We took the leap to go solar and we’re glad we did.
Arizona’s 300 days of sunshine a year make the prospect of a transfer to the solar force probably obvious. But this replacement can be daunting, especially when pricing is factored in. Fortunately, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, what was once a monetary hurdle is now an opportunity.
The Inflation Reduction Act provides generous 30% tax credits to those who, like us, fight against the concept of solar energy. The actual amount of tax credits will vary depending on your tax bill, but the savings prospects are significant.
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My wife and I were introduced to an organization called Solar United Neighbors (SUN), a collective force that empowers homeowners interested in going solar. SUN operates as a cooperative, leveraging the strength of numbers to negotiate with contractors and installation companies. This collaborative technique does nothing but streamline the process, but it also lowers prices for everyone involved.
The component? SUN handles the negotiations, making the transition to the sun less difficult for homeowners like you and me, which has been my favorite component of the transition to the sun.
Shortly after we signed up for SUN online, we were contacted through a sun installation company who opted for SUN for us. The contractor came to inspect our space and decided, given our usage and the amount of light we received, that the best plan for us would be 24 panels at 400 kW per panel.
After that, we were off to the races! We signed on the dotted line in mid-July and it took less than a month for the city and our application to approve our plan. Fifty days after we first heard from our installer, solar panels adorned our garage, marking a milestone toward energy independence, particularly reducing long-term application costs.
Thanks to the 30% tax credit from the Inflation Reduction Act that my wife and I were able to take full advantage of, the transition will cost us $16,000 and we expect to fully recoup that investment in 8 years or less. Reducing our monthly costs is even more important as we both eye retirement in the coming years.
This fall, we produced more energy than we consumed in the middle of the day, which further reduced our monthly usage bill and helped us pay off the cost of installation faster, while reducing our carbon footprint – the gist of our trip to the sun.
Though we’re only a few months into the experience, the support provided by SUN has been invaluable. Looking ahead, we’re exploring taking advantage of additional tax credits to help pay for energy storage batteries to maximize the benefits of our excess midday power.
Whether you’re looking to lower your energy costs, gaining independence from your utility, or contributing to the fight against climate change, exploring solar options with SUN is a move we recommend.
Embrace the sun and let it drive a brighter, more sustainable future for your home and our planet.
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by Will Humble, Arizona Mirror January 3, 2024
We took the plunge and switched to solar and we did it.
Arizona’s 300 days of annual sunshine make the prospect of going solar seemingly obvious. But the shift can be daunting, especially when considering the costs involved. Thankfully, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, what was once a financial hurdle is now an opportunity.
The Inflation Reduction Act provides generous 30% tax credits to those who, like us, fight against the concept of solar energy. The actual amount of tax credits will vary depending on your tax bill, but the savings prospects are significant.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
My wife and I heard about an organization called Solar United Neighbors (SUN), a collective force that empowers homeowners interested in going solar. SUN operates as a cooperative, leveraging the strength of numbers to negotiate with contractors and installation companies. This collaborative technique only streamlines the procedure but also reduces prices for everyone involved.
The component? SUN handles the negotiations, making the transition to the sun less difficult for homeowners like you and me, which has been my favorite component of the transition to the sun.
Shortly after we signed up for SUN online, we were contacted through a Sun installation company who opted for SUN for us. The contractor came to inspect our space and decided, given our usage and the amount of light we received, that the most productive plan for us would be 24 panels at 400 kW per panel.
After that, off we go for the races! We signed on the dotted line in mid-July and it took less than a month for the city and our application to approve our plan. Fifty days after our installer’s first listen, solar panels adorned our garage, marking a milestone toward energy independence, particularly reducing long-term application expenses.
Thanks to the 30% tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act that my wife and I have taken full advantage of, the transition will cost us $16,000 and we expect to fully recoup that investment in 8 years or less. Lower our monthly payment Prices are all the more important as we plan to retire in the next few years.
This fall, we produced more energy than we consumed in the middle of the day, further reducing our monthly usage bill and helping us pay for the cost of installation faster, while also reducing our carbon footprint – the essence of our trip to the sun.
Though we’re only a few months into the experience, the support provided by SUN has been invaluable. Looking ahead, we’re exploring taking advantage of additional tax credits to help pay for energy storage batteries to maximize the benefits of our excess midday power.
Whether you’re looking to reduce your energy costs, regardless of your utility, or contribute to the fight against climate change, all we recommend is exploring the sun’s features with SUN.
Embrace the sun, and let it power a brighter, more sustainable future for your home and our planet.
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Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: [email protected]. Follow Arizona Mirror on Facebook and Twitter.
Will Humble is a lifelong public fitness enthusiast and most recently serves as the Executive Director of the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA). His 40 years in public fitness include more than 20 years at the Arizona Department of Health Services, where he served in one of the most important capacities, adding Director from 2009 to 2015. He continues to be concerned about fitness policy in his role as Executive Director of the Arizona Public Health Association.
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