San Luis Obispo County’s solar power installation company, Electricraft, Inc., stays up to date on the latest advances in solar power and recent news about the state of the industry. “Staying on top of the latest developments is part of our commitment to quality service,” said the company’s Vice President, Jacob Treder, “We like to keep the community informed with important information about electrical services and solar power in San Luis Obispo County.”
According to a recent report by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), California ranks first in the nation for solar power installations and has been a “longtime champion of solar,” because of the economic and environmental benefits the technology provides.
The report summarizes critical statistics about the growth of solar power in California through the third quarter of 2019:
- Solar megawatts: 26,232.25, enough to power 6,828,939 homes
- Percent of California’s electricity that comes from solar: 19.51-percent
- Solar Jobs: 76,838
- Solar Companies in California: 3430 (567 Manufacturers, 1519 Installers/Developers, 1344 Others)
- Total Solar Investment in the state: $63,576.31 million
- Prices have fallen 36% over the last 5 years.
- Growth Projection and Ranking: 15,867 MW over the next 5 years (ranks 1st)
- Number Of Installations: 1,055,286
Beginning in 2020, every new home built in California must have solar, raising some issues about who gets to take advantage of the federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC was reduced starting in 2020 and will continue to be reduced every year going forward until the ITC is phased out. Basically, for Californians, the ITC applies as follows starting in 2020:
- The ITC will generally apply to the person or entity that owns the solar system.
- If you buy a home with solar and also buy the solar system, you are most likely eligible for the tax credit.
- When your lease the solar system, or purchase electricity through a power purchase agreement (PPA), the ITC is claimed by company that owns the system or offers the PPA.
For clarification, it’s best to consult with your tax accountant for accurate information about how the ITC applies to you and your taxes.
Mayors supporting solar power
An October 2019 press release from the SEIA announced that more than 200 mayors across the United States united in a bipartisan endeavor to request that congress extend the ITC for five years.
The letter includes the statement, “Nationally, solar energy is an American success story. There are now more than 2 million solar installations, and ‘solar installer’ is ranked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as one of the fastest growing jobs in the country.”
At least 45 mayors from California including San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon and Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte signed the letter, dated October 22, 2019.
The purpose of the letter is to encourage both houses of congress “to promptly extend the ITC by passing H.R.3961 and S.2289.”
Those who are interested in tracking the progress of these bills can do so by clicking the following links:
Local San Luis Obispo solar power installer
Electricraft is a local company with local roots. The company commitment to providing top quality electrical and solar power services to San Luis Obispo County and the entire California Central Coast is second to none.
Founded in 1984, Electricraft, Inc. remains a family-owned local company, supporting the local community with superior quality service, repair and construction insuring complete satisfaction for the long term.
Electricraft’s professional team has gained gained knowledge through years of experience, training and certification and pride themselves on handling a wide variety of San Luis Obispo solar services from design, solar panel installation to repair. From residential to commercial and industrial solar panel systems, look to the professionals at Electricraft for personal, individualized service and guidance.
Call today to schedule or ask questions about your solar installation for home, business or agriculture operation.
