Harvesting Solar Harvesting Solar Energy in Western Energy in Western
North Carolina North Carolina Brent Summerville
Western NC Renewable Energy InitiativeJuly 2008
If we took all the world’s reserves of coal, oil, and gas and burned them at a rate fast enough to give us the same amount of heat we are accustomed to receiving from the sun, the supply would be entirely gone in less than three days. -Branley, F. (1957). Solar Energy
Learn from NatureLearn from Nature
[Augustyn, J. (1979, 2003) The Return of the Solar Car Book]
“A cat sunning himself in the doorway of a barn knows all about solar energy. Why can’t man learn?”
-E.B. White
Big Brains
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New Construction? Build It New Construction? Build It RightRight
www.wncgbc.org
www.dsireusa.org
DDatabase of atabase of SState tate IIncentives for ncentives for RRenewables & enewables & EEfficiencyfficiency
Available IncentivesAvailable Incentives NC State tax creditNC State tax credit Federal tax creditFederal tax credit Federal Accelerated depreciation Federal Accelerated depreciation
(MACRS)(MACRS) USDA Farm BillUSDA Farm Bill Property tax exemptionProperty tax exemption
NC State Tax CreditNC State Tax Credit Enacted in 2000, extended 5 years in 2005Enacted in 2000, extended 5 years in 200535% 35% of installed costof installed cost LimitsLimits
$1,400 – solar hot water and solar pool heating$1,400 – solar hot water and solar pool heating $3,500 – passive solar, active solar space $3,500 – passive solar, active solar space
heating, heating, combined solar space and water combined solar space and water heatingheating
$10,500 – PV, Wind, other residential RE$10,500 – PV, Wind, other residential RE $2,500,000 – Commercial/Industrial $2,500,000 – Commercial/Industrial
Federal Tax CreditFederal Tax Credit Part of Energy Policy Act of 2005Part of Energy Policy Act of 2005 Set to Expire December 31, 2008Set to Expire December 31, 200830% 30% of installed cost for solar of installed cost for solar
water and PVwater and PV LimitsLimits
$2,000 for solar-electric systems and $2,000 for solar-electric systems and solar water-solar water- heating systemsheating systems
No max – Commercial/Industrial No max – Commercial/Industrial
Now’s The Time!The system will cost ~$6000 installedAfter tax credits, your cost is only ~$3192
47%Off!
Combining NC and Fed Combining NC and Fed CreditsCredits
Accelerated depreciationAccelerated depreciation Federal Modified Accelerated Cost-
Recovery System (MACRS) Solar property can be depreciated in
five years. Total deduction = tax rate x 85% x
system cost = .34 x .85 x
80,000 = $23,120
NC Property Tax NC Property Tax ExemptionExemption
In addition to the tax credit, North Carolina provides for a property tax exemption for solar water heating and active space heating or cooling systems.
This means that the additional value of your solar system relative to a conventional heating or cooling system is excluded in the appraisal for property tax purposes.
USDA Rural Energy for USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) – America Program (REAP) –
Grants and LoansGrants and Loans
All applications go All applications go through our NC contact:through our NC contact:
H. Rossie Bullock, USDA RDPO Box 7426Lumberton, NC 28359(910) 739-3349 ext #[email protected]
The Food, Conservation, and Energy The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008Act of 2008
$55 million for FY 2009, $60 million $55 million for FY 2009, $60 million for FY 2010, $70 million for FY for FY 2010, $70 million for FY 2011, and $70 million for FY 2012. 2011, and $70 million for FY 2012.
25% grants25% grants 75% max grant + loan75% max grant + loan www.farmenergy.org
Goat Lady Dairy Goat Lady Dairy Solar thermal system = Solar thermal system =
$10,000 $10,000 Federal Farm Bill grant Federal Farm Bill grant
for $2,500for $2,500 30% federal tax credit30% federal tax credit Depreciate the system Depreciate the system
over five yearsover five years 35-percent North Carolina 35-percent North Carolina
corporate tax creditcorporate tax credit Add it all up, and the Add it all up, and the
$10,000 solar thermal $10,000 solar thermal system is costing Steve Tate system is costing Steve Tate less than $1,500.less than $1,500.
Local InstallersLocal InstallersFind a NC installer at
www.greenprofessionals.org
Here are a few local ones....
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Advanced Thermal Advanced Thermal SolutionsSolutionsTomas KoenigTomas KoenigSaluda, NCSaluda, NC828-749-1774 828-749-1774 [email protected]
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Appalachian Energy Appalachian Energy ServicesServicesSeth WileySeth WileyMurphy, NCMurphy, NCToll Free (888)314-1933 Toll Free (888)314-1933 Local (828) 278-2074 Local (828) 278-2074 [email protected] www.WNCsolar.com
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Appalachian Energy Appalachian Energy SolutionsSolutionsKent HivelyKent HivelySugar Grove, NCSugar Grove, NC828-773-9762 828-773-9762 [email protected]
www.appalachianenergysolutions.com
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Appalachian EnergyAppalachian EnergyFletcher, NCFletcher, [email protected] www.appalachianenergy.com
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Atomic SolarAtomic Solar165 Whirlwind Drive165 Whirlwind DriveBurnsville, NC 28714Burnsville, NC 28714(828) 675-9643(828) [email protected]
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Blue Ridge Energy Blue Ridge Energy SolutionsSolutionsBill PoteatBill PoteatMorganton, NCMorganton, [email protected]
Local InstallersLocal Installers
FLS Energy, Inc.FLS Energy, Inc. Dale Freudenberger Dale Freudenberger 400 Eastside Dr.400 Eastside Dr.Black Mountain, NC 28711Black Mountain, NC 28711828-669-5070828-669-5070FAX 828-669-5046FAX [email protected]
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Solar DynamicsSolar DynamicsOle SorensonOle Sorensonphones: 828-665-8507 and 828-231-phones: 828-665-8507 and 828-231-91069106Fax 828-665-8507Fax [email protected]@solardynamicsnc.com40 Green Valley Rd. 40 Green Valley Rd. Asheville, NC 28806Asheville, NC 28806www.solardynamicsnc.comwww.solardynamicsnc.com
Local InstallersLocal Installers
Sundance Power SystemsSundance Power SystemsDave HollisterDave HollisterPhone: 828.689.2080Phone: 828.689.2080Fax: 828.680.9798Fax: 828.680.9798925 Beauty Spot Cove925 Beauty Spot CoveMars Hill, NC 28754Mars Hill, NC [email protected]@sundancepower.comwww.sundancepower.comwww.sundancepower.com
www.nabcep.orgwww.nabcep.org
Web Web ResourcesResources
North Carolina Solar Centerwww.ncsc.ncsu.edu
Florida Solar Energy Centerwww.fsec.ucf.edu
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiencywww.dsireusa.org
NC GreenPowerwww.ncgreenpower.org
USDA Farm Billwww.farmenergy.org
WNC Renewable Energy Initiativewww.wind.appstate.edu
Questions?Questions?
ThanksThanksBrent Brent
SummervilleSummerville828-262-7333828-262-7333wind@[email protected]
This presentation is available at wind.appstate.edu
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