Going solar enables businesses and public agencies to significantly reduce electricity costs, improve their operational margins, enhance their sustainability efforts and in short, contribute to a brighter, more resilient world.

There are now 1.6 million installations of solar across the U.S. In the commercial and industrial sector, the amount of solar installed at U.S. corporations and businesses is enough to offset 1.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The top 25 corporate solar users in America have installed nearly 1,100 MW of capacity at 2,000 different facilities across the country as of October 2016. (SEIA)

How to Get Paid for Solar

Net Energy Metering (NEM) is the basic building block of the solar industry – and likely will be for several years to come. NEM enables customers to earn the full retail value of the clean energy they produce on site by crediting their utility bill for any excess energy.

Solar growth has been partially fueled by the federal Investment Tax Credit, which enables for-profit entities to reduce their tax liability by 30 percent of the cost of installation. In 2020, the ITC will be reduced to 26 percent, and to 22 percent in 2021. After 2021, the commercial and utility credit will drop to a permanent 10 percent.

Even without the ITC, solar is a great value. With a long-term solar PPA, you can lock in low rates for solar-generated electricity without large upfront costs—and realize positive cash flow from day one.

Special Solar Incentives for Agriculture and Public Agencies

For the agriculture industry, additional incentives may be available in your area, such as the Rural Energy for America Program. Public agencies in California can take advantage of Renewable Energy Self-Generation Bill Credit Transfer (RES-BCT) program, while the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) enables public entities to install advanced energy systems like energy storage on the customer side of the meter and receive significant rebates.

Driving the Solar Industry Forward

CalCom Energy has been at the forefront of the solar industry since our founding, and we have been significantly involved in policy and advocacy efforts in California and nationwide. We are believers in clean energy, because it brings economic value to a local community as well as local jobs and environmental benefits.