Take a look at this recent installation in Yakima. Not a lot of roof space but our team was able to utilize the space available and put in a 5.9kw system. We can install solar on just about anything, contact us today to find out what we can do for your home.

Some Silicon Energy modules installed between 2010 and 2012 are experiencing delamination.Delamination is when the bond between the plastics on the back and the glass on the front begin to separate. This is characterized by white spots on the panel, normally in the upper right and lower left corners. Also some modules look to be sagging beneath the glass. We are suggesting that all of our clients with Silicon Energy panels to do a visual inspection of their panels for these defects. If you do find any signs of delamination please contact us so we can complete a safety assessment of your system. Currently it only seems to be a cosmetic problem but if you see experience a drop in production please notify us. 

Unfortunately Silicon Energy WA is no longer in business as of 2016. They experienced financial hardships in past years and filed a Certificate of Dissolution in Washington State in July. Because of their financial losses they have no assets or funds to pay warranty claimants. They will not be standing by their warranty on these defective modules. 

However Itek Energy in Bellingham as decided to offer customers effected by delamination discounted prices on their modules. We have been using Itek modules since 2012 and to date have not had any problems with their product. If you are interested in replacing your system with an Itek system, please contact us today and we can provide a quote. 

Examples of what delamination looks like.

A new solar bill will be looked at this legislative session. Solar Strong Washington has released a great summary on the current bill. To learn more about HB 1048 go to ​http://solarstrongwa.org/

With the new year, you may be wondering what the current status of the solar incentives are. Here's a quick refresher of what incentives are still available to you and when they expire. 

1. Renewable Energy Sales and Use Tax Exemption: All solar energy systems under 10kw are 100% exempt from Washington state sales tax. If your system is over 10kw sales tax will apply but you are eligible to request a 75% refund from the Department of Revenue after installation. This incentive is expiring June 30th, 2018. 
2. Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit: Federal tax credit for 30% of the total cost of your system. This is a tax credit applied against your federal tax bill. It can be used in following years if entire credit is not used in first year. Solar energy systems installed on vacation homes or second residences are eligible for credit. The 30% tax credit is until 12/31/2019 and will steadily decrease in following years.
3. Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Incentive Payment: This program pays the customer for every kilowatt hour they produce up to $5,000 a year. The max pay rate available is $0.54 per kilowatt hour if you have Washington made panels and inverter. Due to the increase in solar installation most utilities have reached their cap and have either closed their program or decreased their incentive rate. Pacific Power and Puget Sound Energy are still admitting people into their incentive program however their rate has decreased. We are projecting around $0.40 per kilowatt hour. The max is still $5,000 a year though. This incentive is set to expire June 30th, 2020. 

The Mobile Link is a cellular remote monitoring unit that provides you with real time information about your generator wherever you are. You can access the Mobile Link Dashboard from your computer, smart phone, or tablet. The Mobile Link Unit will notify you of your generator's maintenance needs and if the generator is not ready to run in the event of a power outage. For vacation homes or frequent travelers the Mobile Link can be invaluable tool. The Mobile Link can even be set up to notify your Generac Dealer of failures and error codes. The first year of the Mobile Link service is free with every new unit. To learn more about the Mobile Link features visit their website at www.mobilelinkgen.com. If you're interested in purchasing a Mobile Link unit contact our office at 509-968-4746 for pricing. ​

While failures are rare it’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your system’s production monthly. Checking your system monthly will help minimize any possible production lost. There are two easy ways to make sure your system is producing. 

1. Your utility bill. Somewhere on your utility bill there is going to be a rate schedule noted “Production” or “Net Metering” or something similar. For that billing period, it will note what your system produced and apply that against what you consumed. This figure will fluctuate through the year. It will be higher in the summer and lower in the winter. However, a production number of zero is an indicator your system is not producing and you will need to contact our office.
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2. Your production meter. After installation, you’re going to have two meters. One is a net meter and the other will be a production meter. They should be clearly labeled at your site. The production meter will always move forward; it counts every kilowatt hour you produce from the time your system is turned on through the life of your system. On the production meter, there will be a readout with the systems current production. You can make a note of that amount and then check it every month to make sure the new amount is always more than the previously taken figure. Again, if you ever notice the production number has not increased from the previous month call our office.
 
If you need help reading your bill or production meter, contact your utility provider. 

Of course we don't intend to bore you with all the details of our office work, but we'll share this fact. We design your solar installation based on YOU. Your budget, your goals, your power bills, your available space, your location's legal restrictions, limitations, and advantages...A solar design that you will be happy with because it's not just a boxed mix, it's made from scratch for your situation. Sure, we could have plan A, B or C for you to choose from, and that would take care of a lot of bidding time. But not everything in life is one size fits all, and we want to give you a custom fit. Our customers are all unique and our goal is to give each one a solar installation that will make the most of their investment. Ready for a custom experience? Contact us today with your reason for wanting solar, your preferred location, and your budget if applicable! 

You may have noticed some various styles and designs of ground mount solar around Kittitas Valley and beyond. If you've gotten a bid from us for both ground mount and roof mount, you will notice that our ground mount systems are a little more expensive than our roof mount systems. There are several reasons for that but I wanted to zone in on one of those. Our steel structures are designed to last. While wood may be less expensive in the beginning, all wood over time is prone to warping and twisting after being exposed to the elements day after day. Wood will lose its strength and straightness long before steel. One other consideration is fires. Steel would resist combustion while wood would quickly burn and collapse, taking your panels down too. That's why our designs use steel poles or galvanized steel struts. We want your investment to last. So if you can't do a roof mount, consider our steel mounted solar installations: built tough, built to last!