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SunPower Authorized Dealer
We mentioned briefly in our last newsletter that we had entered an agreement with SunPower Corp to become authorized dealers, and we would like to provide a little more information about why we thought this was an important opportunity for us and our clients. The primary reason we have been closely tracking SunPower for several years is because they offer the HIGHEST efficiency modules currently available. Since the main design criteria for many of our projects is to generate as much power as possible on a finite amount of space, this is very attractive to us.
Secondly, the business model that SunPower pursues allows them to pass on lower pricing to us and consequently to our clients as compared to other mono-crystalline pv modules. SunPower has elected to forego the use of third party distribution and only sells direct to authorized dealers, thereby keeping margins leaner, and also keeping tighter quality control on their installations. We will undergo periodic in-person inspections of our SunPower installations by their QC Team.
Thirdly, their pv modules are drop-dead gorgeous. There are some projects where aesthetics are of utmost importance, and the SunPower black-backed modules satisfy this requirement. Please take a look.
If you have had a Sanyo or other mono-crystalline pv proposal from us, and are considering moving ahead now, please contact us to ask for us to re-evaluate your project using SunPower. We have found that we can generally provide more power at a lower price than our previous mono-crystalline pv proposals.
Also, for those of you who can afford to invest in a pv array for your house, but who don't have the ability to write a check for the system right now, SunPower offers financing to our clients, with home equity or non-secured options. If you want to pursue this possibility, let us know.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
GREAT PENINSULA FUTURE FESTIVAL
Date & Time: August 1- 2, 2009, 10am - 7pm Sat. 10am - 5 pm Sunday.
Location: Historic Port Gamble, Kitsap County, WA.
This will be the second annual Great Peninsula Future Festival in Port Gamble, and we will be exhibiting a small solar array and doing our "Spin Your Meter Backwards" each morning. In addition to learning about solar, and other types of clean energy, green building, and other sustainable choices, you have the chance to see some great entertainment and have a lot of fun. We almost ran away with the circus rather than returning to work after last year's GPFF. We hope to see you there, as we participate in this fun event and soak up some of the summer in Port Gamble. To Learn more click here
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Federal Grant in Lieu of Business Income Tax Credit for Solar PV
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the U.S. Treasury Department will provide cash grants in lieu of income tax credits for commercial solar PV (photovoltaic) projects. To qualify, the solar power system must be placed in service in 2009 or 2010 or, if construction begins in 2009 or 2010, must be placed in service by the end of 2016.
The grant functions similarly to a refundable tax credit. The amount of the grant is equal to the amount of the income tax credit for which the owner of the project otherwise would have been eligible - 30% for solar grid tied PV projects. The grant does not qualify as taxable income of the recipient. The tax basis of the property for depreciation purposes generally is reduced by one-half of the amount of the grant (i.e., the tax basis for depreciation generally would equal 85% of the qualifying costs of the property).
An applicant must own or lease the property and must have originally placed the property (solar PV array) in service. Federal, state, and local governments, tax-exempt entities, cooperative electric companies, and certain partnerships and other pass-through entities with such persons as direct or indirect partners or owners are not eligible for the grants.
Power Trip Energy will prepare the application for our commercial clients. |
Project Spotlight : Lopez Community Land Trust
We were honored with the opportunity to install the largest project we have participated in to date, and one of the largest projects in the state. The 34 KW ground-mounted array was constructed using Evergreen 205 watt poly crystalline modules because this was the best value available in terms of watts per dollar. The human-scale design of the installation, and plenty of volunteer labor provided by the Lopez Land Trust, kept the installation costs to a minimum, and we achieved an overall project price so low that it really raised our eyebrows. This array will provide power to 11 passive solar homes that have been designed so well that we are confident at least several residents will achieve net zero energy over the coming years
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