Welcome to the
Run on Sun Monthly Newsletter

What Kind of Company Chooses Solar?

Since not every company's roof sports a solar power system, it is clear that not every company is going solar. So that got us thinking - just what kind of companies are choosing to incorporate solar into their business plans? A quick scan of recent headlines reveals that some of the best known companies in this country are making big plays to add solar. Consider these headlines:

• IKEA to Install Solar Panels on Six Stores - the total installation will amount to more than 4,000 solar panels and collectively will produce 1.3 million kWh of energy every year.
• McGraw-Hill to Construct 14 MW PV System - the publishing company will install the largest privately-owned, net-metered solar project in the Western Hemisphere which will significantly lower the company's long-term electricity costs.
• Boeing to Install Solar Panels on its 787 Dreamliner Assembly Plant - the 2.6 MW system will be one of the largest roof-top mounted systems in the U.S. and is part of Boeing's goal to operate the $750 million facility entirely from renewable energy sources.
• Hertz to Go Solar; Will Install 16 Solar Power Systems - together the systems to be installed at rental outlets in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania will total more than 2.3 MW with the goal of expanding further.
• Toys 'R' Us Will Install Nation's Largest Solar Rooftop Array- the 5.38 MW array will generate 72% of the electrical needs at the New Jersey distribution center.
• Kikkoman to Install Solar Panels on California Plant - Kikkoman chose to install a solar system at their Folsom facility due to the high number of sun hours in California, the attractive rebates from the California Solar Initiative Program and the Federal Tax Credit.

The list goes on and on.

What do all of these companies have in common? Pretty much every one of these news stories reflected the same wisdom that was described by Kikkoman's management. Particularly in California, the combination of abundant sunshine, respectable solar rebates and positive tax incentives (both in the form of the 30% federal tax credit and the federal and state accelerated depreciation schedules) makes adding solar a compelling financial decision.

Indeed our most recent commercial clients are seeing an internal rate of return in excess of 17% with payback occurring as soon as Year 4. By Year 10, the owner of a 50 kW solar power system will have not only paid off their entire out-of-pocket cost, but they will have more than $100,000 in savings to boot. No other investment that could be made in your business can match that return.

Don't be left out - follow the lead of some of the best known companies in America who have figured out that it is time to Go Solar, Now!

Why is the Enphase M215 So HOT?

The newest microinverter from Enphase Energy - the M215 - is now available and we believe that this will be one hot product. We have been fans of Enphase microinverters for some time and we have installed numerous Enphase systems, particularly at shady sites. We liked how the independence of each panel/inverter helped boost energy yield, we were dazzled by the brilliant monitoring abilities of the system, and we were real fans of the 15-year warranty (compared to the standard 10-year warranty on string inverters.)

So why do we think the new model will be such a step up? First and foremost is the upgrade on the warranty to 25 years! No other inverter manufacturer offers anything comparable as their standard warranty. This means that the key components of the array - the solar panels and the inverters - will now have warranties of identical duration. We believe this is a huge step forward in building client confidence in the fundamental reliability of solar power systems.

Second, the M215 has improved its CEC efficiency rating to 96% making it the match of any of the popular string inverters.

Third, the M215 should be easier to install as it now only requires a single bolt to attach it to the array racking and its new cabling system should allow for a smoother installation process which will help to drive down costs.

Finally, the M215 is compatible with some of the more powerful solar panels out there, such as the Suntech 225. We believe that the pairing of the Suntech panels with the M215 will be a great fit for many of our residential and smaller commercial clients.

Put it altogether and we believe that the Enphase M215 has the potential to be a real game-changer. If you have been wondering when would be the right time to add solar to your home or business, the M215 is one more reason why the right time to add solar is NOW!

Companies that Lease Solar May Run Afoul of the FTC

The ability to market their efforts at "Going Green" is a common reason why commercial clients install solar power systems. But now under the new revisions to the "Green Guides" proposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), companies that lease rather than purchase solar systems may be engaging in deceptive business practices if they advertise the solar power system on their roof. The issue is "double counting" and the FTC is serving notice that it intends to crack down on companies that attempt to promote environmental credits that they do not own.

Read the full story: 'Claiming' Solar and the FTC…