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Top New York Solar Installers

by Aisha Abdelhamid November 10, 2017

written by Aisha Abdelhamid

As a clean energy leader, New York is setting an excellent example for the nation. This is a state seriously committed to the solar revolution and the empowerment of the people through the wide-scale adoption of clean, renewable energy. And, with near-term plans for implementing more than 3,000 MW of solar power, New York solar installers are lining up like race horses at the starting gate.

If you’re among the folks ready and waiting to go solar in the Empire State, the following article offers an in-depth look at the solar market, as well as tips to keep in mind as you evaluate the great lineup of New York solar installers ready and waiting to get your job done right.

New York solar installers Credit votesolar.org

2017 National Solar Trends

Across the nation, solar is booming. Tracking growth and market trends, the US Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) reports that costs have dropped more than 70% since 2010 for installing a rooftop solar system.

At the same time, the average annual growth rate of solar in the US has been 68%, spurred significantly by the adoption and extension of the federal investment tax credit (ITC).

There are now around 1.4 million solar installations in the US. This represents nearly 45 GW of total solar capacity installed, or enough electricity to power more than 8.7 million homes.

Two million solar installations should be reached in 2018, and SEIA expects 4 million to be reached by 2022.

Credit SEIA.org

Solar Power Helps Fuel the US Economy

In just 5 years, the number of Americans employed in the solar industry has doubled, rising to more than 260,000. That’s over a quarter of a million folks making a living by harvesting clean, free energy from the sun in the US.

As of 2016, 39% of all new electric generating capacity came from solar installations. This was the first time solar beat all other technologies. 2017 looks likely to continue the trend, too, with solar hitting 30% of all new capacity for Q1.

Credit: SEIA.org

New York is Soaking Up the Sun

Although California has been dominating the US solar market with 35% market share in 2016, New York is claiming a fair share of the sunshine, too. Ranking number 10 in the nation for cumulative solar capacity, SEIA’s most recent data reveals that New York reached 1,012 MW in the first quarter of 2017.

Credit: SEIA.org

Consistently in the nation’s top 10 solar markets, New York is a consistent leader at crafting positive state solar policies. Via Governor Cuomo’s commitment to the NY-SUN initiative, the NY Public Service Commission (PSC) recently launched a 10-year $1 billion program to develop a statewide self-sustaining solar market. It is this program that will bring the development of 3,000 MW of solar installations across New York within the next 5 years.

This will be an ambitious effort, adding to the 1,011 MW already installed in the state, representing about 166,000 homes already powered by solar.

In dollar terms, over $3,252.19 million has already been invested in New York solar energy projects, with $774.45 million invested in 2016 alone.

In people terms, New York’s solar industry employs 8,135 folks, ranking 6th in the country for 2016. This breaks down into 746 companies in total, with 275 New York solar installers and developers, 94 solar manufacturers, and 363 other industry-related companies.

Credit: SEIA.org

Notable New York Solar Installations

With 32 MW of solar power capacity, Long Island Solar Farm was completed in 2011 and represents enough capacity to power more than 5,264 NY homes.

Other notable New York solar projects were completed by several large retailers in New York, including Anheuser-Busch, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars.

Owens Corning, as well, has installed 2 MW of solar capacity in Fera Bush.

Also at 2 MW, Cornell University’s solar farm owned by Argos Solar LLC in Geneva is among the NY’s larger solar installations. Completed in 2015, this installation has enough capacity to offset nearly 40% of the annual electricity demand at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva.

Credit: Cornell.edu

Best Tips For Evaluating New York Solar Installers

Like every decision to go solar, each solar installation is unique. But, no matter how it gets done, going solar is a great decision. Harvesting free, clean solar energy for powering your home is very satisfying, enhancing your green lifestyle by joining the solar revolution and helping to protect the environment.

And, happily, costs have decreased 70% since 2010, so rooftop solar is cheaper than ever. Finding the top New York solar installers is easier than ever, too.

While your situation is unique, and everyone benefits greatly from getting a free solar quote, the following tips are helpful for anyone wanting to get the most efficient harvest of solar energy from their installation.

Having this information at hand when you contact New York solar installers will help guide you and the installer you choose to get the job done right.

Research your home’s current electric usage — Gather the past 12 months of utility bills to know how much electricity your home is typically using
Guage your future electric needs — Is your family growing, are you thinking of putting in a pool or a hot tub, or interested in solar water heating?
Are you interested in installing an EV charger with your rooftop solar? If you have or plan to purchase a new EV, this is the perfect time to do it
Are you facing any time constraints over the next 12 months?
A solar installation is usually quick, but can potentially run into snags that take time to resolve
Keep in mind any budget constraints — if cash is tight, explore owning/leasing options with all New York solar installers you contact to find the right installation for your home and budget
Remember that higher quality hardware may offer a much better harvest of solar power, so the lowest price tag will not necessarily be the best choice

Remember, too, that labor and other ‘soft’ costs account for around 50% of a solar installation. Larger solar companies regularly spend generously on ‘soft’ items, like major advertising campaigns and internet marketing sprees, and their customers regularly foot the bills.

Also keep in mind that the New York solar installers you evaluate must be completely familiar with your local, state, and federal tax breaks and incentives, as well as local permitting rules, and other utility-related regulations.

Finally, weigh carefully the difference between local and out-of-town New York solar installers, since local experience, ongoing support, and the prompt honoring of warranties that you are offered can be crucial in both the near term and the future.

We celebrate NY's commitment to community health, resiliency, opportunity w #Solar4All http://t.co/9iPK8eEwEN #REV4NY pic.twitter.com/EJZmVaUNEb

— Vote Solar (@votesolar) July 16, 2015

Top New York Solar Installers for 2017

The following is a specially curated list of top New York solar installers for 2017. Please keep in mind that this list is alphabetical — it’s not ordered by ranking because ranks are based on many factors that may not apply to your situation.

Pulled primarily from positive reviews on such websites as solarreviews.com and solarpowerworldonline.com, this list represents a perfect place to start if you ready to evaluate the top New York solar installers.

2K Solar
4 Crotty Lane, New Windsor, NY 12553

American Solar Install
140 Morgan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Apex Solar Power
64 Main St, Queensbury, NY 12804

Buffalo Solar Solutions
1212 Abbott Road, Suite A, Buffalo, NY 14218
13 West Main Street, Cuba, NY 14727

Built Well Solar
3280 Sunrise Hwy., Suite 345, Wantagh, NY 11793

CIR Electrical Construction
400 Ingham Ave Lackawanna, NY 14218

Collegiate Builders
2901 South Park Ave, Buffalo, NY 14218

Direct Energy Solar (formerly Astrum)
1108 Kings Highway, Chester, NY 10918
28 Colt Court, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

EnterSolar
805 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Great Brook Solar NRG
819 County Rd 28, South New Berlin, NY 13843

Harvest Power Solar
57 Saxon Ave, Bay Shore, NY 11706

Hudson Solar
13 Hook Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Kasselman Solar
20 Walker Way, Albany, NY 12205

Lighthouse Solar Hudson Valley
4 Cherry Hill Rd., New Paltz, NY 12561

Monolith Solar
44 Washington St, Rensselaer, NY 12144

Namaste Solar
50 Main Street, Suite 1000, White Plains, NY 10606

OnForce Solar
728 E 136th St, Bronx, NY 10454

Paradise Energy Solutions
2351 NY-14, Geneva, NY 14456

RGS Energy
22 3rd St, New City, NY 10956

Rochester Solar Technologies
830 Phillips Rd, Victor, NY 14564

Safari Energy
989 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

Simply Solar Systems
2890 Church Rd, Hamlin, NY 14464

SolarCity
15 Grumman Road West, Unit 4, Bethpage, NY 11714
923C Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788
203 Ridgewood Dr., Elmsford, NY 10523

SOLARgeneration
747 Route 28, suite #4, Kingston, NY 12401

SUNation Solar Systems
171 Remington Blvd, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

SunBlue Energy
147 Valley St, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

SunPower by EmPower Solar
4589 Austin Blvd. Island Park, NY 11558

SunPower by Infinity Solar Systems
4 Crotty Lane, New Windsor, NY 12553

SunPower by New York State Solar Farm
1938 Route 44 55, Modena, NY 12548

SunPower by Venture Solar
67 West St Suite 211, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Sustainable Energy Developments
318 Timothy Ln, Ontario, NY 14519

Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants P.C.
70 Pleasant Hill Road, PO Box 37, Mountainville, NY 10953
24-37 46th Street, Astoria, NY 11103
118-35 Queens Boulevard, 10th Floor, Suite 1000, Forest Hills, NY 11375
36 British American Boulevard, Suite 101, Latham, NY 12110
1279 Route 300, Newburgh, NY 12550
280 Little Britain Road, Building 2, Newburgh, NY 12550
3495 Winton Place, Building E, Suite 260, Rochester, NY 14623
1 North Lexington Ave, Suite 530, White Plains, NY 10601

Trinity Solar
2180 5th Ave #1, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

UGE
330 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018

Upstate Alternative Energy
7773 Gloria Dr, Baldwinsville, NY 13027

Vivint Solar
22 Kairnes Street, Albany, NY, 12205
1565 Ocean Avenue, Bohemia, NY, 11716
3 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY, 10523
177 Cantiague Rock Rd, Westbury, NY, 11590

YSG Solar
79 Madison Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10016

November 10, 2017 0 comment

Going Solar Rooftop Solar

Solar Energy Industries Association Launches US Consumer Solar Education Campaign

by Joshua S Hill March 30, 2017

written by Joshua S Hill

Originally published on CleanTechnica.

The US Solar Energy Industries Association has launched a nationwide consumer education campaign in an effort to inform and protect solar consumers with the fundamentals of solar, while also further simplifying the process of choosing to go solar.

Announced on Wednesday, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the country’s solar industry trade association, launched a nationwide effort to educate and protect solar consumers including a series of new disclosure forms to help consumers compare and better understand the solar offers available to them from competing solar companies. These forms will aim to provide solar customers with a better understanding of the fundamentals of solar, helping them to ask the right questions, empower them to compare competing solar company offers, and know what they should expect from their solar system over the life of the system.

The disclosure forms will be accompanied by further educational material that the SEIA is providing to a range of state bodies, including governors, attorneys general, state consumer advocates, public utility commissions, solar companies, financial institutions, lead generators, federal agencies, and other allied organizations across all 50 states. In addition to the provision of these resources, the SEIA is also intending a media campaign so that consumers will not only have access to these materials, but also know they exist in the first place.

“We’ve been developing top-of-the-line resources for years — now it’s about spreading the word and getting these resources into the hands of people who need it,” said SEIA’s president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “Solar is still a new power choice for millions of Americans, and it’s critical that we cultivate a well-informed customer base. By doing their homework and making use of these tools, consumers and stakeholders alike will feel confident and comfortable in the decision to go solar.”

Everything is available to consumers free of charge through SEIA’s consumer protection portal, including consumer guides for going solar in both English and Spanish, guides for community solar and land leasing, and information for both consumers and industry. The SEIA hopes to continually evolve these resources and to provide more and improved tools for consumers as the solar industry continues to evolve.

“The Better Business Bureau supports SEIA’s efforts to provide accountability and transparency that will help strengthen the industry and increase trust in the marketplace,” said Mary Power, CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. “The disclosure forms released this week demonstrate SEIA’s commitment to building a strong industry while ensuring greater consumer protection.”

“Using these resources benefits everyone — consumers, solar companies and financial institutions,” said Nick Mack, General Counsel of Spruce Finance and co-chair of the SEIA Consumer Protection Committee. “We feel strongly that solar companies across America, large and small, should be using these tools today.”

Reprinted with permission.

March 30, 2017 0 comment

Going Solar

New Google Rooftop Solar Tool Says 80% Of US Roofs Are Suitable For Solar Panels

by Steve Hanley March 18, 2017

written by Steve Hanley

Google has updated its Project Sunroof to include 3-D models of every rooftop in all 50 states. The new software takes into consideration the trees on your property, how much sun or shade hits your rooftop, and figured in the prevailing weather in your area. Then it takes all that data and builds a computer model that tells people how much electricity a rooftop solar system could if the homeowner decides to acquire one.

Google’s campus in Mountain View, California as seen by new Project Sunroof tool.

The new software program has determined that 80% of all US rooftops are “technically viable ” for rooftop solar. Some locations are more “viable” than others, of course. Houston, Texas is judged to be the best American city for rooftop solar power. Project Sunroof says that city could generate up to 18,940 gigawatt-hours of solar electricity each year. One gigawatt-hour is enough to power 90 ordinary homes.

Project Sunroof lets you search for your house, suggests how large a solar array you might consider putting on your roof, and estimates how much energy it will generate. It also estimates how much it would cost you to lease or buy the panels.

Rooftop solar is slowing down across the United States. Residential installations grew just 19 percent last year, mostly because demand is drying up in big state markets like California. In a new report, the Solar Energy Industries Association predicts that the 5 states that saw the biggest increase in rooftop systems in 2016 will all experience drop-offs in their growth rates in the coming year.

Some of the slowdown can be attributed to changes in net metering policies in several states. Utility companies have been successful at getting state regulators to reduce or eliminate the amount of money they have to pay residential customers for the electricity they add to the grid.

March 18, 2017 0 comment

PV Solar $Solar Records

US Solar Grows 95% In 2016 In Record-Breaking Year

by Joshua S Hill February 19, 2017

written by Joshua S Hill

Originally published on CleanTechnica
by Joshua S Hill

The United States solar market had its biggest year to date in 2016, growing a phenomenal 95%, installing a fantastic 14.5 gigawatts of new solar capacity, according to new statistics released today.

The latest US Solar Market Insight report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) was published today, revealing that 2016 blew all expectations away. 2015 itself had been a record-breaking year, with the US solar market installing 7.5 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity. But 2016 almost doubled that total, growing 95% in one year to install a total of 14,625 megawatts (MW), and becoming the leading source of new electric generating capacity installed through the year, with 39% of new capacity across all fields.

“What these numbers tell you is that the solar industry is a force to be reckoned with,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s president and CEO. “Solar’s economically-winning hand is generating strong growth across all market segments nationwide, leading to more than 260,000 Americans now employed in solar.”

In fact, it was a great year for US renewables, with solar accounting for 39% of all new electric generating capacity during the year, and wind accounting for 26%.

“In a banner year for US solar, a record 22 states each added more than 100 megawatts,” added Cory Honeyman, GTM Research’s associate director of US solar research. “While U.S. solar grew across all segments, what stands out is the double digit gigawatt boom in utility-scale solar, primarily due to solar’s cost competitiveness with natural gas alternatives.”

Utility-scale solar led the way in 2016, while non-residential exceeded expectations, thanks to two major segments — community solar recorded a record of more than 200 MW, while rate design and net energy metering “fueled a rush in project development and installation growth across a number of major state markets, most notably in California.”

Overall this should come as no surprise, given just how impressive the third quarter was for US solar. The SEIA published figures back in December which showed that not only did the third quarter see a total of 4.1 GW installed, but that the fourth quarter was expected to be even higher. At the time, GTM Research predicted that 4.8 GW would be brought online in the fourth quarter.

February 19, 2017 0 comment

Rooftop Solar

SEIA Releases New Standardized Consumer Information Tool

by Steve Hanley February 2, 2017

written by Steve Hanley

People who want to purchase or lease a residential solar system are faced with a welter of unfamiliar and sometimes conflicting information. Often, deciphering it all is an overwhelming process, especially if the home owner is soliciting bids from two or more solar contractors. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) noticed that when people apply for a mortgage, they get what is called a HUD-1, a standardized form that specifies the terms and conditions for the loan. The information is presented in a universal format that applies to loans in all 50 states, which makes it easier for home owners to compare the total cost of various mortgage packages.

SEIA Solar Power Disclosure

What if there was a similar tool that residential solar customers could use to compare offers from solar contractors? Now there is. It’s called the SEIA Solar Purchase Disclosure and it’s available online for free. It was created by a team of senior attorneys from across the solar and housing industries with input from consumer groups, federal and state regulators, and others with an interest in ensuring consumer satisfaction. The Solar Purchase Disclosure offers a suite of standardized summary documents that help consumers compare offers from competing solar companies. This first-of-its-kind purchase disclosure form will help consumers in all 50 states better understand the transaction they are about to sign up for.

“As solar becomes more affordable, many consumers are paying cash or using loans to buy a solar system,” said Nat Kreamer, chairman of the board of directors of SEIA and CEO of Spruce. “The SEIA disclosure released today helps consumers easily understand the value created by, and responsibilities associated with, owning a home solar electricity system.”

The Solar Purchase Disclosure also includes an addendum with the estimated cost of electricity produced by a solar energy system over its lifetime, an important factor for many consumers in choosing solar over conventional electricity. These disclosures, available for free on the SEIA consumer protection portal, promote increased understanding about home solar system transactions.

The Solar Purchase Disclosure is a result of an ongoing effort by SEIA to make sure the solar industry remains at the forefront of consumer protection, a top issue for SEIA. The Solar Purchase Disclosure also indicates whether the company abides by the SEIA Solar Business Code, which all SEIA member companies follow and which provides some avenues consumers can take advantage of to resolve any disputes that may arise as part of the transaction. SEIA intends to continue to build upon its consumer protection initiative with free educational offerings and alerts on key issues throughout the year.

February 2, 2017 0 comment

Market Research PV Rooftop Solar Solar Records Solar Research

SEIA Identifies Top 10 Users Of Commercial Solar

by Steve Hanley November 28, 2016

written by Steve Hanley

When it comes to US business choosing to power their stores and factories with solar energy, the critical factor is money. Commercial solar prices have fallen by 58% since 2012 and by 16% year over year in 2016. In many cases, it’s just cheaper to install commercial solar power systems than continue to buy electricity from the local utility. Large US corporations now benefit from more than 1,000 megawatts of installed solar power. That’s up from 300 megawatts in 2012.

In its latest annual report entitled Solar Means Business, the Solar Energy Industries Association of America puts the spotlight on the 10 largest users of commercial solar energy. About half of them are retail store chains. Another quarter are distribution centers and data centers.

Target leads the way with 147 megawatts of installed solar from 300 installations. Walmart is right behind with 145 megawatts from 464 solar systems. Target is on pace to install another 70 megawatts of solar power in 2016 while Walmart has 21 megawatts of new solar power planned for this year. The full list of corporations in the top 10 is:

1. Target — 147 megawatts
2. Walmart — 145 megawatts
3. Prologis — 108 megawatts
4. Apple — 94 megawatts
5. Costco — 51 megawatts
6. Kohl’s — with 50 megawatts
7. IKEA — 44 megawatts
8. Macy’s — 39 megawatts
9. General Growth Properties — 30 megawatts
10. Hartz Mountain — 23 megawatts
10. Bed, Bath and Beyond — 23 megawatts

IKEA has installed solar systems at almost 90% of its 38 US locations, by far winning in relative terms. General Motors uses solar at 31% of its facilities and Johnson & Johnson is third in the percentage of its sites with solar power at 28%.

November 28, 2016 0 comment

Going Solar Jobs PV Rooftop Solar Solar $Solar Incentives Solar Policy

Solar Panels In Hawaii — Hawaii Solar Companies, Solar Tax Credit & incentives, Solar Costs …

by Aisha Abdelhamid October 24, 2016

written by Aisha Abdelhamid

Originally published on Cost of Solar.

Looking at the map, Hawaii appears to be an ideal solar market. Every sun-worshipper on Earth knows the value of a Hawaiian vacation for its fabulous solar insolation.

High electricity prices due to the huge costs of importing fossil-fuel-based energy resources make renewables like solar and wind power a no-brainer for Hawaiians.

Hawaii ranks number 8 in SEIA’s Top 10 States for total installed solar capacity. Credit: SEIA.org

And, for the most part, Hawaii has stepped up to the solar plate. Swinging home runs right and left, Hawaii has successfully gained 100% of new electrical capacity from solar. It ranked as #2 for watts per person in SEIA’s 2015 ranking of Top 10 Solar States, with 394 watts/person.

Ranking 7th in the US for 2015, Hawaii installed over 231 MW of solar capacity, a growth rate of 10% over 2014. An updated total of 615 MW of installed capacity ranks Hawaii as 8th in the US for current total installed solar capacity.

Representing a 3% increase over last year, $331 million was invested in Hawaiian solar installations, and this number is expected so see significant growth this year as well. “Over the next five years,” reports SEIA, “Hawaii is expected to install 853 MW of solar electric capacity.”

Throughout Hawaii’s value chain, over 104 solar companies contribute to the market, employing over 2,800 people. There is currently enough solar energy installed in Hawaii to supply clean, renewable energy to over 159,000 homes.

google map of solar in Hawaii from seia.org screenshot

Google map of solar in Hawaii. Click image for interactive map at SEIA.org

Unfortunately, however, issues related to interconnection of distributed energy resources are driving major changes to the solar market in Hawaii. The dramatic closure of Hawaii’s net metering program in October 2015 is having a significantly negative impact on Hawaii’s electricity grid customers wanting to transition to solar power.

As reported by the Hawaii Solar Energy Association in September 2016, “Another month has passed, and no decisions have been made on key issues that are pivotal not only for the solar industry, but also the state’s clean energy goals, consumer choice, and customer savings. The outlook for Hawaii’s solar industry remains cloudy. … Our data indicates that for yet another month this year, industry activity has fallen significantly compared to the same time last year.”

HSEA continues, “With the Grid Supply program nearing its end, we can only expect the situation to get worse since the NEM backlog is not as robust as numbers might suggest and few companies are offering Self-Supply products. In light of this, it is imperative to raise the Grid Supply cap and to enact and implement Time-Of-Use rates and energy storage incentives to bolster the Self-Supply option.”

Hajime Alabanza, a spokesperson for HSEA, sums up the situation in Hawaii: “Consumers want to produce their own clean, homegrown energy and increase their monthly electricity savings. Unless key policy decisions are made immediately, customers will have few options other than expensive, fossil fuel generated utility power.”

The following is an in-depth exploration of the state of solar energy in Hawaii. Please feel free to offer further contributions in the comments.

Hawaii’s Solar Incentives

Federal Incentives

The federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) is available across the United States. The ITC offers a credit from the federal government of up to 30% of a solar installation’s costs. However, you can only take full advantage of the credit if you have that much tax liability in the tax year. Under current law, the 30% ITC currently extends through 2019 but is scheduled for a phase-out after that.

Businesses may also qualify for a corporate depreciation incentive, as well as the Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC-1603) and the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC).

State Incentives

The following are a limited sample of state solar energy incentives listed on the Hawaii page of the DSIRE Incentives Database. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) website, operated by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University, offers an up-to-date and comprehensive public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives across the United States, including federal and state incentives, programs, and policies.

Hawaii’s Feed-in Tariff — last updated 06/08/2015:

The feed-in tariff (FIT) in Hawaii was established through the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in September 2009. Offered by the three investor-owned utilities — HECO, MECO, and HELCO — the rates for Tiers 1 and 2 opened in November 2010. The FIT rates for Tier 3 were approved and filed by December 30, 2011.

People applying for the FIT must register and apply online at the Independent Observer FIT website. Unless no building permit is required by their county, applicants are required to file their building permits either prior to or on the same day as applying for the FIT.

Current Feed-in Tariff Overview:

Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Municipal Solid Waste, Landfill Gas, Tidal, Wave, Ocean Thermal, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small) In-Line Hydro, Onshore Wind
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Incentive Amount: Rates for Tier 1 and Tier 2 vary by system size and technology and rates for Tier 3 vary by technology
Eligible System Size: Systems up to 5 MW are eligible, though system size cap varies by technology and island
Duration: 20 years
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: Utility

The Hawaii State Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program has 11 incentives. The solar-relevant FIT incentives are as follows:

Technologies: Solar Photovoltaics
Parameters: The system size has a maximum of 20.00 kW, The incentive is 0.22 $/kW

Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric
Parameters: The system size has a maximum of 20.00 kW, The incentive is 0.27 $/kW

Technologies: Solar Photovoltaics
Parameters: The system size has a minimum of 20.00 kW, The system size has a maximum of 500.00 kW, The incentive is 0.19 $/kW

Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric
Parameters: The system size has a minimum of 20.00 kW, The system size has a maximum of 500.00 kW, The incentive is 0.25 $/kWh

Technologies: Solar Photovoltaics
Parameters: The system size has a minimum of 500.00 kW, The system size has a maximum of 5.00 MW, The incentive is 0.20 $/kWh

Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric
Parameters: The system size has a minimum of 500.00 kW, The system size has a maximum of 5.00 MW, The incentive is 0.32 $/kWh

Links to Additional Hawaii State Solar Incentives:

KIUC — Solar Water Heating Loan Program Last updated: 06/02/2015
Solar Water Heater Rebate Last updated: 06/01/2015
Solar and Wind Energy Credit (Corporate) Last updated: 08/27/2014
Solar and Wind Energy Credit (Personal) Last updated: 05/29/2015
Maui County — Solar Roofs Initiative Loan Program Last updated: 05/29/2015
Farm and Aquaculture Alternative Energy Loan Last updated: 09/19/2014
Green Infrastructure Bonds Last updated: 09/03/2014
GreenSun Hawaii Last updated: 09/03/2014
City and County of Honolulu – Real Property Tax Exemption for Alternative Energy Improvements Last updated: 09/02/2014
City and County of Honolulu – Solar Loan Program Last updated: 09/02/2014
Local Option – Special Improvement Districts (PACE Financing) Last updated: 08/27/2014
Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program Last updated: 01/15/2014
Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program Last updated: 01/15/2014

Hawaii’s Net Metering Policy:

On October 12, 2015, the Hawaii PUC voted to end net metering in favor of 3 alternative options: a grid supply option, a self-supply option, and a time-of-use tariff.

Customers with net energy metering application submitted before October 12 will have the option of continuing with net metering described in the DSIRE Net Metering Program Overview (last updated 10/21/2015).

Current Net Metering Program Overview:

Web Site: http://energy.hawaii.gov/
Utilities: Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Maui Electric Co Ltd, Hawaiian Electric Co Inc
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small)
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Local Government, Residential, State Government, Federal Government
Applicable Utilities: All utilities
System Capacity Limit: 100 kW for HECO, MECO, HELCO customers; 50 kW for KIUC customers
Aggregate Capacity Limit: 15% per circuit distribution threshold for distributed generation penetration
Net Excess Generation: Credited to customer’s next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: Not addressed
Meter Aggregation: Virtual net metering tariffs due October 15, 2015

Hawaii’s New Self-Supply, Grid Supply, and Time-of-Use Tariff Options:

With the closing of Hawaiian Electric Company’s (HECO) net metering program in October 2015, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved new options to interconnect distributed resources to the grid. Strategies for advancing the state’s evolving distributed energy resource policies include adopting energy efficiency measures and demand response measures especially relevant to rooftop solar systems, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle charging.

As stated in the PUC’s filing, “This is necessary to ensure a smooth transition to a redesigned market-based structure for distributed resources in Hawaii, and the State’s commitment to meet a 100 [percent] renewable portfolio standard by 2050.”

HECO owns the utilities on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii Island and the new changes only apply to new customers. Existing customers, those who have already applied for net metered systems, or those who are awaiting approval will not see a change in the HECO net metering program.

The changes approved in the filing include new “Customer Self-Supply,” and “Customer Grid-Supply” tariff options for new customers applying to interconnect distributed energy resources to HECO’s grid. In addition, all grid-connected residential customers will now pay a minimum monthly bill of $25, and commercial customers will pay a minimum bill of $50.

Under the Customer Self-Supply (CSS) option, new solar customers with energy storage systems are offered expedited review and approval of their systems. They do not receive any compensation for any electricity exported to the grid and are tightly restricted in how much excess electricity that can be exported.

Under the Customer Grid-Supply (CGS) option, new solar customers are (in theory) able to export electricity to the grid, but at a substantially lower rate. The CGS tariff reduces the previous tariff from the full retail rate (about $0.30/kWh) to the wholesale rate for the islands’ utilities. These wholesale rates range from around $0.15–0.28/kWh.

Unfortunately, this all looked good on paper but is not really working out in reality.

Time-of-Use rates have never materialized. And, in early October 2016, the Hawaiian Electric Company reportedly reached a cap on its Customer Grid-Supply program, essentially meaning that there is no longer a Customer Grid-Supply option.

Hawaii Solar Energy Association President Rick Reed reports, “The abrupt end of grid-supply has pushed the local solar industry to the brink of collapse, and swift action is needed to prevent more layoffs and harm to customers.”

Since the end of net metering, according to the Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA), the sector has lost about 450 jobs from among the more than two dozen solar companies operating in the state.

In September, the HSEA reported that the Customer Self-Supply program had received 33 applications, but needs energy storage incentives and approved time-of-use rates to foster quicker growth.

Although solar advocates have called for increases in caps for Customer Grid-Supply, HECO is hesitant. Darren Pai, a spokesperson for HECO, replied, “We believe any increase should be limited in scope and consistent with the PUC’s guidance on this issue and State law.” Pai continued, “We recommend that projects under any increased Grid Supply program capacity be right-sized help maintain safe, reliable service and allow for maximum customer participation.”

Hawaii’s (As Yet Insubstantial) Energy Storage Policy

Recognizing the importance of energy storage, the investor-owned Hawaiian Electric Company explicitly mentioned adopting storage in the utility’s 2013 Integrated Resource Planning Report. The report called for energy storage as a necessary strategy to facilitate expanding renewables capacity and modernize electric generation.

In 2014, two bills establishing tax incentives for energy storage projects were introduced. HB2618 offered a 20% investment tax credit, or a utilization credit equal to $0.08/kWh of capacity for a project’s first 10 years. SB 2932 required the PUC to establish an energy storage portfolio standard. Unfortunately, both bills failed to pass.

The 2016 legislature session failed dismally, as well. Although energy storage was hailed as the best solution after the Hawaii PUC ended the net metering program in October 2015, two new bills supporting storage rebates and tax credits stalled in this year’s session.

Democrat Representative Chris Lee, Chair of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, reported, “Both died at the last minute, along with several other bills, due to a stall in unrelated negotiations between the House and Senate.”

The purpose of SB 2738 was to provide a rebate for energy storage systems. This bill called for $50 million from Hawaii’s Green Energy Market Securitization (GEMS) program to facilitate energy storage systems for Hawaii’s “underserved residents,” characterized as “low to moderate income homeowners, renters, churches, and non-profits.”

HB 2291, the second of the two bills, amended the Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit (RETITC) program to include energy storage. HB 2291 set a $5,000 cap on rebates, but for solar-plus-storage systems, the cap was set at $10,000. The existing RETITC tax credit would have stepped down from 35% to 25% in 2017, and in 2020 stepped down to 15%.

Energy and Environmental Protection Chairman Lee worked on and actively supported both bills. He reports that they are expected to be taken up again, possibly joined into a single bill, with the start of Hawaii’s new legislative session in January 2017.

Although financial concerns are still likely to prove problematic, Lee is optimistic. “It should be easy to pick up from where we left off,” he states, “since we worked out most of the issues this year.”

Although tax incentive bills are not yet supporting widespread residential adoption, it is worth noting that Hawaiian Electric Company has already issued an RFP for energy storage systems ranging from 60–200 MW.

Current Solar Costs in Hawaii

As covered in a recent article on Cost of Solar, the costs of a solar installation in Hawaii are dropping dramatically, especially in the last few years.

Jake pointed out that the 2011 price per watt for a system installed in 2010 was $8, and “a 2014 source said that installed solar panel cost was $4.04 per watt. However, prices have dropped since then.” Brian Korgaonkar, writing for Renewable Energy World, places the end-of-year 2015 cost at $3.53 per watt in Hawaii.

With or without energy storage systems, a homeowner’s investment in solar PV is an excellent decision. Given the extremely high prices that residents of Hawaii, especially on Oahu, are paying for imported oil-based electricity, any relief provided by a solar installation is a big help.

A residential solar PV installation will likely produce electricity for about 20 years, offering significant savings over this long term. And, even if the homeowner decided to move after only 10 years, for example, the solar system typically contributes around 3% to the selling price of the home.

“This percentage might sound trivial,” Jake points out, “but 3% of a $300,000 home is $10,000. If the system costs $15,000, eventually, at the time of sale, you would get $10,000 back, so the true cost of the system might only be $5,000. If you saved $1,200 per year for 10 years because of the home solar power system, you would actually make about $7,000.”

Notable Solar Installations in Hawaii

As reported by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), the following are notable solar installations in Hawaii:

Grove Farm on Kauai Island was completed in 2014 by developer SolarCity. This photovoltaic project has the capacity to generate 12 MW of electricity — enough to power over 3,100 Hawaii homes.

At 5 MW, Kalaeloa Solar Two is among the largest solar installations in Hawaii. Completed in 2015 by Sunetric, this photovoltaic project has enough electric capacity to power more than 1,500 homes.

Several large retailers in Hawaii have gone solar, including Macy’s, Target, and Walmart. Safeway has installed one of the largest corporate photovoltaic systems in the state with 332 kW of solar capacity at their location in Ewa.

Caption: SolarCity partners with NREL in Hawaii. Credit: NREL.gov

Solar Companies in Hawaii

According to SEIA, there are currently over 104 solar companies employed throughout the value chain in Hawaii, ranging from solar system manufacturers to system installers. The following is an incomplete listing of solar installers in Hawaii, chosen and listed based on high customer reviews and recommendations:

Solar PV System Installers in Hawaii:

SolarCity
73-4800 Kanalani Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
599 Kahelu Avenue, Mililani, HI 96789

Pacific Energy, LLC.
PMB 712, PO Box 959, Kihei, HI 96753

ProSolar Hawaii
74-5565 Luhia Street, #105, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Rising Sun Solar Electric LLC
810 Kokoma Road, Suite 160, Haiku, HI 96708

American Electric
315 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu, HI 96819

ProVision Technologies
69 Railroad Ave, Suite A-7, Hilo, HI 96720

Renewable Energy Services
P.O. Box 278, Paauilo, HI 96776

Haleakala Solar Inc
Po Box 786, Puunene, HI 96784

La’akea Solar
74-4966 Mamalahoa Hwy, Apt A, Holualoa, HI 96725

Sunetric
5.00 based on 3 reviews
905 Kalanianaole Highway, Box 21, Kailua, HI 96734

Hawaii Energy Smart LLC
210 West Uahi Way, Wailuku, HI 96793

Sol Systems (Hawaii)
4246 Hanahao Place, Lihue, HI 96766

Hi-tech Plumbing Corp.
2108 Lauwiliwili St., #103c, Kapolei, HI 96707

Maui Solar Project
P.O. Box 803, Kula, HI 96790

Island Pacific Energy
521 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 211, Honolulu, HI 96813

Pacific Energy Strategies Llc
94-1093 Hanauna St. Ste. 102, Waipahu, HI 96797

(Please feel free to add your own recommendations and/or reviews in the comments, below!)

Hawaii is Leading the National Energy Dialog

Leading the national energy dialog, Hawaii is a major player in an innovative collaboration between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and SolarCity.

Using advanced modeling and inverter testing at the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), NREL and SolarCity are collaborating with the Hawaiian Electric Companies to address stability, reliability, and safety challenges.

Analyzing high penetrations of distributed PV with the electric system has helped to update interconnection standards and codes. And, as a result, IEEE 1547 and UL 1741 were updated to standardize inverter testing procedures and protocols for advanced inverter functionalities.

“We know how important the option of solar is for our customers,” notes Colton Ching, Hawaiian Electric’s Vice President for Energy Delivery. “Solving these issues requires that everyone—utilities, the solar industry, and other leading technical experts like NREL—work together. That’s what this work is all about. With the highest amount of solar in the nation, our utilities are facing potential reliability and safety issues before anywhere else.”

The results of this collaboration have been so successful that Hawaiian Electric was able to clear the waiting list of around 2,500 customers in line to connect their PV installations to the grid. In fact, the utility more than doubled the number of rooftop installations allowed on the grid. Limits on distributed solar power went from 120 percent to 250 percent of the minimum daytime load.

NREL notes that Hawaii’s successful results are “showing utilities across the country that distributed solar is not a liability for reliability—and can even be an asset.”

Additional Links for Hawaii State Solar Resources

Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (HPUC) — Learn more about Hawaii’s governing body responsible for regulating state electricity rates and services

Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA) — Keep up with the state Solar Energy Association and local solar companies

Hawaii State Legislature — Follow pending solar energy legislation, identify and contact individual Hawaiian legislators

Hawaii State Energy Office — Offers information about state government energy programs, policies, projects, energy-saving strategies, and energy-related statistics

BBB Accredited Business Directory — Solar Energy System Design & Installation — Better Business Bureau’s comprehensive directory of Hawaiian solar energy contractors, dealers, suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors

October 24, 2016 0 comment

Solar Records

Solar Energy Will Have A Very Good Year In 2016 Says SEIA

by Steve Hanley June 12, 2016

written by Steve Hanley

Solar energy accounted for 64% of all new electric generating capacity brought online in the first quarter of 2016 according to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s U.S. Solar Market Insight Report. In total, 1,665 megawatts of solar power were added between January 1 and March 31. The report also says that this year the solar industry will install an unprecedented 14.5 gigawatts of capacity. That’s a 94% increase over 2015. There are now more than a million operating solar PV installations across the country, representing 27.5 cumulative gigawatts of operating capacity.

Solar power installations GTM Research

June 12, 2016 0 comment

Energy Storage Going Solar Market Research Policy Research PV Rooftop Solar Solar $Solar Incentives Solar Policy Solar Research

California Solar Incentives, Solar Installers, & Solar Costs

by Zach June 7, 2016

written by Zach

Originally published on Cost of Solar.

California is ground zero for solar energy in the United States. So, it seems logical to start our state-level solar energy deep dives here. In the article below, I’ll provide as thorough a look at California solar incentives + solar installers + solar costs as I’ve seen anywhere. Actually, it is more thorough than anything I’ve seen.

Naturally, if you read through this and know of more California solar energy facts or resources I should look at and include, let me know in the comments!

Solar Incentives

The first thing to know is that there’s a solar investment tax credit (ITC) available across the United States that offers a credit from the federal government of up to 30% of the cost of a solar installation. However, you have to have that much tax liability in a single year in order to take advantage of the full credit. Additionally, the 30% credit runs through 2019, after which, a phaseout of the incentive begins (under current law). Here are some more details from the US Department of Energy:

Solar-electric property

30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2021
22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2020 and before 01/01/2022
There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2021.
The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Solar water-heating property

30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2021
22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2020 and before 01/01/2022
There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2021.
Equipment must be certified for performance by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
At least half the energy used to heat the dwelling’s water must be from solar in order for the solar water-heating property expenditures to be eligible.
The tax credit does not apply to solar water-heating property for swimming pools or hot tubs.
The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Across California, certain solar energy systems are exempt from property taxes, so no need to worry about increasing your tax bill.

Probably the second-biggest incentive for California solar consumers is the state’s net metering policy — hence the reason fossil fuel & monopolistic utility companies have been routinely attacking it and trying to remove or change it. The policy exists in the jurisdictions of all of the state’s utilities except LADWP, which has a feed- in tariff program in place and its own net metering policy. Under the state net metering policy, excess electricity a consumer generates with her/his solar power system (or other renewable energy system) is treated as follows:

Credited to customer’s next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, customer may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment for credit at a rate equal to the 12-month average spot market price for the hours of 7 am to 5 pm for the year in which the surplus power was generated. (If customer makes no affirmative decision, credit is granted to utility with no compensation for customer.)

While consumers using net metering were exempted from connection charges for years, the rules recently changed, and will coming into effect in July 2017 at the latest. Here are more details from DSIRE:

In January 2016, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a decision on its net metering successor tariff. Customers on the new net metering successor tariff will have to pay an interconnection fee, estimated at $75-$150; pay all non-bypassable charges for all electricity consumed from the grid (~$0.02-0.03/kWh); and go on a time-of-use rate. The net metering successor tariff will take effect for California’s three large investor-owned utilities (IOU) on July 1, 2017, or when 5% of the sum of non-coincident customer peak demand is reached for the IOU, which translates to an installed net-metered capacity of 2,409 MW for Pacific Gas and Electric, 2,240 MW for Southern California Edison, and 617 MW for San Diego Gas and Electric.

Click here to read more about the CPUC’s efforts to create a customer-generator successor tariff or contract.

Virtual net metering is also allowed for multi-family buildings, and an April 2016 CPUC decision added rules for solar-connected storage systems up to 10 kW. Here are some more details on the virtual net metering rules:

AB 2466 of 2008 allows a local government, if certain conditions are met, to distribute bill credits from a renewable energy system across more than one meter. To be eligible for this billing arrangement all electrical accounts involved must receive electricity under a time-of-use tariff, and all accounts must be owned by the same entity.

California also allows virtual net metering for certain utility customers. Originally authorized just for customers participating in the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) program, the CPUC voted in July 2011 in favor of a proposed decision which extends virtual net metering to all multi-tenant properties and to all distributed generation technologies. Virtual net metering allows the bill credits associated with the electricity produced by the system to be distributed across all the tenants’ electricity bills.

Regarding solar + storage, here are the rules:

Energy Storage (IOUs Only)
California allows renewable energy systems coupled with energy storage to qualify for net metering. A chief concern when introducing storage to net metering is the risk that a customer would store grid electricity during times when electricity costs are low and export that same grid electricity during times when electricity costs are high. The CPUC developed rules to address this and other concerns. The CPUC developed different rules for PV systems paired with storage devices 10 kW or less, and PV systems paired with storage devices larger than 10 kW or other forms of renewable energy paired with storage of any size.

PV systems paired with storage devices larger than 10 kW and non-PV renewable energy technologies paired with storage of any size:
The CPUC issued a decision in May 2014 establishing rules for net metering systems paired with storage devices larger than 10 kW. In addition to other requirements, these systems must : 1) install a non-export relay on the storage device(s); 2) install an interval meter for the NEM-eligible generation, meter the load, and meter total energy flows at the point of common coupling; or 3) install an interval meter directly to the NEM-eligible generator(s). While these rules originally applied only to systems paired with storage larger than 10 kW, a subsequent CPUC decision extended these requirements to all non-PV technologies paired with storage of any size.

PV systems paired with storage devices 10 kW or less:
The CPUC issued a decision in April 2016 establishing rules for net metering PV systems paired with storage 10 kW or less. Rather than installing the extra equipment required for storage devices greater than 10 kW, the rules for PV systems paired with smaller storage protects against rate arbitrage by relying on system output estimations. Specifically, utilities are required to establish monthly maximum allowable output limits for net metering facilities using CPUC-approved tools. Any export by the customer’s system which exceeds the monthly limit would not be eligible for net metering credits.

The other big solar incentive in California for years was the California Solar Initiative’s cashback grant for installing solar. However, that program is now closed across the state for residential consumers. It is still open for commercial consumers in the San Diego Gas & Electric district.

That said, there are still numerous other solar incentives available in The Golden State. DSIRE collates the most comprehensive index of solar incentives in the country (or the world) as far as I’m aware. It shows 208 solar incentive programs in California. Of course, most are for specific cities, counties, utility jurisdictions, or special districts. I could quickly paste them all in here, but DSIRE continuously updates the incentives as they change, so I think it’s best to just direct you there to find the incentives that could benefit you.

Solar Installers

First of all, before looking into installers in your area, be sure you are prepared to evaluate installers and solar financing options. You don’t want to go to a solar installer with no background knowledge and info about what you are looking for, just as you don’t want to go to a car dealership in the same way.

Naturally, being the largest solar market in the US (by far), all of the big players in the home solar installation industry operate in California. Here’s the top 10 list (nationally):

SolarCity
Vivint Solar
Sunnova
RGS Energy (Real Goods Solar)
Solar Universe
Bland Solar & Air
Amergy Solar
Smart Energy Solar
KDH Solar
Direct Solar Energy

It’s not clear if KDH Solar & Direct Solar Energy operate in California, but solar installers #1–8 do.

As hinted above, though, not all installers are equal. Last year, SolarCity’s MyPower prices were found to be 34% higher than the California average. (Note: SolarCity later ended its MyPower program and just launched another home solar loan program.) Keys to evaluate are the types of financing options installers offer (and try to push on you): internally provided solar loans vs solar leases/PPAs vs solar loans from other companies. Then you have to evaluate how those options compare to other financing options you could use, weighing upfront costs, interest rates, timeframes (a 30-year loan is sure to cost you a lot more than a 20-year loan), and what’s included.

Aside from contacting individual installers, you can get quotes from a variety of installers via Cost of Solar, Pick My Solar, EnergySage, Google’s Project Sunroof, and probably other such services.

You can also check reviews on Yelp, but I hear that reviews are commonly planted on the site, so I don’t know how reliable they are.

A comprehensive database of solar installers/contractors was created and is maintained by the California Energy Commission, and you can search for one in your area via this tool.

Solar Costs

According to the Q4 2015 US Solar Market Insight report, average solar PV system pricing breaks out as follows:

SEIA notes, “Overall system pricing fell by up to 17% over the course of 2015, depending on the market segment, with the largest declines in the utility fixed-tilt sector. On a quarterly basis, pricing continues to trend downward with some levelling-off in the residential sector in particular due to strong investment in customer acquisition and the stubbornness of other soft costs. In the non- residential and utility sectors, there were annual declines of 10% and 17%, respectively. This reflects continued aggressive cost reductions, both in hardware and soft costs, in national system pricing on an aggregate basis. Moreover, as installers and EPCs expand to regions with lower labor and regulatory compliance costs, these regions will have a larger impact on aggregate pricing. Due to advantages from scale, variations in utility system costs are much smaller than variations in residential and non-residential solar costs.”

Here are some more details on solar PV system pricing:

Average pricing for residential rooftop systems landed at $3.50/Wdc in Q4 2015, with nearly 65% of costs coming from on-site labor, engineering, permitting and other soft costs.

While residential hardware costs have fallen by over 16% in the past year, soft costs have actually risen on an industry average basis by 7%, primarily due to rising customer acquisition costs among national and local players alike.

In the non-residential market soft costs remain a challenge as well. Hardware costs fell 15% year- over-year while soft costs saw a modest decrease of 6%. In Q4 2015 soft costs accounted for approximately 50% of total system pricing. Soft costs can be even higher for projects in areas with strict labor requirements and particularly in tough permitting and interconnection jurisdictions. In order to continue reducing costs, developers and EPCs are looking to squeeze additional power density for commercial sites and amortize fixed costs over more power output – and therefore reduce dollar-per-watt and dollar-per-kWh.

California represents nearly 50% of the US solar market. While it’s not clear what the precise averages for solar costs are in California, the state can’t be too far off the average, on average. 😀

Based on the Pick My Solar research noted above regarding SolarCity, the average price of a SolarCity system is $5.10 per watt, while the company found the average price in the state to be $3.60 per watt. That matches up closely with GTM Research & SEIA’s Q4 average of $3.50 per watt. So, I think it’s safe to say that the California average is somewhere between $3.40 per watt and $3.70 per watt (but remember that soft costs have been coming down, and if the trend has continued in 2016, the overall average could be dropping).

If you have more information on solar costs in California, let us know!

June 7, 2016 1 comment

Activism Jobs

1,000 New Solar Jobs For US Military Veterans

by Tina Casey November 10, 2015

written by Tina Casey

In advance of Veterans Day, the non-profit solar installer GRID Alternatives has announced a hookup with Wells Fargo to kick off “Troops to Solar,” a three-year program aimed at training more than 1,000 military veterans for jobs in the burgeoning solar industry. The program will also train service men and women who are still on active duty, which will help foster a seamless transition to employment once they return to civilian life.

So…it doesn’t seem like those 35 permanent jobs promised by the Keystone XL oil pipeline project will be missed.

Solar Jobs For Solar Veterans

As the US Department of Defense ramps up its transition to renewable energy, more servicemen and -women are becoming exposed to solar power. That includes both utility scale solar and rooftop solar for housing and other facilities at permanent military bases, solar canopies and solar-enabled microgrids for forward bases, and even portable solar gear to carry into the field.

That familiarity is one factor that could make military service an attractive background for solar employers. However, there are deeper elements at work. Nat Kreamer, a veteran and Board Chairman of the trade organization SEIA (Solar Energy Industry Association), explains:

As an industry, we are completely committed to hiring more veterans. Today, America’s solar energy companies already employ twice as many veterans as the average U.S. business. We hire veterans because they come trained, ready and passionate. The solar industry is filled with people who are motivated to build our economy, improve our environment and strengthen our national security.

[snip]

…Solar, like the military, is not just about the paycheck; it is also about working for something larger than oneself.

Last spring SEIA locked arms with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden in support of Joining Forces, an initiative aimed at rallying support for US service members and veterans, with a commitment to fill 50,000 solar jobs with veterans by 2020.

That initiative includes on-base solar job training for active duty service members under an Energy Department pilot project that just graduated its first class earlier this year at Camp Pendleton.

GRID Alternatives And Solar Jobs (And Wells Fargo)

With its goal of 1,000 trained solar workers, the new GRID Alternatives Troops to Solar program will take a nice little bite out of the 50,000 mark.

The three-year program, funded by a $750,000 grant from Wells Fargo, will provide placement services leveraging Grid Alternatives’s existing network services as well as solar job training and solar job training.

As part of Troops to Solar, GRID Alternatives is launching a new focus on Native American veterans and “high-need” communities on tribal reservations.

Wells Fargo notes that it is a longtime partner of GRID Alternatives, having invested more than $3.8 million (including the latest grant) since 2007. The funding has gone to GRID Alternatives’ twin goals of installing solar systems for low-income households, including veterans, while also training veterans for solar jobs.

For those of you unfamiliar with GRID Alternatives, here’s a rundown:

GRID Alternatives is America’s largest non-profit solar installer bringing clean energy technology and job training to low-income families and underserved communities through a network of community partners, volunteers, and philanthropic supporters. GRID has installed nearly 6000 rooftop solar systems with a combined installed capacity of over 20MW, saving $155 million in lifetime electricity costs, preventing 450,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and providing over 22,000 people with solar training.

GRID Alternatives works all over the country, with a solar project in Baltimore being one recent example, and this year it also formed a powerful solar jobs training partnership with industry leader SunEdison.

As For Keystone…

Now that the dust has settled over President Obama’s decision to deny a federal permit for construction of the pipeline, at least one conservative observer has hinted that the President did TransCanada — and its investors — an enormous favor by effectively killing the project. It doesn’t make sense in today’s glutty oil world, as described by The New Republic (cited in a longer New York Magazine piece):

Tar sands oil is remarkably expensive to cultivate…Oil is currently trading at less than $50 a barrel and there’s increasing speculation that the stuff will remain cheap for a long time to come. The plunge in oil prices is already affecting tar sands production: Earlier this year, Shell cancelled plans for a major investment in the tar sands. Nor are they the only ones calling off future development. The plunge in oil prices and fall-off in investment means that Keystone simply no longer makes economic sense.

We’re thinking that all of those pipeline jobs “lost” over Keystone will be made up by the renewable energy industry, and then some. SEIA’s commitment alone tops the 42,000 temporary construction jobs promised by TransCanada for building Keystone XL, and the Joining Forces initiative is backed up by other Obama Administration solar jobs initiatives.

However, take a look at one of our favorite news blogs — FuelFix.com — and you’ll notice that those zombie oil and gas pipeline jobs could very well spring to life in eastern states, so stay tuned.