Home Solar Power

What You Need To Know When Shopping For a Home Solar System

By Scott Gordon
SVP, Sales, HelioPower

I consider myself among the lucky. I had the good fortune to land a job in solar sales way back in 2007. Back then, times were simpler. The majority of my customers paid for their systems with cash or HELOCS (home equity lines of credit). PPAs (power purchase agreements) and leases were the realm of multi-megawatt commercial and utility installations and nothing of the sort was available for residential consumers.

In the “earlier” days of solar savvy customers compared solar purchases by comparing price per watt. Price per what?

Price Per Watt
Price per watt simply tells you how many dollars you are spending to buy a “watt” of solar power. Think of it this way: if your home requires a 6 kilowatt (KW) solar power system (6000 watts) and you pay $42,000 to have one installed, you’ve paid $7/watt. If on the other hand, if you spent $12/watt the same system would’ve cost you a whopping $72,000! Yes, the same system! Today’s solar leasing products allow some dealers to mask dramatic price differences, such as these, behind “low monthly payments.”

The chart here illustrates the range of prices paid by customers in Southern California Edison (SCE) territory according to CSI (California Solar Initiative).  This data was compiled by a third party, RunOnSun in Pasadena, CA.

In 2007 charts like this weren’t publicly available, so homeowners really had no way to verify whether they were getting a bad, good, or great deal on a solar system unless they compared 4 to 6 bids. Still price/watt held an important place in the conversation between solar buyer and solar dealer. By 2009, “What’s your price/watt?” was often one of the first questions my customers would ask me. By then, price/watt was solar’s APR (annual percentage rate used to compare bank loans).  It’s how you knew you were getting a good deal after you settled on equipment and installation.

Today, the subject of price/watt has all but vanished from the dialog. Why? The advent of now readily available leasing and residential PPA programs allow for the selling of solar systems using ‘savings per month’ in place of price per watt. This approach allows unscrupulous dealers to mask high, some might say, outrageous prices from their customers. Does it matter what your paying if you’re saving money every month? Of course it does.

Don’t get me wrong. There are many reputable dealers who help their customers to go solar through leasing and PPAs, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with either choice, but when dealers mask high prices in leases, consumers end up holding the bag.

This type of thing may have already happened to you if you’ve ever leased a car. Savvy buyers know to negotiate the price of the car before they choose how to finance it and then check the contract numbers carefully to make sure there’s nothing funny going on. Naïve buyers walk into a car dealership and fall for the “What kinda payment are you looking for on this baby?” line. If that’s you, keep reading.

Today, we see the similar tactics infiltrating the solar industry. You go online, get a quote, and you get excited because the solar company you contacted can save you $50/month on your electric bill with their exciting new lease! So you call them up, they dispatch a salesman, and just like that you’ve gone solar. Does it really matter what you paid? After all, you’re saving $50/month, right?

Let’s say the system that saves you $50 cost you $12/watt. If you leased a 6KW system you’re on the hook for $72,000. That same system for $6/watt would’ve saved you $100/month and cost $36,000. Big difference! Which system would you lease? The savvy buyer would’ve asked how much the system cost; how much power they were getting; and compared multiple bids. Such a buyer would by enjoying both significantly higher savings and a much faster ROI (if he put money down).

Questions for Your Solar Contractor
As I mentioned, price/watt is solar’s APR. When considering solar for your home, you need to ask your solar contractor two questions:

1. What is the cost of the system?
2. How many watts am I getting for that cost?

After you have your answer, you take the cost; divide by watts; and just like that you’ve mastered the art of price/watt and are a master solar shopper (well almost, look for my upcoming article Solar Lease Red Flags to become an even savvier solar shopper).

With price/watt in hand, you now know whether you’re getting a good value or being taken to the cleaners. Savings per month is a great way to determine the impact solar will have on your bank account, but a terrible way to shop for it. Price per watt is the great equalizer. Now that you have the power of price/watt to guide your decision, you can shop more confidently for your new home solar  system.

You can reach Scott Gordon directly at SGordon@HelioPower.com.

Source:  Murrieta Patch
Writer:  Maggie Avants

For every new residential solar installation contract through Jan. 31, HelioPower will donate to Power to the People, a nonprofit bringing solar lighting to Nicaragua.

A Murrieta-based solar power company is teaming up with a nonprofit to bring solar power to those without lights in Nicaragua.

Photo by James Richard-Kao

This week, HelioPower and Power to the People launched “Help for the Holidays," a joint campaign to help households in California and Nicaragua secure affordable solar energy.

There are a number of moving parts, according to Glenna Wiseman, vice president of marketing for HelioPower.

"We want to help homeowners in California go solar with no installation cost and $500 cash back. They can also enter a $150 gift card giveaway," Wiseman said. "And we want to help families in Nicaragua have lighting through an established nonprofit."

The cash-back program and gift-card giveaway are being sponsored by Canadian Solar Inc., the panel manufacturer for HelioPower.

“We are very happy to sponsor a worthy program with industry-leading partners to bring clean energy to people around the world,” said Alan King, general manager of Canadian Solar USA, in a news release.

“Helping California consumers save money during the holiday season while also providing an important daily resource to people who otherwise might not have it is an ideal example of the power and reach of solar energy," King said.

For every home solar system installed through the campaign, which ends Jan. 31, 2012, HelioPower will donate to Power to the People's Solar Lighting program, Wiseman said.

"So many people around the world have no lights to see by at night," said Jenean Smith, executive director, Power to the People, and marketing director for Trojan Battery, in a news release.

"We're excited to work with HelioPower as we launch our Solar Lighting program in order to bring affordable solar lights to families in Nicaragua this winter," Smith said.

"It is difficult for us to imagine living without electricity when so much of our daily lives depend on it. Yet people in other parts of the world live without this resource."

HelioPower selected the $150 gift card amount because that is how much the average homeowner pays each month for electricity, Wiseman said, adding that anyone–even those who don't have a home–can enter to win.

The gift-card giveaway contest ends Dec. 21 and 10 winners will be announced Dec. 22.

"…We are very pleased that the campaign empowers California homeowners to assist families in Nicaragua in lighting their homes affordably as well," said Scott Gordon, vice president of residential sales for HelioPower.

To learn more about the "Help for the Holidays" campaign, click here.

By Scott Gordon
Vice President, Sales Residential
HelioPower

The inspiration for this blog comes from the increasing number of phone calls HelioPower has received recently from orphaned solar consumers.  An orphaned solar power system is one abandoned by the original installation firm.

A few years ago, an orphaned solar power system would have seemed unlikely if not impossible. The marketplace was swelling with well over a thousand solar companies and new entrants were popping up almost daily. Business was booming and bankruptcy was the furthest thing from solar companies’ minds. Fast forward to 2011, and the solar world, at least in California, is changing rapidly.  We can see this playing out in the number of calls our service center receives daily from solar consumers whose solar companies are missing in action or simply out of business. As the company goes, so goes the warranty on a solar power system.

Warranty Mandates
Warranty and service are critical elements of the value add that Solar EPCs (this stands for ‘engineering, procurement, and construction’ aka ‘solar integrators’) offer to their customers. If you’ve gone solar in California, the California Solar Initiative mandates that the Solar EPC provides a 10 year warranty on all products and workmanship related to the installation of your solar electric system. Such a lengthy warranty provides peace of mind to early adopters who are taking a risk on both the technology and the company that they select to install it.

While government mandates can force companies to comply with all manner of regulation, including warranty terms, they can’t guarantee that those companies will remain in business throughout the term of the mandate. So, what happens if a company goes out of business during the mandated warranty timeframe? Keep in mind that in the solar business there is no such thing as ‘too big to fail.”  While solar electricity adoption is growing at rates exceeding 20% annually, the solar industry is quite small compared to traditional energy businesses and the economy overall. Thus, it would be foolhardy to expect that your local solar company might receive a bailout should it go under prior to your warranty expiration.

The Solar Business in California
As the California Solar Initiative (CSI) enters its fourth year, we in the solar business find ourselves humbled.  With rebate money all but exhausted in PG&E and SDG&E, and on hold in LADWP until July 2011, the go-go days of the early solar market are grinding to a halt. The result is that fewer new companies are entering the solar integration space as overall demand for solar electricity in California flattens out. Beyond this, many established firms are going bankrupt for a host of reasons. The San Diego region’s sudden drop off in demand after the latest rebate drop and the killing of PACE in early summer 2010 caused some well-established names to close their doors. Many companies had gotten ahead of themselves either in marketing spend, high end office space, market expansion, and accounts payable. Other large companies have pulled out of the residential space altogether while still others are closing offices to get expenses in line with revenues. Regardless of the reasons a firm might fail, the failure almost always has the same result: the warranty, which is only as good as the company standing behind it, goes away forever. What does this mean for you if you’re two years into a ten year warranty?

What We Hear from Orphaned Solar Power System Owners
While the casual solar energy consumer shouldn’t be expected to follow the ups and downs of the solar industry, the company you choose to install your solar power system will have huge implications on your ability to receive prompt, reliable, and consistent service in the future. The increasing number of phone calls HelioPower receives from orphaned solar customers follow this typical dialogue:

Solar Customer (SC) – “Hi, I’m a solar consumer and I don’t think my system is working”

HelioPower (HPI) – “Ok, when did we install your system?”

SC – “Umm, actually you didn’t install my system, but I need someone out here right away to troubleshoot it. I just got a $600 electric bill from my utility!”

HPI – “Have you tried contacting the solar company that installed your system?”

SC – “Yes, but his number is disconnected and his emails are bouncing.”

HPI – “Ok, we’ll be happy to help you troubleshoot your system. I can have a technician out at your house tomorrow afternoon. You’ll need to have a $200 check ready for the technician before he starts work.”

SC – “Two hundred dollars!! But I have a ten year warranty with CSI. You need to fix my system for free!”

HPI – “Actually, sir, your ten year warranty is with the company that installed your solar system. If they are unable to service your system, you’ll need to pay another company to perform the work whether that’s us or someone else.”

SC – “This is unbelievable! I got a bid from HelioPower when I was shopping for my solar system, but chose the other company because they were cheaper than everyone else.”

HPI – “I’m sorry that we weren’t able to earn your business earlier, but providing service after the sale is one of the reasons we need to charge a little more for our products. So would you like us to come out and fix your system? If the problem is related to inverter or solar panel warranty, the manufacturer will cover all parts and labor. However, we still need to charge you $200 to get the process going. How would you like to proceed?”

SC – “I guess I don’t have a choice. Everyday my solar system is down I’m paying the utility more and more money. I was told by my  installer that my system would be maintenance and hassle free because it had ‘no moving parts’.”

HPI – “Ok. Tomorrow then?”

SC –  “Ok. Tomorrow.”

This call script is playing out in our offices with ever increasing frequency. The issues range from downed inverters, underproduction, roof leaks, and the like.

Pete in the Pickup
Most of the calls we receive are from consumers who chose to have their systems installed by what we in the industry call “Pete in the Pickup”, “Chuck in the Truck”, or “Dan in the Van.” These are industry labels for the one man electrician or roofer working out of his garage or condo.

While Pete’s material costs are higher (because he has to buy through distribution) his overhead costs (including insurance, workman’s comp, warehousing, benefits, service department, etc.) are substantially lower than large established companies. As a result, Pete can undercut all of the big guys. Sometimes he’s able to do this by hundreds or thousands of dollars.

In the four years I’ve been designing and selling solar electric systems the story has played out with remarkable consistency.  Pete sells a few systems, installs them, and exits the business. For the ‘Petes’ that stay in business, the service burden can soon overwhelm them as more systems get installed and need service. Pete simply doesn’t have the resources to create a dedicated service department. This can result in lengthy waits for system service.

While you may consider the Petes, Chucks, and Dans an easy mark for a blog of this nature, what’s startling is the number of well-established solar businesses closing offices, residential divisions, or shuttering their operations altogether. This is where multiple layers of warranty protection can benefit consumers long term.

CSI & Third Party Ownership Warranty Protections
If you live in California, your first layer of protection is CSI’s 10 year warranty. Should your solar installer go under, you still can make warranty claims to your equipment manufacturers. Your inverter or solar panel manufacturer will dispatch an approved installation partner and pay for the service call if the problem is related to their equipment. In our experience, inverters (especially SMA) and solar panels rarely fail. The failure is often in the B.O.S. (this is industry talk for ‘balance of system’). BOS is everything else. It comprises racking, feet (we call these stanchions), conduit, wire, fuses, breakers, disconnects, etc. Unfortunately, these items are the ones covered exclusively by the CSI warranty.

There is a third layer of protection available to solar consumers: third party ownership. Third party ownership is often associated with PPAs (power purchase agreements) and solar leases but have the advantage of making the solar energy system someone else’s problem.

The third party insures, warranties, and maintains the solar power system. You get to enjoy the benefits without the hassle. Third party ‘solar as a service’ companies provide warranties up to 20 years. One company, SunRun, has taken an interesting step toward long term customer protection. SunRun has set up a special purpose fund to maintain the systems they own in the event they go out of business. Thus, with SunRun, your warranty is 20 years all inclusive. Should SunRun fail, the special fund covers all warranty and repair work for the remainder of the term of the agreement. In the event the special fund evaporates, the 10 year CSI/installation warranty takes over.

Lastly, should the first three layers of protection fail, you can always fall back on the manufacturer warranties for your solar panels and inverter(s).

When dealing with an industry in its infancy, the more layers of protection you afford yourself, the better the return you’ll realize over the life of your solar panel system as you’ll avoid potentially costly out-of-pocket repair and maintenance work down the road.

Tips to Protect Your Solar Power Investment
While there’s no guarantee any company will remain a going concern in perpetuity (think Lehmann), here are a couple of tips that will help you to avoid the weakest players during this time of upheaval in California’s solar industry:

1. Choose a company with lots of installations. Most solar companies have fewer than 10 installations according to CSI data. You’d be well served to set the bar at 100 or greater.
2. Don’t hire the ‘one and done’ fly by night solar installer. You’ll know who he is because he’s usually a couple thousand dollars cheaper than everyone else.
3. Take a hard look at third party ownership. After all, why not let someone else shoulder all of the technology and installation risk while you save money every month on your electric bill.
4. Only consider third party owners who have established a maintenance fund in the event of their own mortality.
5. Always check your contractor’s references, licensing, and insurance.
6. Consider adding monitoring (standard with third party ownership). Monitoring is a critical performance review maintenance tool.

As the solar industry enters 2011, we expect a year of changes and surprises. Some companies will be well positioned to capitalize on the myriad changes while others will fall by the wayside. More than ever you need to protect your solar electric investment from joining the ever increasing ranks of solar orphans permeating the marketplace. Toward this end, a multilayered approach to warranty protection may very well be the best solar decision you make.

You can reach Scott Gordon directly at SGordon@HelioPower.com

On Tuesday, October 26th, Solar Santa Monica presents, "Home Solar with No Money Down." The residential workshop is meant to answer the question many homeowners ask, “Solar – Should I Own or Lease?” through a panel discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of two types of solar financing –  residential solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs).  The event will be held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium in the Santa Monica Main Library at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA, from 7 to 8:30 pm.

Santa Monica solar installation by HelioPower

Panelists for the event include Scott Gordon, Vice President Residential Sales, HelioPower, who offers both a lease and a PPA for homeowners through its affiliation with SunRun; Jesse Raynes, Southern California Regional Manager, SolarCity, who offers a leasing program for residential customers and James Brennan, Open Neighborhoods/Martifer Solar , who has recently announced a new residential leasing option.

Solar Santa Monica is sponsored by the City of Santa Monica. It is unaffiliated with any particular solar manufacturer or installer. Its goal: to provide solid information on all ways to get solar, to help homeowners make the best decision for themselves.

Space is limited, so RSVP now to Drew Lowell-Britt at (310) 804-8449 or email at dlowell-britt@ecomotion.us

By Paige Strohson

HelioPower Solar Energy Consultant

San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) has just mailed out notices for Smart Meter installation, did you get yours? 

What do Smart Meters mean to your household?  Recently, SDG&E announced it has requested approval from the Public Utility Commission for approval to charge higher rates for daytime electricity use.   Because of the new Smart Meter technology, SDG&E now has the capability to bill for daytime usage for all homes in San Diego County.    History shows us that our bills double ever 10 years.  Now with daytime billing increases could be substantial.   

San Diego homeowners can find out if solar can assist them in beating high electric bills at a free one hour educational meeting.  HelioPower, a leading solar design and installation firm that has operated in San Diego for a decade, will offer the solar information session, scheduled on Tuesday, October 5  from 6:30 to 7:30pm.   The solar informational event will be held at the Rancho Bernardo Library at 17110 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, CA  92128.  Topics include:  Smart Meter Technology, San Diego County PACE Program, how to determine if solar is right for you, eliminating your electric bill and financing solar.

The solar information event is free of charge, however seating is limited. To reserve your space, please call HelioPower toll free at 1.87.SOLAR.888 / 1.877.652.7888.

Or call Paige Strohson directly at 858.427.6146.

HelioPower's home solar financing partner, SunRun, has a cool new video to help explain home solar.  Check it out:

By Tyler Michael
Director/New Solar Homes Division, HelioPower

How much solar do I need?

This is the first question that we hear when asked to design solar for a new custom home. If you get an answer to that question from someone who does not ask you at least four or five questions back, you might consider showing them the door in a hurry before either of you wastes too much of your time. A good solar contractor will always carefully prioritize the customer’s interests.

Generating more electricity for a residence than is required to run that

New solar home installation by HelioPower

residence is not a very good way to spend money. Utilities are increasingly being called upon to pay for “over-production” by residential customers; however your best value is eliminating only the power you actually use. Most people building their “Dream Home” tend to overestimate the energy requirements of their new home because they are thinking in terms of their older home’s requirements.

Why do people overestimate electrical use in their new home?

In most cases, the new home is substantially larger than the old one. Naturally, there is good reason to assume that if the new home is twice as large, the energy required to run that home will be greater. This is not necessarily the case. In California and in most other states there are far more stringent “Energy Efficiency Requirements” in place for building new homes than were in place when the owner’s previous residence was built. Before you can get a building permit in California, you must show that some minimum energy efficiencies have been designed into the home.

For clarification, speak to your architect about your “Title-24” or CF-1-R form. Because of these design requirements, a 3000 square foot home built in 2010 is likely to require about 60% of the electricity that the same size home, with the same amenities built prior to 1985, will require. This difference is not quite as evident in the mildest climates. 

Some of the most important energy efficiency improvements in recent materials and design are:

• Radiant barrier roof sheeting
• Higher insulation ratings
• More efficient HVAC Systems
• High efficiency lighting systems, including activity sensors
• Low ”E”  windows and doors, with better sealing
• More efficient pool pumps

While all of the above greatly reduce electricity loads, there is still the ”Lifestyle Factor” to consider in calculating true energy usage. Your personal habits are an important factor. Just because we design homes with automated systems and better features, there is nothing that will guarantee the occupants will not override the automated controls or ignore the opportunities for energy savings built into the new home. Your energy consumption in your own home is still, and rightly so, your own business. If you choose not to take advantage of the systems in your home you may not realize the benefits of those systems.

Here are some questions that you should hear when a solar contractor discusses sizing a solar plant for your new home:

1. How much (kWh) electricity do you use now in your current home?
2. How many square feet is your old home?
3. How any square feet is your new home?
4. Are those homes in the same “Climate Zone”?
5. Will there be the same number of occupants with the same habits?
6. What are the ages of the occupants? (Small children will grow up to use more energy, and elderly occupants may have special comfort requirements.)
7. Are there “guest rooms” or other parts of the home that will not be in constant use?
8. Do you plan to occupy the home ”full time”?
9. Is your new home serviced by the same utility company as your old home? (rates differ)
10. Do you have or plan on purchasing a Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV)?
11. Are there any other major changes in your lifestyle that you will be making in the new home?

Of course, you can see where these questions are leading. There are many other pertinent questions, depending on your specific requirements, lifestyle and design. The absence of these questions will let you know immediately that you are talking to the wrong contractor, and the presence of these kinds of questions that will at least assure you that you are speaking with someone who MAY be qualified to design an appropriate solar plant for your new home.

New homes are a very specialized sector of the solar marketplace. There are hundreds of solar contractors in California but only a small percentage of those are qualified to design and install solar for new homes, and secure the generous New Solar Homes Partnership Program (NSHP) Rebates for their customers.

For more information contact Tyler Michael at his email, TMichael@HelioPower.com

The intent of the Legislature is that AB 811 should be used to finance the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources or energy efficiency improvements that are permanently fixed to residential, commercial, industrial, or other real property.

AB 811 authorizes a property owner, upon written consent of an authorized city official, to purchase directly the related equipment and materials for the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources or energy efficiency improvements and to contract directly for the installation of those sources or improvements. 

Funding options include using the general fund, issuing municipal bonds, partnering with a utility to get financing or setting up private financing.  

Palm Desert and Berkeley led the legislative charge to put AB 811 in place, and have now enabled hundreds of properties to be outfitted with energy efficiency and renewable energy systems including solar. The “Berkeley First” program was launched Nov. 07. Their pilot program is fully subscribed at $1.5 million.  The Palm Desert Energy Independence program is now in its third round of financing, having installed $7.5 million in energy efficiency and solar photovoltaic systems in their town.  

The Sonoma County Energy Independence program has completed a feasibility study and is planning on offering a $40 million program, which will also include water conservation systems.

San Diego is working on a “Solar Roof Program.” The pilot project will focus on 150 to 300 homes, and 1 technology – solar photovoltaic. Success for the pilot is deemed to be completing the financing cycle, collecting 150-200 loan packages, and aggregating those smaller loans into larger packages that can be sold off on the municipal bond market. Encinitas, Napa and Redlands are all in the exploration phase of AB 811 programs.

Cities like Anaheim and Santa Monica have solar supportive programs already in place.  Santa Monica promotes solar adoption through its Solar Santa Monica program.  Solar installation firms bid for program, and guarantee “group” pricing.  HelioPower is a installer for this program.   

All across California residents and property owners are working with their elected officials to find new and innovative ways to increase the use of sun to power our electricity needs. 

For further information and a review of the legislation, click here. Support AB 811 adoption in your town! 

From USA Today, April 6, 2009: “More states want solar power to be option on new homes”

A growing number of states are moving to require home builders to offer solar electricity and hot-

New home solar power system in California installed by HelioPower

water systems in new homes, right alongside more traditional options such as fancy kitchen countertops and special window treatments.

"It's just like the granite countertop upgrade or the two-car garage or the larger closet — these are options the homeowner can choose to purchase," said Jeff Lyng, the renewable energy program manager for Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's Energy Office.

In Colorado, lawmakers are considering a bill that would require builders to offer a range of options, from pre-wiring the home for solar power to full installation of a solar system. The legislation would also require builders to tell buyers they can roll the cost of the system into their mortgage, reducing up-front costs, Lyng said.

"What this begins to do is standardize things. We're trying to build Colorado's infrastructure to be ready for solar," Lyng said.

The Colorado proposal has passed in the state House and awaits Senate consideration. Ritter, a Democrat who had solar panels installed at the Governor's Mansion in Denver several years ago, said he plans to sign the bill.

Elsewhere:

•New Jersey lawmakers approved a bill last month that would require builders in developments of 25 homes or more to offer solar panels to home buyers and to discuss during construction the benefits of clean energy.

•A California law taking effect in 2010 will require builders to offer solar panels on homes in developments of more than 50 houses.

•Hawaii, starting Jan. 1, will require all new single-family homes to include solar hot-water heaters, said Russell Pang, a spokesman for Gov. Linda Lingle, a Democrat. Hawaii imports 90% of its fossil fuel energy sources, Pang said. "Living on an island, that's not the kind of thing we want to be depending on."

•New Mexico home builders must offer solar-ready wiring but are not obligated to offer solar installation, under a law that took effect last year.

The federal government is offering a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install solar panels or solar water heaters through 2016, said Karen Schneider, spokeswoman for the federal Energy Star program. The credit covers materials and installation costs, with no ceiling on claims.

Colorado officials hope at least 10% of the 12,000 new homes expected to be built in the state this year have solar systems installed, creating at least 300 jobs for installation technicians, Lyng said.

Daniel Glick, of Lafayette, Colo., helped persuade more than 25 families in his neighborhood to install solar systems over the past several years. Glick said residents agreed to use homeowners association dues to make low-interest loans to their neighbors to cover installation costs. Glick now gets a monthly check from his power company because his home is generating more power than it uses.

"It's not just the right thing to do. It makes economic sense," he said.

Featuring Patrick Conlon of the Palm Desert Energy Independence Program, HelioPower will host a

Patrick Conlon at Bright Ideas Expo, this past Saturday, March 14

free Solar Financing Q&A session, Tuesday, March 24 at 6pm.  The event will be held in Conference rooms 1 & 2 of the Henderson Community Building, 72559 Hwy 111 Palm Desert, CA  92260-3306. Financing solar power systems for residential and commercial properties will be the focus of the free seminar.

Palm Desert’s Energy Independence Program is a model initiative for cities in California.  Based on AB 811 legislation, the program works to support energy efficiency and renewable energy installations financed through city loans which are paid back through property tax assessments.  For more information, click here. 

"Solar in our community is becoming more and more affordable with the help of Palm Desert's Assembly Bill 811 which will cover their costs of their system and is paid back though their property taxes at a low interest rate,” said HelioPower Energy Consultant, Matt Rifkin.  "We want every single homeowner in the city of Palm Desert to realize the opportunity that their community is offering them," he explained.

Rifkin and his “Team Desert” partner, Matt McPherson, are hosting the event on behalf of HelioPower.  They most recently participated in the “Bright Ideas Expo” held by the city on March 14.

HelioPower's "Team Desert" supporting Bright Ideas Expo

“Team Desert is excited to host the event on March 24^th at the Henderson Building. We are hoping to get a great turnout from Palm Desert residents and commercial building owners,” said Matt McPherson.  “HelioPower would like to educate the residents of Palm Desert on the amazing program that their city is providing, which allows residents to install solar for almost no money down. By educating homeowners and business owners we hope to help the city of Palm Desert reach its goal of reducing city wide energy consumption by 30% by 2011.”

Palm Desert continues to participate in pushing initiatives that further solar deployment, not only in their city, but statewide.  Area newspaper, The Desert Sun, quoted Mr. Conlon on March 12 concerning his efforts to get AB 432 addressing utility feed in tariffs passed.  For K. Kaufman’s article, “Palm Desert eyes new solar plan,” click here.

For information to attend the March 24 event or on solar in general call, 1-87-SOLAR-888.