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Run on Sun Monthly Newsletter

KPCC Auction Features the Gift of Solar with Run on Sun

As a Pasadena-based company, Run on Sun is proud to support our local public radio station, KPCC. A truly invaluable resource, KPCC is Southern California's premier NPR affiliate bringing comprehensive, unbiased news coverage to our community.

However, as a public station, they can only do so through the support of listeners. Which is why, as daily listeners ourselves, Run on Sun is donating to the annual KPCC Winter Online Auction.

So as you recover from the trials of our annual overeating holiday, avoid the mobs at the malls! Instead kick back and check out the online auction going live on November 27th! Many exciting gifts and adventures are included in the long list of items up for grabs. And for one lucky homeowner, the gift of solar just got a huge discount!

Run on Sun is auctioning a gift certificate for $750.00 toward a residential solar PV system!!!

This is the largest discount Run on Sun has offered on a single residential solar project to date! But what better way to celebrate the holidays than to give the gift of solar?! With the help of this steep discount you can be on your way to continued energy independence, bill savings, and a greener future.

So don't delay, the online auction closes December 6, 2015 at 1:00 PM so be sure to keep an eye on your bid.

Request your free solar site assessment today to ensure your property is a good fit. Don't worry, in the unfortunate event that you win the auction and your home turns out to be a poor candidate, Run on Sun will honor your gift certificate with a friend or neighbor of your choice.

Happy Holidays and Happy Bidding!

Your Solar Savings - Stolen?

You may have heard that there are forces afoot - brought to you by the investor-owned utilities - that would lead to a "catastrophic" diminution of savings from solar power systems. Stories from the LA Times, to CNBC, to even the Motley Fool all are proclaiming that change is coming to solar and the end is in site for any real solar savings. To which we say - not so fast. Take a deep breath and read on to see our take.

For example, just today the LA Times ran a story in the Business section quoting solar customers who were "just so angry" over not having access to renewable energy credits (RECs) under the state's new renewable energy targets law. Yet, that isn't a change to past practices -- no residential client has been able to sell RECs on the open market.

Similarly with the upcoming changes in the state's net metering rules - while the investor owned utilities, including our own Southern California Edison, are lobbying like mad to make solar less economically appealing, no decision has yet been reached.

Moreover, the California Public Utilities Commission (which is charged with resolving this issue) has consistently sided with the solar industry, and most likely will do so now. If they don't, there will still be the option of seeking a legislative fix before the new rules can go into effect.

And that raises yet another point that counsels for a less breathless approach to all of this: the new rules won't take effect for at least a year, and clients who install solar before then are locked into the present, solar-friendly net metering rules for the next twenty years!

So let's recap:

• Today's "solar-friendly" net metering rules will still be available to solar clients for at least the next year;
• A consumer who installs solar before the new rules go into effect will be grandfathered into the current rules for 20 years; and
• The 30% federal tax credit remains in effect going into 2016.

But there is one catch here - the second half of 2016 is poised to be crazy with lots of consumers trying to get their projects completed in time to take the tax credit. This will invariably lead to a real crunch and folks who wait too long will miss out. If solar is in your plans for 2016, the time to get started is now!

Solar Thankfulness - 2015

When you are fortunate enough to work in the Solar Industry you really should be thankful everyday. After all, we are a part of doing something wonderfully important at work, and how many people can honestly say that? We provide genuine value to our clients by bringing them clean, affordable solar energy, and we get to make our living at the same time -- pretty cool!

But with the holidays upon us, starting with Thanksgiving tomorrow, we wanted to take a look back on this year and highlight some of the things for which we are especially thankful, today and all year around.
So, in no particular order, here is our list for 2015…

• Solar Power World - for selecting Run on Sun as one of their Top Solar Contractors in 2015 - our third win in a row!
• Inspired political leadership from Governor Brown - his call for California to derive 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 is the type of bold action we need to see from all levels of government, both in the US and the world, if we are to rein in the threat of Climate Change.
• California Public Utilities Commission - for resisting (we hope) calls from Investor Owned Utilities like SCE to gut net metering (83% of Californians back net metering).
• California's Courts and the Legislature - if the CPUC betrays that hope!
• Elon Musk (seriously!) - for getting the conversation started about the role of intelligent storage in conjunction with solar (whoppers notwithstanding!).
• WISE - Women in Solar Energy - for advancing the cause of intelligent, dedicated women in the solar industry - such as those supremely talented women in solar: Velvet Dallesandro and Laurel Hamilton.
• Solar Impulse - for providing an amazing window into what solar can do, even if there are setbacks along the way.
• CALSEIA, Vote Solar, national SEIA and the other solar advocacy groups - for bringing the message of solar to legislatures and the public alike.
• Two of our biggest clients ever - Lincoln Avenue Water Company and Chandler School - for helping to make 2015 our biggest year ever!

Of course, at the end of the day, it is all of our clients for whom we are the most thankful! From the first to the latest, from the smallest to the largest, and everyone in between - you are why we do what we do, and we never for a moment take for granted the trust you have placed in us.

May your holidays be filled with peace and joy and love!