Why should I consider solar?

 

It will save you money (many thousands of dollars over the years):

On January 1, 2009, Progress Energy raised electric rates 25%. They then dropped them back down somewhat from that 25% increase but are now asking for a 30% rate increase on their base rate for 2010. Other electric utilities are also passing along substantial rate increases. The Obama administration has set a high priority on reducing green house gas emissions from power plants.  This will involve a tremendous investment in technology for electric utilities for years to come.  The Obama administration is also pushing for some form of a carbon trading system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This will result in greatly increased costs in the form of taxes for electric utilities.  All of these factors will guarantee us that electric rates will continue to increase substantially year after year as utilities have no choice but to pass these costs on to consumers.  

With state rebates and federal tax credits, using solar technology to reduce your electric bill simply makes economic sense.  With the passage of the 2009 stimulus bill things became even sweeter still to the point that over 75% of your initial investment can come back to you in the first year or so.  Yes, you did read that correctly . . . over 75%! In this time of economic uncertainty there are very few investments that can truly be considered safe.  While many of us saw the stock market as a means to great returns, we’ve also learned that you can lose your shirt.  Safer investments like bank CD’s can offer a return of 2 or 3% typically.  Solar is an investment that can offer safe returns that are vastly better than these other safe investments.  Furthermore, anyone who invested in solar for their home or business these last several years will find themselves far better off than nearly everyone who has invested in the stock market or a CD type investment over the same time period.  If you are considering investing in solar for your business location, realize that depreciation deductions are also added to the incentive mix to provide even more favorable returns on investment.

Think of it this way; you are going to spend the money to power your home or business one way or another.  There is no way to avoid it, short of ceasing the use of electricity.  We all know how impractical that would be!  You can continue to pay monthly to your electric company or invest one time in a system that will allow you to pay yourself. Currently you are basically renting your electricity from your electric company.  By investing in solar you OWN your electricity.   When you rent you can expect costs to increase year after year.  When you own, your costs don’t increase. If this is not reason enough, then consider . . .

 

It makes for a safer and more secure America:

America is importing more oil than ever from the Middle East.  This results in us sending money overseas to countries that don’t always have America’s best interest at heart.  This forces us to spend even more on defense programs to protect our nation.  Solar allows us to keep those dollars in our own pocket, and in America.  If this is not reason enough, then consider . . .

 

Your kids and grandkids will thank you:

We can all agree that oil, coal and natural gas are finite resources.  When they’re gone, they’re gone.  Experts spend time arguing about whether we have today reached the point where we have extracted half the oil that this world has to offer out of the ground or if we have a few more years before we get to that point.  Considering that we pulled most of that oil out of the ground in the lifetime of many of us alive today, it makes you wonder what is going to be left for future generations.  With China and India coming on board as consumers thirsty for their own cars and the fuel necessary to run them, the urgency to come up with a different way becomes even more significant.  Our kids and grandkids are going to need these fuels for more than just the creation of energy.  You can’t make plastics and other raw materials without petroleum as a base ingredient, for example.  If this is not reason enough, then consider . . .

 

You might be helping the environment: