Besides the benefits of reducing electrical consumption and being an environmentally responsible “green” company, current IRS tax — law in addition to state incentives — make PV a particularly shrewd business decision. With a 30% tax credit (no limit) and a five year accelerated depreciation schedule, your CPA certainly has something to work with. The benefits don’t stop there. Having a commercial grade PV system hedges future electric rate hikes and you may also sell your green power “bragging rights” to generate cash income through "GREEN TAG" or "RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDIT (REC)" sales.
What kind of damage will be made to the roof?
In the continental US, there is typically no perforation done to the roof. The system is ballasted and can be removed easily. The only requirement is that the roof must be in good shape. In Florida and in Puerto Rico, perforation may have to be contemplated to make sure that the system withstands hurricanes. To avoid perforation, one solution is to lay thin film panels that are less efficient but can be taped to the roof.
Can the system be ground mounted?
Yes. Many systems are ground mounted. Site owners who have a lot of land or who are sensitive to the roof of their building may elect ground mounted systems. There is usually a price differential for the installation between a roof mounted system and a ground mounted system. |
Can I have all my electricity generated from solar?
It depends. ‘Net zero’ is when all the electricity comes from the sun. Net zero is usually possible if the building is not an intensive user of electricity. Most often, solar provides between 5% to 20% of total usage.