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Harvesting Solar Energy in Western North Carolina . Brent Summerville Western NC Renewable Energy Initiative July 2008.
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Harvesting Solar Energy in Western North Carolina Brent Summerville Western NC Renewable Energy Initiative July 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 Nature “A cat sunning himself in the doorway of a barn knows all about solar energy. Why can’t man learn?” -E.B. White [Augustyn, J. (1979, 2003) The Return of the Solar Car Book]
Big Brains [Augustyn, J. (1979, 2003) The Return of the Solar Car Book]
New Construction? Build It Right www.wncgbc.org
www.dsireusa.org Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
Available Incentives • NC State tax credit • Federal tax credit • Federal Accelerated depreciation (MACRS) • USDA Farm Bill • Property tax exemption
NC State Tax Credit • Enacted in 2000, extended 5 years in 2005 • 35% of installed cost • Limits • $1,400 – solar hot water and solar pool heating • $3,500 – passive solar, active solar space heating, combined solar space and water heating • $10,500 – PV, Wind, other residential RE • $2,500,000 – Commercial/Industrial
Federal Tax Credit • Part of Energy Policy Act of 2005 • Set to Expire December 31, 2008 • 30% of installed cost for solar water and PV • Limits • $2,000 for solar-electric systems and solar water- heating systems • No max – Commercial/Industrial
47%Off! Now’s The Time! The system will cost ~$6000 installed After tax credits, your cost is only ~$3192
Accelerated 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 Exemption • 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 America Program (REAP) – Grants and Loans All applications go through our NC contact: H. Rossie Bullock, USDA RD PO Box 7426 Lumberton, NC 28359 (910) 739-3349 ext #4 rossie.bullock@nc.usda.gov • The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 • $55 million for FY 2009, $60 million for FY 2010, $70 million for FY 2011, and $70 million for FY 2012. • 25% grants • 75% max grant + loan • www.farmenergy.org
Goat Lady Dairy • Solar thermal system = $10,000 • Federal Farm Bill grant for $2,500 • 30% federal tax credit • Depreciate the system over five years • 35-percent North Carolina corporate tax credit • Add it all up, and the $10,000 solar thermal system is costing Steve Tate less than $1,500.
Local Installers Find a NC installer at www.greenprofessionals.org Here are a few local ones....
Local Installers Advanced Thermal Solutions Tomas Koenig Saluda, NC 828-749-1774 atsinc@mchsi.comwww.gotsun.com
Local Installers Appalachian Energy Services Seth Wiley Murphy, NC Toll Free (888)314-1933 Local (828) 278-2074 info@appalachiansolar.comwww.WNCsolar.com
Local Installers Appalachian Energy Solutions Kent Hively Sugar Grove, NC 828-773-9762 kenthively@yahoo.com www.appalachianenergysolutions.com
Local Installers Appalachian EnergyFletcher, NC 866-813-7323 info@appalachianenergy.comwww.appalachianenergy.com
Local Installers Atomic Solar 165 Whirlwind DriveBurnsville, NC 28714(828) 675-9643atomic@wnclink.com
Local Installers Blue Ridge Energy Solutions Bill PoteatMorganton, NC 800-689-8824 bresco@charter.net www.brescoltd.com
Local Installers FLS Energy, Inc. Dale Freudenberger 400 Eastside Dr. Black Mountain, NC 28711 828-669-5070 FAX 828-669-5046 info@flsenergy.com www.flsenergy.com
Local Installers Solar Dynamics Ole Sorenson phones: 828-665-8507 and 828-231-9106Fax 828-665-8507 ole@solardynamicsnc.com 40 Green Valley Rd. Asheville, NC 28806 www.solardynamicsnc.com
Local Installers Sundance Power Systems Dave Hollister Phone: 828.689.2080Fax: 828.680.9798925 Beauty Spot CoveMars Hill, NC 28754info@sundancepower.com www.sundancepower.com
Web Resources • North Carolina Solar Center www.ncsc.ncsu.edu • Florida Solar Energy Center www.fsec.ucf.edu • Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency www.dsireusa.org • NC GreenPower www.ncgreenpower.org • USDA Farm Bill www.farmenergy.org • WNC Renewable Energy Initiative www.wind.appstate.edu
Questions? Thanks Brent Summerville 828-262-7333 wind@appstate.edu wind.appstate.edu This presentation is available at wind.appstate.edu Click on REPORTS….CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS