Solar Leases Make Residential Solar Power More Affordable

Solar leases are making residential solar energy more affordable for many homeowners across the United States.

The high, up-front cost of solar panel installation causes many people to reconsider utilizing this renewable energy source, despite the fact that it not only lessens monthly electricity bills but also reduces our carbon footprint.

However, the new option of "solar leases" are a great alternative and are expected to lead to more installations nationwide. These leases allow a homeowners to pay either very little or no money down to have solar panels installed on the roofs of their homes. The catch here is that instead of buying solar panels, the homeowner leases them from a solar lease company.

Instead of paying the sometimes massive upfront cost, homeowners pay a monthly fee for using the electricity generated by the solar panels. Homeowners would then typically sign a long-term contract (approximately 15 to 20 years) with the solar lease companies that 1) pay for solar equipment and the installation and 2) make sure the solar panels function properly and perform general maintenance.

Cost of Solar Power Reduced with Federal Tax Credit

Solar power is a great source of renewable energy. It doesn't add pollution to the atmosphere and reduces the dependence and use of coal and other fossil fuels, allowing individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. 

However, the cost of solar power is five times higher than from coal and other sources and the pay back period is many years, leading many Americans to stay away from using solar. To encourage Americans to use solar power, there are federal, state, local and utility incentives and rebates for solar energy systems. 

These include tax credits, tax deductions, property tax relief, purchase incentives (rebates), production incentives, and more. More specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy offers tax credits for solar-powered appliances. 

Although rebates and incentives can vary from state to state, there is an overarching federal tax credit available for residential installations for solar panels. The Internal Revenue Service expanded the federal tax credit for solar power, making it so that systems installed between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2016, are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost. To qualify, the system must supply electricity to a residence and meet local building codes. This tax credit is only for residential purposes. Corporate deductions, exemptions, and tax credits are available the commercial, industrial, and government entities. 

Solar tax exemptions, including both property and sales tax exemptions, are provided by state and local governments to help lower the costs of owning solar energy property. For both business and residential solar systems, there are also federal grant and loan programs. Several are backed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). These loans and grants assist people to install solar power panels.

In addition to tax credits and rebates, a typical residential solar system should reduce electricity bills by 25 percent to 50 percent, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The average household pays about $110 a month for electricity, according to the Energy Department, so a solar-panel system should save you between $300 and $600 a year. The payback period will vary greatly depending on how sunny it is where you live, the size of your system, the cost of your system, and future swings in local electricity costs. That being said, it could take anywhere from 6 to 18 years to get paid back for your solar panels.

When it comes to a particular state, things vary. In general, systems are cheaper in places like Arizona and California, where electricity is expensive, sunshine is plentiful, and solar has gained wider acceptance.

For example, the California Solar Initiative (CSI) allows residents to hire a certified a San Diego Solar installer to not only install the solar panels in San Diego, but also handle the CSI process for rebates on installation. Once the system is up and running, a resident can then claim their incentive (or payment). Residents can do this on top of their federal tax credit, getting the most cost effective solar panels possible. 

Although not every state is as solar-forward thinking as California, each has some sort of incentive, tax credit, or rebate available. Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for state and local incentives in your area/  

California Sets New Winter Solar Generation Record

California is becoming known for its solar power capacity, and this winter, the state set a new record in solar power generation during the winter months.

Winter days deliver about four fewer hours of daylight in California, as compared to high summer hours, but that’s not stopping the state from setting peak solar power generation records

In August, California passed the milestone of 1,029 megawatts (MW) of solar power production. Surprisingly, it nearly reached that peak August generation level during the week of the Winter Solstice, which is the least-sunny time of the year, setting a new winter solar power generation record. San Francisco to San Diego solar companies are excited with this new record.

On December 19, solar power generation ranged from 950 to 1000 MW. While that isn’t really a ton of energy, it’s an important milestone because of the time of year. During the Winter Solstice, The sun is lower in the sky than at any other time of year, which means that there is much less solar energy available for solar panels to utilize.

The underlying point is that California’s solar energy generating capacity has grown significantly since the August record was set. And compared to last year, the growth is very impressive. In December 2011, there was a maximum output of only 200 MW of solar power production.

Throughout the state, from San Francisco to San Diego solar projects are becoming more common, and the growth is expected to continue or even increase in 2013. This is not only good, but starting to become a necessity, as a rapid phaseout of fossil fuels will be needed to avoid the effects of future climate change according to the vast majority of climate scientists.

In 2013 California To Stil Lead Solar Race

California is in the lead for solar panel installation, but New Jersey is a close second – and getting closer. New Jersey has intended for increased solar photovoltaic growth within the coming year. 

A key part of the state’s plan to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy is for many home owners and housing developments will be installing back-up solar generation, either grid-tied or off-grid, which can provide power during future major outages. Despite the close race, California is projected to lead the solar race again in 2013. 

Similar to California, New Jersey has launched their own initiatives to deploy solar photovoltaic systems and to diversify their energy portfolio. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, in the second quarter of 2012, California again led the nation in installed solar capacity, with a total of 217 MW, while New Jersey had 103 MW.

Although New Jersey is making solar strides in the right direction, according to new research from Santa Clara, California-based NPD Solarbuzz, CA is projected to keep its position at number one in 2013, much thanks to its combination of policy initiatives. In 2012, energy efficient San Diego was named the country's top solar city, and the city is not ready to lose that title anytime soon.

California has one of the most ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements goals in the nation: It requires both public and investor-owned utilities to procure 33 percent of all electricity delivered to retail customers from renewable sources by 2020.

California’s Go Solar California Campaign contains several policy initiatives to help the state become more solar friendly. The California Solar Initiative (CSI), for example, is the largest rate-payer-funded solar rebate program in the US. It serves homeowners who are customers of investor-owned utilities, and has supported California’s baseline market demand for solar panels.

The New Solar Homes Partnership provides financial incentives and other support to builders of new, energy efficient solar homes. This, together with the CSI and the several other rebate programs offered through the dozens of publicly owned utilities in the state are key components of the Go Solar California initiative.

The CSI offers San Diego solar customers different incentive levels based on the performance of their solar panels, including such factors as installation angle, tilt, and location rather than system capacity alone. This performance framework ensures that California is generating clean solar energy and rewarding systems that can provide maximum solar generation.

Solar Power at San Diego State University

Solar power in San Diego State University (SDSU) is making headlines, as researchers have been able to generate solar-powered electricity using just sun and air. Sun and air may seem like the obvious ingredients needed to make solar power, but in fact, many concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies use superheated air to power a generator need water sources.

Although solar power is a great alternative to using fossil fuels - and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions - the current method of producing solar power uses water, a non-renewable natural resource. 

Current CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight (also called solar thermal energy) onto a small area that can convert the light into energy. Solar-powered electricity is produced when the light is converted to heat, which drives a heat engine - most commonly a steam turbine - connected to an electrical power generator. This turbine uses heated water to generate the steam which then powers the generator. The SDSU researchers have developed new technology to use as an alternative to water-based CSP systems. This innovation is an advancement, as the ideal location for CSP systems is in the desert.

The new CSP technology uses carbon nano particles to make the thermal absorption process in air more efficient - the light is converted into heat more effectively when it is absorbed by the nano particles. This method is more efficient when compared to the traditional method, which heats the air by pushing it through tubes. This system drives a combustion turbine as opposed to a steam turbine.

After the technology was successfully tested, plans are now in order for the system to be scaled up and put into use in the field at the National Solar Thermal Testing Facility at Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico. The lead researcher involved in the project was awarded a grant of $3.9 million from the United States Department of Energy's (DOE) SunShot Initiative.

The DOE SunShot Initiative is a national initiative to make solar energy costs more competitive with other forms of energy by 2020.

For more information on solar energy in San Diego, visit Solaire Energy Systems.

San Diego Area Synergistic Solar and Wind Project

Thanks to legislation, policies, and citizen motivation, California has become one of the top solar states in the country and San Diego solar has outreached any other city within the state. However, there is one problem about solar power: you need the sun, and half of the day is without it. The same critic has been given to wind power, but that you need the wind.

As solar and wind power are intermittent sources of renewable energy, grid operators may experience complications when trying to manage the supply and demand for electricity and keep it in balance.

In California, however, the answer was clear: build a combined solar and wind power plant. This type of combination is optimal for a region like Southern California when the winds blow strongly at night during all seasons and the sun is strongest during the day.

In Southern California in the Tehachapi-Mojave region a 140-megawatt Pacific Wind farm was placed nearby a 143-megawatt solar power station in Catalina to create a hybrid wind-solar power plant. The wind farm launched in August and the solar power station is estimated to begin generating power by the end of 2012.

The foothills of the mountains in the Tehachapi region roll into the Mojave desert. This natural environment creates some of the country’s highest winds in addition to the most intense sun exposure - making the region ideal for both wind and solar power plants.

The synergistic effect of wind and solar power combined in one project not only allows for more efficient energy generation but also a more efficient use of transmission lines that carry the generated electricity to the national grid. In fact, a transmission line is currently being built to jointly carry approximately 5,000 megawatts of the renewable energy from the region to the coastal cities. These types of lines will be used 15 to 25 percent more than tradition solar- or wind-only lines.

Solaire energy systems combined with wind is an innovative approach to more efficiently generating renewable energy. However, it may not be appropriate in all regions within the country. The combination of mountains and desert in the Tehachapi-Mojave, for example, are perfect for such a venture.

California simplifies solar panel permit process

It is projected that over one million more solar panels will be installed on roofs in California over the next few years, thanks to California's Governor, Jerry Brown. Governor Brown is helping solar power San Diego ventures, as well as other cities statewide, in their advancement through the signing the California Senate Bill 1222.

The California Senate Bill 1222 simplifies the process of acquiring the permits – business, residential, or other – needed to install rooftop solar panels. The bill will limit and standardize the fees that a county or city can charge within the permit process. Although the cost of acquiring permits differs across the state, the new bill states that in general, “high permitting fees increase the costs of installations and reduce the ability for solar to be deployed across all income spectrums.”

Under the bill, it will be easier for all residential and business owners to obtain permits to install solar panels. Following the permit process, they can then continue to contact a solar panel installation company, such as Solaire Energy Systems, to install the solar panels on their roofs. The solar panels will then lower their utility bills and help California lessen its carbon footprint.

Governor Brown, in addition to the California Senate Bill 1222, also signed 18 additional new clean energy bills into state law. If California wishes to become a true green economy, then such legislative action is necessary.

California’s top solar city: San Diego

In January 2012, a report was published by Environment California naming San Diego California’s top solar city. San Diego solar usage came in first when compared to the state’s other cities in terms of government, commercial, and residential solar installations.

San Diego also leads in the total amount solar power generated. The city has completed over 4,500 projects and generates around 37 megawatts of solar power. For reference, 1 megawatt is equal to the power used by approximately 750 homes. 

In addition to lowering the state's dependence on non-renewable energy sources, solaire energy systems are are also for the economy. The state’s solar installation market is projected to grow. Experts predict 1 million residential solar projects will be completed by 2020, which will add $30 billion to the economy and create 20,000 jobs each year.

Both the State and the Federal Government provides subsidies and incentives to residents who decide to invest in solar energy. Approximately 40 percent of the entire cost of installation can be covered. From there, it takes around three to seven years for the return on investment. 

Solar panel systems are becoming the norm for many home and business owners in California, and they have become increasingly in style as well. Not only are they popular, but innovative types of solar panels these days permit solar power systems to generate near 100 percent of energy needs.

San Diego Walmart 100th store to use solar power

Walmart has an ambitious goal for their stores to run entirely on renewable energy. Recently, the chain supply store took one step closer to reaching its goal when they announced that its San Diego, California, store will be using rooftop solar panels to generate power. The San Diego solar project will be Walmart’s 100^th store to go solar.  

The company's vast size gives it an advantage in utilizing new energy technology. Walmart has been installing solar panels on their store's roofs since 1998, and uses more solar power than any other company in the United States – beating other chain stores like IKEA and Macy’s. In total, Walmart’s Solaire energy systems generate approximately 65,000 kilowatts. And not only will does Walmart’s project contribute to lessening its carbon footprint, but it also creates jobs. In total, the company's focus on solar power has created over 3,000 jobs in California.

California, also called the 'Sunshine State', is known for it's innovative policies and clean energy bills. In total, the state is projected to generate over 70 million kilowatts of solar energy per year – enough to supply approximately 6,000 homes. In addition, solar power would lessen the states annual carbon dioxide emissions by around 22,000 metric tons. 

San Diego and other Southwestern regions may be ideal locations for solar panel placement

Recently, as a part of his “We Can’t Wait” initiative, President Obama announced that seven nationally and regionally significant solar and wind energy projects would be fast-tracked. Together, these projects would produce nearly 5,000 megawatts of energy – enough to power about 1.5 million homes, and support the President’s all-of-the-above strategy to expand American made energy reduce dependence on foreign oil. 

However, the United States has an enormous untapped source of energy that could be taken advantage of, but there’s a catch: it’s in the desert. The Southwest is an ideal location for solar panels San Diego, but these areas have few energy demands and sending solar power from these regions to population centers is complicated. The problem lies in the lack of transmission lines. This lack prevents states with ideal locations but with little populations from converting their ‘unused’ sunlight into real watts.

Transmission lines are key to developing these region's solar resources. The problem here is that is existing lines are reaching their maximum carrying potential, and building new lines can take years or even decades. According to a new Department of Energy study on transmission congestion, much of the nation's existing transmission system is aging and will need replacement before 2030.