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As I mentioned in the previous newsletter,
the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
was about to change the grant structure for
solar electric
systems. Well the new grant structure has
been announced and the changes are most
excellent. (Guess the reference and you will
get a gold star).
If you are a Massachusetts customer of National Grid, Nstar, Unitil, or any other publicly traded utility, you are eligible for these grants. Starting with residential systems:
If you recall, we speak of solar systems in terms of their rated peak production capacity. A 2,000-watt system, at any instant, will produce 2,000 watts of power under laboratory conditions. (In the real world, assuming no shade on your panels, true power output is about 80% of rated power.)
Some examples:
You live in Worcester County. Your home is assessed at $300,000. We install a 2,000-watt system using a Solectria inverter. Rebate amount: $2.00 + $0.25 + $1.25 = $3.50, $3.50 x 2,000 = $7,000 You live in Middlesex County, your home is valued at $550,000, we install a 3,600 watt system using a Solectria inverter and Evergreen solar panels. Rebate amount $2.00 + 0.25 = $2.25, $2.25 x 3,600 = $8,100. And don't forget, If you pay income taxes
:-), you are eligible for a state income tax
credit of 15% (up to $1,000) of the system
cost and a federal income tax credit of 30%
(up to $2,000) of the system cost. (Credits
are different than deductions, they reduce
the tax you pay dollar-for-dollar. Of course,
we are not accountants. Please confirm these
tax benefits with your tax professional).
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The Business grants are larger than those for
residents and are designed to provide system
payback time of 5 to 7 years. They are
calculated based on system size and a sliding
scale that decreases as the size of the
system grows.
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What do you need for a solar electric system?
Not Much really. South facing space clear of
shade and standard electrical service.
South facing roof - A roof
is a great place to put a solar system. Along
with the primary benefit of generating
electricity, a roof mount system is up and
out of the way. It also keeps a large amount
of heat
off your house. Your house stays cooler and
your shingles last longer.
We also have mounting systems for standing-seam metal roofs. Don't have a south facing roof? Don't worry.
There are also ground mount systems. An
open, unshaded spot in your yard works as
well as a roof. Ground mount systems stand on
a pole and can be mounted from 4 to 10 feet
above the ground.
Standard electrical service - The solar
system plugs into your circuit panel using a
normal 240-volt circuit breaker. No room in
your circuit panel? No problem. We will add a
sub-panel and plug in there.
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We now offer financing through our
distributor Sunwize
Technologies and Meridith
Capital Group.
Rates are based on the market and your credit
rating. Rate is determined at time of
application.
After we have specified a system and
estimated its cost, You can apply on-line at Meridith
Capital Group.
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Turn off the lights, wear a sweater, keep a blanket on the couch, unplug unnecessary appliances, add insulation, take shorter showers, walk instead of drive, ride a bike, group your errands, inflate your tires, grow your own food, eat locally-produced food, recycle, use your most efficient vehicle, get a hybrid vehicle, wash your clothes in cold water, use a clothesline instead of the dryer, print with narrower margins, buy less, use both sides of the page, compost, put computer gear on a power strip and turn it off at night, install a renewable energy system...
Thanks for Reading the Energy Miser,
 Mark Durrenberger
New England Breeze, LLC
phone:
978-567-WIND (9463)
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