US Power Solutions

[ Jack and Carole Robinson]

So much commotion about Social Security and whether the entitled shall receive it’s fair to say planning for the future is key.  Currently more than 65 million individuals receive Social Security. The normal amount taxed from the first $110,000 of workers earnings is 6.25 percent.   Even with the government knowing that the fund was low there was still a decision made for 2011 and 2012 to temporarily only tax at a 4.2 margin leaving the rest of the deficit to be barrowed.

The average monthly benefit for a retired individual is $ 1,232 and about $150 less for disabled workers.  So what does all this have to do with sustainable energy?

If by now one has home and auto paid off there still are many monthly re-occurring fees ; Gas, prescriptions, family expenses, home & auto maintenance and much more.  With renewable energy, even if you have to finance your system you still will eventually pay it off leaving you with NO PAYMENT and NO POWER BILL. 

There are great financing options available through green lenders who can offer same as cash options and deferred payments allowing one to take advantage of the tax credits and different incentives from local utilities. 

The great thing about solar is it can add value to your home. The ability to prove and document the bill cycle and your production amount can be very useful for the buyers.  US Power Solutions offers Bosch, Sharp and Canadian Solar modules so every buyer has several options to suit their budget and production needs.  We also offer lifetime monitoring that automatically documents and graphs you’re solar on a day by minute’s production.  This allows you to easily track your solar and provided to future buyers.  . 

Solar in many markets offer extra value with S-REC’s.  These are basically like stocks, energy credits that one can sell.  The home owner is rewarded with these certificates based off production.  Utilities must comply with regulation that forces a certain amount of power produced to be renewable.  If the utility does not meet these requirements they are than fined.  Needless to say utilities will pay anything under the fine amount to meet regulations. 

The initial investment may seem steep but we spend this much on cars that never hold a value or eliminate bills.  Both state and federal governments are still offering tax credits. Renewable energy is an eco safe investment that allows one to eliminate utility bills.   Planning for the future includes being ready for the increase in natural gas prices and setting yourself up for a sustained future! 

(Source: Washington Post)

“EXAMPLE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR INSTALLATION

Georgia’s thriving population center of Atlanta had very humble beginnings. It was originally the 0-mile marker of a railroad that became a trade route from Georgia to the Midwestern U.S., and was known simply as “Terminus”. In the early 1840s, the fledgling community had about three dozen residents who felt a more appropriate name was required. Atlantica-Pacifica was chosen, but later shortened to Atlanta when the town was incorporated in 1847. Today, Atlanta embraces both Fulton and parts of Dekalb counties, and currently has nearly a half million people; the metro Atlanta area has about five million people, or nearly half the state’s population.

The principal electric supplier is Georgia Power, serving about half of the state’s electrical customers. Georgia’s average usage is 13,776 kWh/year at an average rate of 8.64 cents per kWh. An Atlanta resident can replace 50% of that energy use with a solar power system at an estimated net cost of $37,000 (that’s a mid-range projection for both the system and installation costs after a $2,000 federal tax credit and a $10,500 state tax credit), and 550 square feet of roof area. You may think to yourself, “My goodness, that still seems like a lot of cash I have to fork out to do the right thing for my checkbook eventually and the environment”. However, there are some great financing options available which will probably add up to the total amount you were paying before on energy usage per month anyway. To explore some of those options, request contact with one of the installers in our network by clicking the link below. 

Since the region’s solar rating is “good”, it’s about time the state legislators came through with a tax credit to encourage residential solar power installations in Atlanta or elsewhere in the state. The following advantages of installing a 3kW system should be considered (results shown are for Fulton County; DeKalb County provides slightly better financial benefits):

• Estimated increase in property value – $9,920

• Estimated 25-year utility savings – $20,813

• Estimated reduction in greenhouse gases (CO2) – 141 tons

  CONSENSUS

  Georgia is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. Government and local utilities officials both have finally provided residential and business incentives for solar power and other renewable energy alternatives to mitigate demands on the state’s electrical capacity. Kudos! More can still be done. “

“The U.S. Commerce Department has imposed new import fees on solar panels made in China, finding that the Chinese government is improperly giving subsidies to manufacturers of the panels there.

The department said Tuesday it has found on a preliminary basis that Chinese solar panel makers have received government subsidies of 2.9 percent to 4.73 percent. Therefore the department said tariffs in the same proportions will be charged on Chinese panels imported into the U.S., depending on which company makes them.

The tariff amounts are considered small, but the decision could ratchet up trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Several U.S. solar panel makers had asked the government to impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports. They are struggling against stiff competition from China as well as weakening demand in Europe and other key markets, just as President Barack Obama is working to promote renewable energy.

“Today’s announcement affirms what U.S. manufacturers have long known: Chinese manufacturers have received unfair … subsidies,” Steve Ostrenga, CEO of Helios Solar Works in Milwaukee, Wis., said in a statement. The company is a member of a group called the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing.

On the other side, some U.S. companies argue that low-priced Chinese imports have helped consumers and promote rapid growth of the industry.

The new tariffs are low, making the Commerce Department decision “a relatively positive outcome for the U.S. solar industry and its 100,000 employees,” said Jigar Shah, president of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy. “However, tariffs large or small will hurt American jobs and prolong our world’s reliance on fossil fuels. Fortunately, this decision will not significantly raise solar prices in the United States.”

Members of CASE include California-based SunEdison, Recurrent Energy, SolarCity and Westinghouse Solar, as well as China-based Suntech Power Holdings Co.

Commerce said it was putting off until May 17 a decision on whether Chinese companies are dumping the solar panels on world markets, selling them below cost.

Trade tensions with China are especially sensitive at a time when the U.S. and other Western economies want to boost technology exports to revive economic growth and reduce high unemployment.

The U.S. and China are two of the world’s biggest markets for solar, wind and other renewable energy technology. Both governments are promoting their own suppliers in hopes of generating higher-paid technology jobs.

The U.S. manufacturers’ complaints have been amplified by the controversy surrounding Solyndra Inc. a California-based solar panel maker that filed for bankruptcy protection after winning a $500 million federal loan from the Obama administration.

Solyndra’s failure embarrassed the administration and prompted a lengthy review by congressional Republicans who are critical of Obama’s green energy policies. Solyndra has cited Chinese competition as a key reason for its failure.

U.S. energy officials say China spent more than $30 billion last year to subsidize its solar industry. Obama said in November that China has “questionable competitive practices” in clean energy and that his administration has fought “these kinds of dumping activities.” The administration will act to enforce trade laws where appropriate, Obama said.

SolarWorld Industries America Inc., the largest U.S. maker of silicon solar cells and panels and a subsidiary of Germany-based SolarWorld, has led the U.S. manufacturers’ complaints.

China announced its own probe in November, saying it will investigate whether U.S. support for renewable energy companies improperly hurts foreign suppliers.”