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CNN Video Clip
Kennedy Community School,
St Joseph, MN
A wind turbine, solar panels,
geothermal heating and AC,
save a school in central Minnesota money and help to teach conservation.

Solar is now more affordable than ever before! The ever increasing costs of fossil fuels and the availability of local, state and federal financial incentives have made solar energy more attractive as a viable energy choice for business and home.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, fuel and gas) create problems like air and water pollution. Solar power is instead a safe, effective, cost-efficient and environmentally responsible way to provide both heat and electrical energy.

Paybacks (Typical in MN)

• 5-10 years for businesses
• 5-20 years for residential
• Power Company Rebates
• State Rebates
• Income Tax Credits (30%)
• Production Tax Credits
• “Green” Credits
• Grants or Sponsors

Financing is available.
Call 218 764 2321 for a Site Plan

Solar systems can be installed for homes, cabins, businesses, farms (or anywhere electricity or heat is required) and provide good returns on investments. There are local, state and federal incentives, rebates, tax breaks, “green” credits, earned revenue from sale of electricity and other ways to save or earn money from solar.

Call WERC for a solar site plan (see below) and we will come to your location to conduct a Solar PathfinderTM site analysis to determine the optimum solar array on your specific site.

What is a Solar Pathfinder?

Costs of solar installations varies greatly, ranging from $1000 - $1,000,000 depending on your buildings and desires. Most of the upfront cost is returned to a business within five to ten years. Larger solar installations are available for farm and commercial buildings with the per watt price decreasing as the size of installation increases.

There are now several types of roofing materials (shingles, tiles, laminates) that are photovoltaic generators. This means that your roof will keep the rain out when it's rainy and make electricity when the sun shines. Consider solar when you are replacing an old roof or building a new building.

Electric Net Metering Systems are typically used in conjunction with an existing building which is connected to a power company. This type of system is the most cost-effective. Net metering means that a Minnesota power company is required to pay you the average retail price (the rate they charge) for excess electricity you generate on systems up to 40 kilowatts. See www.dsireusa.org for information on incentives in Minnesota and other states as well.

Battery Backup Solar Power Systems are more flexible than their net metering counterparts. They are also more complex so they will require more maintenance. A battery powered system will supply power (in virtually any location in North America) when utility power is not available.

A Solar System will provide decades of service when designed and installed properly. WERC offers complete design and installation services for your solar electric application, no matter the scale. WERC insures that you will be getting a system that is certified and guaranteed. WERC will help you with planning new buildings or remodeling existing buildings.

Our NABCEP trained installers are certified in many types of electrical and heating systems. Satisfied customers and successful jobs over many years bring us a reputation you can count on for your buildings.

WERC SOLAR POWER SITE PLAN SERVICE

A Solar Site Plan from WERC provides necessary information needed fro the prospective solar equipment owner to assess the feasibility of installation, weigh the costs, expenses, income, tax benefits and cash flow over a 20-year period. It also provides the proper information to allow an interconnection agreement with the local power utility (if needed), allows the owners a chance to see pictures of how it will look once installed and provides the local Planning & Zoning office information about the site for building permit(s) if needed.

WERC officials will visit the site, take Solar Pathfinder* readings, physical dimension measurements, asses the existing electrical system, take photos, GPS readings and provide customer with a binder of the information listed below. The cost for this site plan service as of 7-1-09 will be $500 (plus travel expenses).

1. Conduct a Solar Pathfinder* measurement of month-by-month solar radiation from the center of the proposed site(s) and provide such to owner.

2. Make/obtain a drawing of the prospective site(s), including nearby buildings, power lines, terminals, breakers and new equipment location with required distances.

3. GPS (Global Positioning System) of latitude, longitude and elevation of the site.

4. Mock-up photos of the site with the solar equipment installed

5. A spreadsheet containing the following.

  • The equipment, labor and installation costs (turnkey, itemized)
  • Projected maintenance and insurance costs
  • Projected rebates from state and/or utility
  • Projected tax benefits, credits and documentation
  • Projected production/sales of electricity or heat
  • Projected sales of renewable energy credits
  • Tax exemptions documentation
  • Other income, grant and benefit possibilities

6. Literature on proposed equipment (collectors, inverter, controls and wiring)

7. Interconnection specs for the Power Company and electrician.

* The Solar Pathfinder is the official instrument of the State of Minnesota rebates.

 

TOOLS:
PV CALCULATOR - PVWATTS calculates electrical energy produced by a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed PVWATTS to permit non-experts to quickly obtain performance estimates for grid-connected PV systems within the United States and its territories.

FIND SOLAR - The Solar Estimator is meant to give you an idea of price, savings and system size. The results are based upon many assumptions and the limited data you will enter. An actual site assessment by a qualified Solar Pro will be needed to determine the actual costs and benefits of installing a solar system.

For in-depth information on solar electric technology.

Photovoltaic System Economics Calculator - Spreadsheet will help you predict the effectiveness of installing a photovoltaic system Click here.