We recently installed this neat off-grid system for the irrigation at a golf course. This was a fun project where we had to get creative in finding the best solution. We think it turned out great! We can provide a solution for almost any setup. 

It's that time of year again. June 30th was the end of the 2016-2017 production incentive fiscal year. If you have a utility that typically takes care of reading your meter then you should receive paperwork by August 1st. Otherwise fill out the Annual Incentive Payment Application and submit it no later than Aug 1st to your utility provider. When in doubt call your utility.

If this is your first year collecting payment you should have received an email blast earlier this month with more detailed instructions. 

If anyone has any questions feel free to call or email our office. 509-968-4746 or 1177power@gmail.com

Did you know you can purchase a Generac Warranty up to a year after installation! Air-Cooled generators come with a standard 5 year warranty that only provides limited coverage the last few years. Purchase an extended 5,7, or 10 year warranty and have all parts and labor covered for the duration of the warranty. 

5 and 7 year warranties can be purchased within 365 days of the start up date. 10 year warranties can be purchased at any time on 2013 or newer models. 

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.