Five Reasons to Pursue Solar in Montana Today
Here in the state of Montana, renewable energy systems have been growing in popularity for residential and commercial property owners. In our most recent blog, we explored how the renewable energy economy in Montana has continued to grow over the past few years. More specifically though, the solar energy industry has grown at an incredible rate within the Big Sky state. Montana now has enough solar statewide to power an estimated 17,000 homes throughout the state. With so many people choosing to make the jump to solar, we decided to explore the top five reasons why pursuing solar could be the right choice for you.
Off-Grid Reliability
One of the most popular reasons for our clients choosing solar is because they want their house to be 100% off grid. For some people, being off the grid is a choice that comes from a want to be as environmentally sustainable as possible as a household, for others it can be a choice driven by geographical location of the home, where using power from the grid is either not viable at all or simply not reliable enough to trust. At Northstone Solar we have helped a number of clients bring power to their off-grid homes in the last year alone, due to the many technological advances in the solar industry over the years, solar has never been more reliable for off-grid systems. For many people Montana is such a wonderful place because of the expansive wilderness. If your home is out in that wilderness and needs power, it may be time to look into solar.
Federal Tax Credit
Earlier this year the US Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, changing the landscape of green energy nationwide. On a larger scale the Act prioritized legitimate climate action from the United States Federal Government coming in the form of a 370 Billion dollar promise to invest in both climate mitigation and adaptation. On a more personal level, the Act made investment in sustainable energy solutions, much more accessible to the average American. The Inflation Reduction Act locked in a 30% Investment Tax Credit for the next decade for Americans looking to add renewable energy projects to their home. The Act raised the tax credit up from 26%, making now a great time to invest in solar.
Net Metering Programs
For those that are interested in pursuing a solar project, but may not have the property to operate completely from the solar energy production, remaining tied to the grid is a great option. Economically speaking, net metering programs are a huge incentivization for commercial and residential property owners to invest in solar. In short, net metering programs enable property owners that produce their own electricity to sell excess electricity back to the grid. Here in the state of Montana, the payback will come to the owner in the form of a credit that can be used for any future energy bills. In a state like Montana where we will see a huge number of sunny days in the summer but much more sporadic sun in the winter, net metering can be a huge boost for property owners with solar arrays.
Financing Options
At Northstone Solar, one of our primary goals is to make solar as accessible as possible to as many Montanans as we can. The greatest help in accomplishing that goal is through financing options for potential clients. The two primary forms of financing in the state of Montana are through securing the Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program (AERLP) or with a private loan through Clearwater Credit Union in Missoula. The AERLP is managed by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and offers loans with 3% interest rate for those looking to develop renewable energy projects.
In working with the Department of Environmental Quality it is clear that their mission is to make alternative energy solutions more affordable and accessible to the citizens of Montana. For a long period of time, renewable energy projects such as solar were only available to Montanans with the ability to invest significant amounts of money at one time, now with the help of these financing options, solar has never been more realistic for middle class Montanans.
Technological Advances in Solar
One of the best reasons to invest in solar energy today is due to the technological advances within the industry over the past decade. While solar has been a viable energy source in the United States for years, advances in solar technology continue to increase the efficiency of solar panels. Today the conversion rate from solar energy to electric current is above 30%, that conversion rate is up from 24% in recent years. This progress in efficiency for photovoltaic cells serves as a massive momentum boost for the industry as a whole. In a state like Montana, in which we need to maximize our days with optimal sunlight, the continued advancements in solar technologies are a great motivator to begin your personal solar journey.
For more information on the technological growth of the industry, including the option of solar roof shingles, contact Northstone Solar today.
Sources:
https://deq.mt.gov/energy/Programs/AERLP
https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-performance-and-efficiency