Why Go Solar?

2.5-Year Simple Payback

40% Return on Investment

Example 1:  A small business or farm operation with a large corrugated metal roof.

32 kW solar array installed on the metal roof of a building.  Solar array also reduces the amount of direct sunlight on the metal roof saving air-conditioning costs.

$80,000 total costs

• $20,000 USDA grant
• $24,000 Federal tax credit (30%)
• $27,000 Value of Fed. depreciation deduction

$9,000 Net cost after grants and tax savings.

This system would then generate $3200 in electric bill savings each year (36,000 kWh) and $250 in SREC sales resulting in a two-and-a-half year simple payback!

4-Year Simple Payback

25% Return on Investment

Example 2:  A small business with limited available land but ample parking.

20 kW solar carport providing sheltered parking for 9 vehicles.  What a great way for a business to make a visible statement about renewable energy, make a great investment, and provide sheltered parking for your customers.

$80,000 total costs

• $20,000 USDA grant

• $24,000 Federal tax credit (30%)

• $27,000 Value of Fed. depreciation deduction

$9,000 Net cost after grants and tax savings.

This system would then generate $2200 in electric bill savings each year (22,000 kWh) and $150 in SREC sales resulting in a four year simple payback!

3-Year Simple Payback

33% Return on Investment

Example 3:  An organic farm operation with a barn roof in full sun.

14 kW solar array installed on the roof of the barn.  Solar array also reduces the amount of direct sunlight on the barn roof making it cooler in the summer.  Farm can then market its products as being not only organic, but also using only 100% solar energy.

$36,000 total costs

• $  9,000 USDA grant

• $10,200 Federal tax credit (30%)

• $12,000 Value of Fed. depreciation deduction

$4,800 Net cost after grants and tax savings.

This system would then generate $1500 in electric bill savings each year (15,000 kWh) resulting in a three year simple payback!

2.4-Year Simple Payback

42% Return on Investment

Example 4:  A small business or farm operation with 3000 square feet of usable land.

22 kW solar array ground-mounted near business.

$60,000 total costs

• $15,000 USDA grant

• $18,000 Federal tax credit (30%)

• $20,300 Value of Fed. depreciation deduction (over 5 years)

$6,700 Net cost after grants and tax savings.

This system would then generate $2400 in electric bill savings each year (24,000 kWh) and $150 in SREC sales resulting in a two year simple payback!

6-Year Simple Payback

16% Return on Investment

Example 5:  A rental or leased property in which the owner installs solar and the tenant pays a higher rent or lease to account for the electricity they use.  A 14 kW solar array is mounted to the roof of the building and provides 15,000 kWh each year.  A rental contract would then establish that tenant pays extra $150 per month for electricity included, and also pays some amount for any annual use over 15,000 kWh.

$35,000 total costs

$10,500 Federal tax credit (30%)

• $12,000 Value of Fed. depreciation deduction (over 5 years)

$12,500 Net cost after grants and tax savings.

This system would then generate $2100 in electric bill savings each year (15,000 kWh) and $100 in SREC sales resulting in a six year simple payback!