are thinking more about the decommissioning phase of renewable energy projects, and are wondering if wind power is really as green as it seems. On this point, there is good news. Wind turbines can be recycled, because the two primary materials are metal and cement, which are recyclable. However, wind turbines are getting bigger, so the volume of material inputs is increasing. It’s therefore critical to have adequate recycling infrastructure in place to process wind turbines. What are wind turbines made of? More than 80%t of the mass of wind turbines is made up of recyclable materials such as steel, iron, copper, and aluminum. Although it varies by model, wind turbines are 66%-79% steel, 11%-16% fiberglass, resin, or plastic, 5%-17% iron or cast iron, 1% copper, and 0-2% aluminum by weight, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Most metals are readily recyclable repeatedly and easy to make into new products. By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Marketing Writer If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. If you’ve been shopping for solar panels, you may have seen advertisements for free solar panels. This seems like an amazing offer because the upfront cost of a solar system can be more than $20,000 before incentives. Are these scams or are they the real deal? We’ll discuss whether these offers are too good to be true and explore some alternatives that might provide you better value in the long run.
Are Free Solar Panels Really Free? Offers for free solar actually involve leasing a solar system or entering into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a solar provider. If you read the fine print, you need to make ongoing payments, often for around twenty years. A solar lease involves renting the equipment and making monthly payments for its use. However, having solar panels will typically significantly reduce the home electric bills so the savings might cover the rent for the panels. Although solar leases might be a good opportunity for some households, the panels really aren’t free. By Sarah Lozanova, Solar Marketing Writer California leads the way in photovoltaic installations with over 32 MW of installed capacity, enough to power 9.6 million homes. The Golden State is serious about transitioning to renewable energy to phase out fossil fuel consumption and reduce carbon emissions. In fact, the Golden State has numerous laws to make this happen, enabling unprecedented growth in the solar energy industry.
Because California has many building codes regarding solar energy, PV contracts need to be aware of these when conducting business in the state. Being knowledgeable about how these laws impact energy codes is critical for advising clients. What Is The California Solar Mandate? In 2018, California created a mandate that new single-family homes and multi-family dwellings up to three stories high must install solar panels. The California solar mandate took effect on January 1, 2020, and is part of California’s building codes. The mandate was created by the California Energy Commission (CEC), was unanimously approved 5 to 0 and is the first such mandate in the United States. |