November 2008

Residential solar panel installation in Encinitas, CA by HelioPower

Generous state and utility rebates and now the new Federal Incentive Tax Credit for renewable energy can lift up to 50% off the price of a solar power system for your home or business.  It has never been a better time to invest in a solar electricity system, thus greatly reducing or eliminating your electric bill altogether!

A solar electric or panel system sits atop your roof and generates electricity from the sun!  You use very limited amounts of electricity from your utility company. 

New Federal Tax Credits for buying a Solar Power System just increased to 30% with no cap for either residential or commercial systems. When you combine these AMT exempt Federal Tax Credits with State Rebates, you can save nearly 50% on a new system!

In these volatile economic times we continue to be faced with escalating electricity costs. When you invest in a solar power system your budget is insulated from continued electricity rate hikes. For example, starting in January 2009 SCE will increase your rates by 25% to 30% as a result of higher natural gas and transmission costs. This marks the third rate increase in just four years!

Additionally, a solar electric system will increase the value of your home or business. A recent study from the Appraisal Institute demonstrated that the selling price of homes increased by $20.73 for every $1.00 of decrease in annual utility bills. Using this math, a solar electric system often pays for itself the day it’s installed.

Call the HelioPower sales team at 1-87-SOLAR-888 to get a free on site analysis and customized quote for your rooftop solar power system. 

Solar ground mount system for Glen Ivy Resort in Corona, CA by HelioPower

Today from RenewableEnergyWorld.com's managing editor, Jennifer Runyon writes "Investment in Renewables Will Lead to US Economic Recovery, Leaders Say."

In a joint conference call on Thursday, the leaders of four renewable energy industry associations — Randall Swisher from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Karl Gawell of the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), Linda Church Ciocci of the National Hydropower Association and Rhone Resch of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) — put forth 5 key proposals that they believe are essential elements in helping bring the U.S. out of these dark economically-challenged times and into a bright, clean future.

The 5 key proposals include Amend the Tax Credits, Adopt a Federal RPS, Make Investments in New Transmission, Mandate Renewables for Federal Property and Invest US $30 Billion in Renewables.

For the full article click here.

Marc Gunther, Senior Writer at Fortune Magazine, logged today's media article, "Why clean energy is still a good bet."

Despite falling oil prices and the credit crunch, green technology investors remain bullish.

Here is an excerpt from his excellent article, for the full piece click here.

Chico, CA retail building installation by HelioPower

(Fortune) — Some people are saying that the clean energy revolution is over, before it has even begun. "Alternative energy suddenly faces headwinds," declared The New York Times. "Winds shift for renewable energy as oil price sinks, money gets tight," reports The Wall Street Journal. "Will the Economic Crash Take Down Our Hopes for Clean Energy?" asks Alternet.

There's no doubt that recent developments cast a cloud over the renewable energy business. The capital markets have turned risk-averse, making financing for alternative energy hard to come by. Declining oil prices make it harder for cleaner transportation fuels to compete with gasoline. In a slumping economy, the government will be reluctant to pass climate change legislation that will raise gas and electricity rates.

Never mind – there are compelling reasons, even now, to believe that the U.S. is on the verge of a dramatic shift, away from a economy dependent on cheap fossil fuels and towards cleaner, greener, more efficient ways of doing business.

Recently, I spoke with three leading venture capitalists who focus on clean tech: William E. "Wilber" James of Rockport Capital, Alan Salzman of VantagePoint Venture Partners, and Paul Maeder of Highland Capital Partners. Needless to say, they are biased – they are invested, personally and professionally, in renewable energy and other clean technologies.

But they all see powerful forces driving the U.S. economy towards a more sustainable way of doing business in the long run. Those drivers include the science of climate change, rising global demand for a limited supply of fossil fuels, and growing political support for clean energy.