New solar company for Washington State
Residents can now claim a generous tax incentive for using solar systems built in the state
Even as winter darkness descends on the Puget Sound region, Washington’s outlook for solar power is getting brighter.
In a move that could lead to far more widespread adoption of solar power by the state’s residents, an Arlington company will begin retailing roof-ready solar modules next year.
Silicon Energy LLC is the first Washington company to make solar modules, which will allow residents to claim a generous tax incentive for using solar systems built in the state.
Silicon Energy, a recently formed subsidiary Of Arlington-based Outback Power Systems, already has a wholesale deal lined up. This spring it will install about 300 solar modules at the Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center in central Washington, the largest solar-power generating facility in the Pacific Northwest, which is owned by Puget Sound Energy. The solar power complements wind turbines already installed at Wild Horse, near Whisky Dick Mountain, east of Ellensburg.
But moving into the retail market allows homeowners to tap into credits that state lawmakers passed in 2005 to boost solar energy industry here. The incentives are considered among the most effective in the country because they pay residents for generating power not merely for buying a system.
“Washington state right now has the most progressive legislation in the United States,” said Gary Shaver, director of operations at Silicon Energy.
“Outback decided this was a business opportunity we could avail ourselves of, and assist the state at the same time.”
Customers currently can get payments of 15 cents to 18 cents for every kilowatt-hour of electricity they generate up to a maximum of $2,000 per year. But the incentive triples to 54 cents per kilowatt-hour if customers use solar modules made in Washington. When Silicon Energy’s modules go on sale next year, they will be the first Washington made equipment, and will allow residents to tap the tripled incentive.
Continue reading this article from the Puget Sound Business Journal (PDF):
Silicon Energy to turn on solar incentives in the state
