The Solar Industry
… powered by the Sun and NOW Congress!
On December 16, 2015, Congress
approved a surprising extension of
By Pamela Garcia,
Founder, Simmitri.
the Federal Investment Tax Credit or ITC. The
ITC encourages the use of renewable energy,
including solar energy, to help newer technologies
gain traction in the marketplace, in the shortest
amount of time possible. The energy ITC pro-
gram provides a 30 percent federal tax credit to
customers who choose to install a solar system on
their home or business. For example, a $20,000
solar system would receive a total of $6,000 in
tax credits, bringing the cost of the system down
to $14,000. Along with the reduced cash pur-
chase amount made possible by the ITC, there
are a myriad of no money down, low interest
loan finance options, along with lease options
available that require nothing out of pocket. The
monthly payments for these options are generally
smaller than the current charges for electricity to
customers of PG&E. This makes solar affordable
to almost anyone who wants to lower their elec-
tricity bill, avoid the inevitable increased charges
over time, and reduce their dependence on the
utility company.
With the ITC Extension taking place,
Simmitri is a Silicon
Valley Corporation,
birthed in the
Gilroy/Morgan Hill
area, in 1995, that
helps it’s residential
and commercial cli-
entele harness Solar
Energy Technology
in all its forms today,
and into the future.
simmitri.com
not only are customers benefitted immediately,
but the solar industry is expected to grow by leaps
and bounds. It is projected that by 2022, the solar
industry would generate enough electricity to
power 19 million homes. Every year, solar power
would offset 100 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions, equivalent to closing 26
coal-fired power plants or taking 20 million cars
off the roads. This protects the environment by
reducing air pollution, environmental contami-
nants responsible for water pollution, and our
overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels.
According to Solar Energy
Industries Association , direct impact and
results of the ITC involves powerful growth in solar
installations which has fueled dramatic job creation.
Solar employment has grown by 86 percent in the
last four years and is creating jobs at a rate nearly
20 times higher than employment growth in the
overall economy. The existence of the ITC through
2016 provides a confidence for solar companies
to develop long-term investments in the market,
which in turn, lowers costs for consumers.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
MARCH/APRIL 2016
If you are one of the many customers
currently investigating solar, a key objective
should be to look for a company, like
Simmitri, Inc., that believes in overall energy
management, not solar alone, as the best
solution. The majority of solar companies don’t
even address the reason for a high electric bill
in the first place, thus their criteria for moving
forward in design of a solar system is based on
incomplete data. An electricity bill alone is just
not enough!
It’s imperative to review the
overall energy efficiency of a
home PRIOR to designing and
installing a solar system .
If that means, designing a smaller solar system
is the right thing to do based on consumption
analysis, then that is the approach that should
be taken.
As important as design and
implementation of solar is , it’s just
as important to look at the responsiveness of
a company, and what the ongoing support
of the customer looks like, AFTER the sale.
How engaged is the company post-sale?
Most customers have found that the answer
to that question is almost inevitably, “not
very.” It is imperative to find a company that
is committed to the customer relationship,
throughout the process and thereafter. Also,
one that provides “broad” expertise and
documented, long-term warranty programs in
all aspects of energy management - roofs, solar
and solar energy storage. Finally, look for con-
viction on the part of the company to provide
a personal customized solution as needed —
that stands in stark contrast to the production
type, cookie cutter, “one size fits all” approach
of BIG SOLAR (companies), and most smaller
ones as well.
The best solar companies , like
Simmitri, will assist you in making an
informed decision about your energy solutions,
craft a plan on how to reduce consumption
before producing with Solar, and help you save
the most money on your electric bill.
gmhtoday.com