Tag Archives: Community Solar

The Impact of the DOC Solar Investigation and Possible Tariffs

April 2022 | Eric Hanson, Chief Operating Officer, Impact Power Solutions

The DOC Solar Investigation is looking at possible circumvention of anti-dumping laws (AD/CVD) by imported solar modules and it’s sparking uncertainty for US companies and the solar industry. IPS’ Chief Operating Officer, Eric Hanson, shares his insight on how the investigation is impacting the sourcing of these modules and the development of commercial solar projects. We ask him how our projects are going, what we’re doing to avoid future issues, and how companies looking to adopt solar should react to this news.

What’s Being Reviewed in the DOC Solar Investigation

The US commerce department is analyzing a case brought by domestic manufacturer Auxin, which states that they and other domestic manufacturers have been harmed by companies importing panels below their true cost. A similar tariff has been on the books since 2012 which covers, of all things, washing machines and solar panels imported from China. The US government determined that panels and cells made were being sold at a below-market rate. Since that time there’s been an 18-28% tariff against certain Chinese panel manufacturers. The new case alleges that manufacturers in other countries – Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand – are doing the same thing.

The Difference Between the DOC Solar Investigation and the Previous 201 Trade Tariffs

The previous section 201 trade tariff had a bi-facial exception, which basically meant that any bifacial panel was not subject to it. It was a pretty big tariff, about 30%, now it’s ramped down to roughly 15%. The DOC Solar Investigation is similar to the 2012 anti-dumping tariff. If this petition is accepted by the department of commerce, it would be retroactive, and very large, 50% – 250% on top of the price of these modules and retroactive to some point, possibly to the beginning of this year, or to March of this year. No panel manufacturer feels confident that if they deliver right now, it wouldn’t be subjected to this tariff. It’s created a freeze on panels across the industry, and not the kind of freeze we’re accustomed to here in Minnesota.

Project and Product Delays

Projects are going great in 2022! It’s probably going to be one of the biggest years ever for IPS. The most significant delays we’re seeing are with inverters, lead times that are about double what we have been accustomed to. Instead of a typical 8-week delivery window, it’s now 20-25 weeks. We’re also noticing certain inverter manufacturers that don’t have any stock for the rest of the year. For the most part, though we’ve been able to pivot and find reliable manufacturers that we can use. At this point, we have not seen too many cancellations. You are able to install racking and inverters and wiring and conduit before you have modules, but we typically don’t do things that way. We would never start a construction project without procuring the modules or knowing that we have a path to procure them at an agreed-upon price. Typically the delays are due to supply chain issues. With inverters, for instance, there are a lot of PCBs with microchips, and every industry is fighting for microchips at the moment. But the largest single issue for us right now is transportation– it’s either too expensive, which causes suppliers to decline shipping if their freight numbers (usually included in our price) or a lack of delivery drivers. In many instances, we can’t get products across the ocean to the US.

What We’re Doing to Avoid Issues

North American panels are accessible to commercial installations, on a very limited basis. Typically the annual output is going to be a lot lower, so it’s pretty difficult to count on them to cover all of our needs throughout the year, knowing that there are quite a few companies like ours around the country. We have not looked into the secondary market, but we have looked at a lot of suppliers through Amicus, our solar buyers’ cooperative. We have seen some supply due to canceled orders from larger companies. We’ve really tried to open up the old Rolodex and talk with as many reputable distributors as possible. I think we’ve done a pretty good job at locating inverters and racking – modules are the only item hanging out there. As of today we haven’t had an issue locating modules, but I think that will likely change in the next couple of months.

How the DOC Solar Investigation will Impact the Commercial and Community Solar Market

If module supply is reduced by potentially 80% prices will go up. If that’s the case on the community solar front we’ll see delays as developers choose to wait out the current issues. For commercial customers, some will choose to move forward but many will wait out these problems as well. Both markets are less price-sensitive compared to utility-scale, with residential projects being even less price-sensitive than commercial and community-scale.

Implications for Companies Considering Solar

The biggest implication for any customer looking to install solar this year or next year is to act fast, to be very blunt. There are modules out there, we have a relatively solid supply of modules now, but that could change dramatically in the next several months if market dynamics do not change. If solar is a strategic initiative for your company this year or next year, due to the recent decision by the DOC, I would definitely say that you should act as soon as possible. If you have a proposal in front of you that makes financial sense, now is the time to do it and I think it’s going to get a little bit more uncertain as we move forward toward the end of 2022.

Is Solar a Strategic Initiative for Your Company? We Can Help.

If your company is considering sustainability initiatives, renewable energy, or energy efficiency improvements, we’re happy to hear from you. Impact Power Solutions has been helping organizations implement solar projects for over 30 years. If you’re interested in learning more or want to see how solar can work for your organization, reach out to us today!

How Solar Can Help Your Company Achieve Corporate Sustainability Goals

Many companies are turning to solar to achieve their corporate sustainability goals in response to shifting external factors, investor attitudes, and stakeholder preferences. With interest in corporate solar surging, we wanted to highlight recent examples of those external factors, show how solar can help, and illustrate how solar has helped our clients and collaborators achieve their goals. 

What Is Corporate Sustainability?

As the Ivey Business Journal puts it, “Corporate sustainability recognizes that corporate growth and profitability are important, it also requires the corporation to pursue societal goals, specifically those relating to sustainable development — environmental protection, social justice and equity, and economic development.”

Unfortunately, many companies struggle to gauge the effectiveness of their programs. A recent survey of both public and private companies revealed that while 81% of respondents’ companies have formal programs in place, only 50% of those respondents believe their company performs effectively. Fortunately, solar can help companies produce substantial, measurable results for their corporate sustainability goals. 

Environmental Protection 

A recent United Nations report, approved by 195 governments and based on 14,000 studies, confirms that humans are responsible for climate change. While the results are unsettling, there is still hope to achieve the best outcome with a coordinated effort and swift policy change. Since solar energy systems do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases, they can drastically reduce your organization’s carbon footprint and are also an impactful way to advance your building’s green credentials. While your company may not influence policy, it can still take part in the coordinated effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

Take The Vomela Companies’ on-site solar array as a recent example. The company is projected to offset nearly 36,000 tons of CO2 over the next 30 years, which will make a significant and positive environmental impact. That’s the equivalent to adding 44,000 acres of trees to our forests. Additionally, the company achieved the sustainable green printing certification by pairing solar with other environmentally conscious practices.

 

The Vomela Companies Rooftop Solar Array  An Aerial View of The Vomela Companies’ rooftop solar array in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Social Justice and Equity 

The senate recently passed the $1 trillion infrastructure plan, allocating $36 billion in investment to fight climate change. In the proposal it states that, “the plan prioritizes addressing long-standing and persistent racial injustice. The plan targets 40 percent of the benefits of climate and clean infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities.” 

According to the IEA, solar energy has surpassed all other forms of energy as the most affordable electricity source in the world. Despite this, disadvantaged communities have less access to solar energy and its benefits compared to their counterparts. As outlined by the Scientific American, ”Racial and ethnic minorities have less access to solar power, regardless of income, highlighting the need for environmental justice.” Providing these communities with access to cheap, clean energy is an actionable way for organizations to take part in both social and environmental change.  

Look at Shiloh Temple’s rooftop community solar project as a recent example. Faith groups, businesses, and organizations across North Minneapolis banded together to create positive change. While other solar gardens are being developed to allow large corporations or municipal governments to subscribe, this garden demonstrates a new model by placing clean energy in a low-income community of color, creating green jobs for local residents, and ensuring access to community solar. 

 

Community members participating in Shiloh Temple's ribbon cutting eventCommunity members participating in Shiloh Temple’s ribbon cutting event.

Economic Development

In a recent statement by SEC chairman Gary Gensler, it was announced that plans are in development for mandatory climate reporting by the end of the year, signaling publicly traded organizations to be prepared for addressing environmental, social, and governance issues. Larry Fink’s 2021 annual BlackRock CEO letter said it best. “There is no company whose business model won’t be profoundly affected by the transition to a net zero economy.” 

Jobs in the solar industry are growing 17 times faster than the US economy and 90% of newly installed electric capacity was from renewable sources in 2020. Solar installer has been consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing jobs in the US in the past 5 years, according to the SEIA. Companies that meet their energy needs with rooftop solar are supporting economic development through manufacturing, installation, and more. Opportunities for companies to support economic development with solar are not limited to rooftop installations, either. Sourcing energy from community solar gardens provides economic support to rural communities, while giving farmers and landowners a valuable opportunity to diversify income streams. 

In a recent collaboration with Summit Academy, Target Corporation, and the City of Minneapolis, IPS led a workshop with recent Summit Academy grads and solar career hopefuls to help prepare them for NABCEP certification, the most well established certification in the renewable energy field. The IPS team shared their solar industry knowledge, the students received real world experience, and Target Corporation reinforced their commitment to renewable energy by supporting future renewable energy leaders.

 

Recent Summit Academy Grads, IPS team members, and Target representatives

Recent Summit Academy grads, Target representatives, and IPS team members.

Consider Solar for Accomplishing Your Company’s Corporate Sustainability Goals.  

If your company is looking for practical ways to achieve its corporate sustainability goals, we encourage you to evaluate solar. In addition to drastically reducing energy costs and carbon emissions, solar can compliment multiple company initiatives. Interested in learning more about what solar would look like for your company? Request a quote to see if solar is right for you! We’ve been happy to learn about your energy needs, educate inquirers, and demonstrate Solar’s payback for over 30 years.

2021 Top Solar Contractors: Our 10th Year

What is the 2021 Top Solar Contractor’s List?

Curated by Solar Power World, the Top Solar Contractors list is developed each year to honor the work of solar installers in the United States. Solar firms in the utility, commercial and residential markets are ranked by number of kilowatts installed in the previous year. Companies are grouped and listed by specific service, markets and states.  Solar Power World has recognized our installation success by ranking Impact Power Solutions at No. 13 on the 2021 Top Solar Developers list.

From the Curators of the 2021 Top Solar Contractor’s List

“Not even COVID-19 closures and slowdowns could prevent the solar industry from installing fantastic numbers last year,” said Kelly Pickerel, editor in chief of Solar Power World. “The Solar Power World team is so glad to recognize over 400 companies on the 2021 Top Solar Contractors list that not only survived a pandemic but thrived in spite of it.”

A Year to Remember

The U.S. solar industry grew 43% in last year, installing more solar panels on homes, businesses and across the country than any other year on record. The residential market saw an 11% increase, which is remarkable considering the difficulties of maneuvering home solar projects through pandemic precautions.

The federal government passed a two-year extension on the solar investment tax credit (ITC) at the end of 2020, which will further accelerate solar adoption across all market segments. After installing 19.2 GW in 2020, research firm Wood Mackenzie expects the U.S. solar market to quadruple by 2030.

Regardless of the turbulence faced last year, solar energy has remained effective in combating greenhouse gas emissions as an alternative to fossil fuels, and will continue to aid in efforts for economic recovery. 

Our Take On Being A Top Solar Contractor

When asked why we keep coming back to the top solar contractors list, Chief Development Officer Eric Pasi said “In the beginning it leant a lot of credibility to our small business, and still does today. It’s also a way to push our team to new heights, trying to beat last year’s statistics and keep growing, which we’ve been able to do.” 

We’re honored to be recognized as a Solar Power World top solar contractor. In the 30 years since our founding, we have never overcome challenges like the ones faced this year. We extend our deepest thanks to our employees, clients, and community for making the installation of 34,618 kilowatts of solar capacity possible, and for the positive impact we’ve made on the environment together. 

If you’re curious to see what solar would look like for your organization, feel free to reach out via email at info@ips-solar.com, contact us, or request a quote to learn more. 

30 Years Of Solar Ep. 5: Eichten’s Hidden Acres

A shot of the ground mounted solar array installed by IPS at Eichten’s Hidden Acres.  

Growing Trust with Landowners

Eichten’s Hidden Acres is an award winning cheese and buffalo ranch in Center City, Minnesota bordering Taylors Falls on the St. Croix River. The ranch has been family owned and operated since 1976, and is committed to energy efficiency and healthy farming. In 2011, Ed Eichten, the owner of Eichten’s Hidden Acres met with Eric Pasi, the Chief Development Officer of IPS. Ed wanted to learn more about investing in solar not only with the ranch in mind, but for the benefit of future generations. 

“I’ve always been very conscious of burning fossil fuels. I’m from a large family and have a lot of nieces and nephews, so it’s for that, and it’s just for humanity. It doesn’t make sense to keep polluting the atmosphere.”  – Ed Eichten

At the time of Ed and Eric’s conversation, IPS didn’t have a large presence in rural Minnesota and large ground-mounted projects weren’t common. Thankfully, Ed’s enthusiasm for solar led to a 40 kW project that would be completed the following year, and to the start of a long and prosperous relationship with IPS.

A few years later, Minnesota’s Community Solar Program was in its infancy and IPS was searching for landowners that were interested in leasing their land for a solar garden. These gardens would allow people in the local community without ideal roof conditions or finances to benefit from solar. Since the program was brand new and there wasn’t a history of successful projects to refer to, many landowners were skeptical.   

Ed felt as though his original system had already paid for itself, and once again thought it would be a good idea; not just for his own benefit, but for his community and the environment! Ed leased a portion of his land for the solar garden to IPS and construction began. Soon after, the 5 MW project was completed, giving a home to more than 15,000 solar panels to power the ranch and its surrounding community.

Ed Eichten touring the newly commissioned IPS community solar garden shorty after construction.   

“This was the first project we did in the area so they had a lot of questions to answer and we always got the answers we needed.” – Ed Eichten

Ed’s trust in IPS and the success of his project were instrumental in establishing IPS as a trustworthy company for landowners across the state. His early commitment and subsequent solar advocacy provided solar energy access to his community and opened the doors for over 50 (and counting) solar gardens.

2021 marks a major milestone for IPS, and we’d be thrilled to have you join us in celebrating 30 years of solar. Learn more about the event RSVP here!

The Green Economy & Energy Equity: Clean Energy Connection EP. 2

(Interview starts at 1:26:00)

Proponents of the Green Economy & Energy Equity: About the Guests 

Audrey Henderson, Energy News Network

Audrey Henderson, Author, Energy News Network

Audrey is an independent writer and researcher based in the greater Chicago area with advanced degrees in sociology and law from Northwestern University. She specializes in sustainability in the built environment, culture and arts related to policy and related topics. Her work has been featured in Wallpaper magazine, the Chicago Reader, Chicago Architect magazine, Next City, Transitions Abroad, Belt Magazine and other consumer and trade publications.

 

Eric Pasi, Impact Power Solutions

Eric Pasi, Chief Development Officer, IPS 

As Chief Development Officer for Impact Power Solutions, Pasi has helped organizations analyze and adopt clean energy strategies nationwide.  He is extremely passionate about renewable power, entrepreneurship and the climate crisis. In 2020, he released his first book called “CleanWave: A Guide to Success in the Green Recovery” where he outlines the past, present, and future of clean tech, and its role in a post-COVID19 and post-George Floyd recovery.  

 

Interview Transcript

Joan E: This segment of Joan Esposito: Live, local and Progressive is sponsored by Impact Power Solutions, the company that knows clean energy in Illinois and throughout the Midwest. Eric Pasi, the IPS Chief Development Officer, joins us and today we are also joined by Audrey Henderson, who’s an independent writer and researcher. She’s based in the Chicago area and she specializes in writing about sustainability. Hello, Eric. Hello, Audrey. Welcome to our broadcast.

Audrey H: Hello

Eric P: Good afternoon, Joan.

Joan E: One of the things that we were going to talk about today was the idea of energy and equity. Now, Audrey, I know that you’ve done a lot of research into sustainability. Has any of your research touched on this idea of trying to do clean energy in a way that is equitable? And if so, what have you found?

Audrey H: That’s definitely become more prominent recently. As far as I’m concerned, energy and equity go hand in hand. What I’ve found is that energy now is thought of more as just more than just making cars more energy efficient or more gas efficient. It’s really transitioning to a green economy, and adding more opportunity for people of color and people of lower income people to plug into, no pun intended, the economy.

Joan E: Audrey, can you or maybe you Eric, can you define our terms? Because I’ve got to tell you, when somebody says green economy, I’m not always sure exactly what they’re talking about. So I need to know what you would define green economy as, and when you’re talking about increasing jobs, particularly for underserved communities, what are we talking about as specific jobs? Are we talking about factories where solar panels are made? First of all, let’s define green economy and then I want to know, specifically, what are one or two or three different jobs that kind of an economy would create?

Eric P: Yeah, absolutely. The green economy is a very broad big subject and encompasses everything from more efficient vehicles, as Audrey had mentioned, to energy generation (such as solar and wind) energy efficiency, and carbon capture smart technologies that help us consume energy in a smarter way and more efficiently. I think that is probably a good basis to start with a definition of the green economy.

Joan E: Audrey, give me some examples of how people would actually work in the green economy, what would they do?

Audrey H: Well, Eric is absolutely right. It is a broad term. When you mentioned factories where people are making solar panels, that would definitely qualify, but also what would qualify is green buildings, green materials, urban planning. I guess what I would try to convey is that when you think about a green economy, an opportunity, you have to think beyond cars being gas efficient. I’m not sure I’m answering your question.

Joan E: Let me give you guys one example. Recently, I had been thinking about an electric car for a while and then I decided to take the plunge. And some people are saying “Well, you know, that’s great. That’s the wave of the future.” And then I read articles that say “it’s really not that great, because there’s so many toxic minerals in the batteries, and then what do we do with the batteries?” and “are you really hurting the environment or saving the environment.” I don’t have the depth of knowledge that you guys have on this subject. I get confused very easily. And frankly, I can’t, at the end of the day sometimes, decide if I’m doing a good thing or not. Do you have any words of advice for me?

Audrey H: I just recently interviewed someone named Ellington Ellis and he addressed the very problem that you that you mentioned. Because you’re right, what used to pass for recycling for car batteries, or E-waste in general, was scandalous. Now there are more environmentally friendly ways of extracting the materials from batteries that can be recycled. They can be refurbished and they can be repaired so that the materials can be extracted in a way that’s less toxic. The batteries that have degraded to a certain point, but are still useful, can be used for other purposes. Whereas when you bought an electric car before, that battery might have just been disposed of in the landfill or shipped off to a developing nation. Now there’s more emphasis on responsibly recycling those batteries. So I worry less about it now than before.

Joan E: Audrey, one of the topics that I know you’ve looked into is this whole idea of environmental concerns and the impact on communities of color. Can you talk about that?

Audrey H: Yes, one of the things that I keep hearing over and over again, is the black to green pipeline. What that means is that communities of color, and lower income communities, have worn a lot of the burdens of the Industrial Revolution. The factories have been located in those neighborhoods. They’ve had to deal with more of the carbon emissions. They’ve had to deal with more of the waste materials. But at the same time, they haven’t had the same opportunities for jobs. So with what green economy advocates are saying about wanting development, we want it to be more equitable. We want to have people in our neighborhoods to have opportunities to train for and get these jobs that are in the green and clean and sustainable industries.

Joan E: I’m talking to Eric Pasi and Audrey Henderson. This is a segment that we’re doing on clean energy and the equity impact. We’re going to take a break when we come back there is actually a project right now going on in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. I’m going to tell you about that. Well, our experts are going to tell you about that when we come back after this.

Joan E: I want you to talk about the Bronzeville microgrid project. Okay, now, I’ve now said everything that I understand about what is going on. So Eric, you want to you want to enlighten me?

Eric P: I can kick things off by defining what a microgrid is. Then I think Audrey can jump in with some of the specifics about that project. A microgrid is a small network of electricity users within a geographic region that can essentially detach from the grid at any time and operate in isolation. That’s via technology, energy storage, and some sorts of generation like solar or wind. And so in the Bronzeville area, we’ve seen one of the country’s first larger or mid-scale microgrid project. Audrey knows a lot more about this subject than I do so I’ll kick it over to her.

Joan E: All right Audrey, you have the floor.

Audrey H: Okay, so the microgrid project in Bronzeville, is actually part of a larger initiative called the Community Of The Future. It’s a collaboration between a number of agencies, including Com Ed and the Bronzeville Community Development Partnership. What the Community Of The Future does is it uses the microgrid as one aspect of it. As Eric was saying, the grid is an energy source that can that can be integrated into the larger grid, or can operate independently. But with the Bronzeville microgrid, they’re also doing a number of other related initiatives. They initiated an electric vehicle shared ride service. They had an ‘ideathon’, which is kind of like, I was about to say a hackathon but you might not know what that is about either, it’s a contest where groups of young people get together and design projects within an energy efficiency or smart grid or sustainability theme. They sponsored that contest in 2018 and 2019 for high school students in the Bronzeville. area. They also had a pilot program where they introduced solar and battery energy. I think it was also related to the microgrid in one of the public housing developments, the Dearborn homes. That was also co-sponsored with the Department of Energy. So this was, as I said, part of a larger initiative in order to develop the microgrid, but also as a means for the community itself to enter to become more integrated into what we’re calling the green economy.

Joan E: Okay, Audrey, let’s say somebody who lives in Bronzeville is hearing this and is pretty excited about the idea. How would somebody get involved in the project and what, if anything, could they do to be a part of it?

Audrey H: The alderman has been very active and they have a whole Community of the Future Advisory Council that has been directly involved. It has had public meetings where community people have been able to give their own input. So the community itself has really been more active as far as the impact with the Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, and they really engage with community stakeholders, shaping what goes into the project, advising and commenting on what initiatives they want, and really shaping the program, not just to develop the microgrid, but also to develop job opportunities and urban development opportunities for people in the neighborhood.

Joan E: Earlier, you guys were talking about this idea that lots of times communities of color are hit particularly with pollution generating industries. I know when just in the Chicago area, we’ve had that recent example where General Iron, which is a metal shredding company, were pretty much pushed out of Lincoln Park. Neighbors there didn’t like the pollution and stuff they found floating around in the air. They made the announcement that they were going to go to the south side of Chicago and a lot of residents there were like “Oh, wait a minute. No, I don’t think so.” Maybe it would have been one thing if they would have come in and said “Oh, by the way, you know, we’re going to hire 500 local people from the community.” But they weren’t. They were just looking for a place where they could continue to do this metal shredding business, in a in a community where they hoped they wouldn’t get so much pushback. So there really is this very obvious, and even very recent example, of exactly what you guys were talking about. I want to shift gears a little bit. Joe Biden announced his infrastructure bill. It had some clean energy elements to it. Eric, what were the high points for you when you looked at Biden’s infrastructure bill? What were you happy to see as a part of that?

Eric P: As a clean energy advocate, there’s a lot to be excited about in this bill and we don’t necessarily always associate clean energy with infrastructure, but it absolutely is related. I’m about as excited as anyone for this bill. I’ll give you some examples as to what folks can expect to hear, and maybe the not so much covered aspects of the bill. First off, the legislation would establish an energy efficient and clean energy standard, which would be the first in the country’s history, to achieve 100% clean energy power by 2035. Because the bulk of that generation of clean energy happens in rural America and more conservative America, we need to find a way to bring that power into the urban core. So another aspect of the bill establishes a targeted tax credit to incentivize the build out of the next generation grid, which would essentially span solar power generation in the southwest and bring that all the way to the east coast. We’re talking about building these massive and much needed power distribution networks to bring clean energy from where it’s generated to where it’s needed. A couple of the other really interesting points in this bill include $50 billion in dedicated investment to improve infrastructure resilience. As we’re seeing in particular, the most essential services like food systems and urban infrastructure and transportation assets can be impacted as our climate becomes more volatile. We’re going to need to have this resiliency in place. Then, specific to clean energy, the bill extends the tax credits that are so vital to deployment of solar and wind. It also includes a new tax credit for specifically for energy storage, which is like battery storage.

Joan E: When you say these tax credits, are these tax credits for companies or for people like me?

Eric P: They’re for both. That’s the beauty, I think of the tax credit It applies both to private individuals as well as corporations. There’s even talks, because this is yet to be sorted out, for some of these credits to be refundable in the cases of municipalities or tribal nations, or other folks that can’t use tax credits to actually to actually gain some benefit from them.

Joan E: This infrastructure bill has been proposed, but do you guys have any feel for when or if it will really be voted on and become law? I mean, are we looking at something in the next few months? Next year or in the next couple of years? Audrey, do you have any feel for that?

Audrey H: I do not. I will speak on my own personal opinion, because I don’t have contacts in Washington. From what I hear and read and see, this is something that is going to happen sooner rather than later, especially in the house. I think I’ve heard or seen on TV that they were thinking about passing it through reconciliation, which would not through the filibuster. That would expedite the passing of it. So really, it’s a matter of getting all the democrats on board with a bill that everybody can vote on. Perhaps if we did have Vice President Harris cast that tie breaking vote. I think the process now is just rounding all the Democrats together, getting the aspects of the bill that everybody can agree on, and then putting that forward. Everything I’m seeing shows that it’s a priority for President Biden and I don’t see them having any difficulty passing it in the house. I think the any impediment will be in the Senate, and that would just be a matter of getting senators together.

Joan E: What’s one message, Audrey, that you want to leave our listeners with.

Audrey H: Eric was saying something earlier about infrastructure being a broader topic. I think if I were to say anything, I would say that infrastructure and clean energy are broad and inclusive, but they’re both important. Infrastructure is broader than just sticks and bricks. I was reading that the governor of South Dakota said that infrastructure has nothing to do with roads and bridges. Well, it has something to do with roads and bridges, but it also has to do with the internet and also has to do with clean water. I think if I were to say one thing it would be that it’s really necessary to reverse disinvestment and engage with people on the ground. The people on the ground have an idea of what they need, and usually have a pretty good idea of how to go about it. Moving forward, I would just say that clean energy and emphasis on infrastructure are important tools.

Joan E: Okay, Eric, you get the last minute and a half. What message do you want to leave us with today?

Eric P: Piggybacking on what Audrey mentioned, being focused on what’s happening on the ground, I love to think about this concept of ‘think globally and act locally’. Right now, Illinois residents have a chance to make a meaningful impact in their state. We’re so close to tipping the scales and making the clean energy future a reality.  I mentioned in our previous segment last month about a bill at the state legislature called Path To 100. It’s so important that your listeners know about it, if they’re engaged and interested in that bill. In particular, I would certainly invite folks to visit the Illinois Solar Energy Association website where they can provide some support for that bill. It just takes literally 30 seconds. That is found at Illinois solar.org. And, you know, as always, I appreciate you giving us some time here today, Joan, and I wish your listeners well and hope you have a great rest of the month!

Joan E: Thank you so very much Eric Pasi, who is the Chief Development Officer of Impact Power Solutions, and Audrey Henderson, an independent writer and researcher in the Chicago area who specializes in sustainability. Thank you both so much. I really appreciate the fact that you can talk about such complex issues in a way that even I can understand them. Thank you both Eric and Audrey.

Audrey H: Thank you for having me.

The Infrastructure Plan: What it Means for Solar and Businesses

What Is the Infrastructure Plan?

The infrastructure plan, or the American Jobs Plan is a $2 trillion proposal from the Biden administration that aims to address the climate crisis while out-competing China. If enacted, the plan would be the largest government investment on record, surpassing President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system. 

The Infrastructure Plan Focuses on:

  • Overhauling roads and bridges.
  • Electric vehicle charging stations and incentivized electric vehicle purchases.
  • Retrofitting homes for affordable energy efficiency.
  • Improvements to the US electric grid.
  • Research and development to position the US as a leader in clean energy.
  • Achieving 100% carbon free energy by 2035.
  • Equity and workforce development.

What it Means for Solar 

In short, expect to see solar doing more of what it’s great at. The plan aims to ‘spur jobs that modernize power generation and deliver clean electricity,’ calling for rapid deployment of solar, wind, and storage. The plan’s focus on energy efficiency is likely to benefit the solar industry, as the two work well together. Speaking of working well together, solar is complementary to EV charging stations, and likely to play a role in the plan’s focus on electrifying transportation. Solar can strengthen the electric grid, and solar industry leaders are already focusing on equity and workforce development. While achieving 100% carbon free energy by 2035 is no easy task, solar is well positioned to be a major contributor as the world’s most affordable energy source, and create jobs even faster.

What it Means For Businesses

The plan focuses on ‘Creating a national network of small business Incubators and innovation hubs,’ providing business owners access to credit, capital and R & D dollars. It includes funding to support entrepreneurial growth in communities of color, and will partner with rural and tribal communities to create jobs and support economic growth. While the plan includes a corporate tax rate increase from 21% to 28%, that is lowered from its prior rate of 35% in 2017. Fortunately for business owners and the solar industry, a 10 year extension of the solar tax credit would be enacted, allowing plenty of time to save 26% on a newly installed solar array.

IPS is happy to share our expertise on available solar incentives. We’ve helped businesses save as much as possible with solar for over 30 years. Interested in learning more? Reach out for a free solar analysis today.

Impact Power Solutions Turns 30!

 

This Solar Company is Turning 30!

2021 marks a major milestone for IPS, 30 years in business! Ralph Jacobson founded IPS in 1991 with the simple goal of helping clients save money and the environment.  Since then, with the help of our staff, clients, partners, friends and family, we’ve grown into a nationally ranked solar company.  

As we’ve grown as a company, so has the impact we’ve had on our clients, the communities we serve, and the climate. We remain dedicated to maximizing that impact on and off the balance sheet. With that in mind, we want our 30th anniversary to be impact-focused. To start, we’ll be digging through the archives to share some of the moments and people that have defined IPS. 

With a watchful eye on vaccinations and health protocols we hope to celebrate in person this summer! Pending state guidelines we’re planning to gather at Utepils Brewing Co. on their creek-side patio, Wednesday, June 23rd from 3 to 6 PM for our 30-Year Solarbration. There will be tasty Utepils beer, good eats and, fingers-crossed, beautiful weather. Proceeds from sales that day are intended to support the recent work with the SolStar program in North Minneapolis, creating clean energy access for local residents of color.

We’d love to see you all there! 

Once again, we’d like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the team members, clients and partners who have helped make our first 30 years as a solar company a success. We can’t wait for the next 30!


Event RSVP Link: https://30yearsofsolar.eventbrite.com

 

Clean Energy and Solar’s Future In Illinois: Clean Energy Connection EP. 1

(Interview starts at 1:08:00)

Proponents of Clean Energy: About the Guests 

Leslie McMcain, Illinois Solar Energy Industries Association

Lesley McCain, Executive Director, ISEA

Prior to accepting the position as Executive Director of the Illinois Solar Energy Association, McCain served on the ISEA board from September 2009 until April 2012. As a board member she was Chair of Marketing Committee. Lesleypreviously worked for Community Energy Inc.(CEI) as the Midwest Director of Business Development. She started with CEI in 2005 as the Residential Program Manager for the award winning City of Naperville Renewable Energy Program, and in 2006 added corporate and industrial sales to her responsibilities. McCain also serves on the board of the Illinois Environmental Council. She is grateful to have the opportunity to use her personal energy to help with the transition to the clean energy economy.

 

Eric Pasi, Impact Power Solutions

Eric Pasi, Chief Development Officer, IPS 

As Chief Development Officer for Impact Power Solutions, Pasi has helped organizations analyze and adopt clean energy strategies nationwide.  He is extremely passionate about renewable power, entrepreneurship and the climate crisis. In 2020, he released his first book called “CleanWave: A Guide to Success in the Green Recovery” where he outlines the past, present, and future of clean tech, and its role in a post-COVID19 and post-George Floyd recovery.  

 

Interview Transcript

Joan E: This segment of Joan Esposito live local and progressive is sponsored by Impact Power Solutions. A company that knows clean energy in Illinois and throughout the Midwest. Eric Pasi is the chief development officer. And he joins us now. And Eric, is Lesley with us as well?

Okay, and Lesley McCain from ISEA is here. Good to know that you guys are both here. Welcome to WCPT and thank you for being a part of our station and our broadcast.

Eric P: Joan, good afternoon, I’m so excited!

Joan E: One of the things that I really wanted to talk to you about is Joe Biden’s plan for clean energy and to get more wind power and more solar power. And explain to our listeners exactly what your company does, what Impact Power Solutions does.

Eric P: Yeah, absolutely. And thanks again for having us. Impact Power Solutions, we’re a solar development company based in the Midwest, and we specialize in commercial and community scale solar solutions. You’re correct, right now is a very interesting and exciting time related to clean energy. And we’re very excited to talk with your listenership about everything that’s happening both at a federal and a state level related to renewable energy. And actually, today, we have Lesley McCain, who is the Executive Director for the Illinois Solar Energy Association that’s also joining us.

Joan E: My knowledge of this subject as listeners who are regular listeners to this show know, when I’ve talked about things like solar and how all the energy grid works, the depth of my ignorance is staggering. Eric and Lesley, so this is going to be informative for me as well as the audience. So I was just trying to look through the press release for the COVID relief bill because I know they’ve been trying to expand it to other areas. Clearly, Joe Biden is going to tackle clean energy separately. What have you gleaned from the things Joe Biden has said about what we can expect, as far as support for clean energy from Washington.

Eric P: Yeah, absolutely. So on a federal level, we know that this is part of the Biden and Harris administration’s four pillars, addressing climate along with equity, economic recovery, and the COVID situation as well. And so we didn’t get much out of the most recent relief package, but we are looking toward infrastructure and climate kind of being the next piece of the puzzle here that the administration wants to address.

Joan E: What do you think the timetable is going to be for this?

Eric P: It’s a great question. We have, obviously, our own lobby group here and I can let Lesley hop in here if she’s got any insight that she’s hearing from the national level.

Lesley M: Great. Thanks, Eric. Thanks so much again, Joan, for giving us this opportunity. You admitting your sometimes confusion on what happens with energy is, you know, it’s a pretty broad thing out there in the general public. So this is great to have the opportunity to build it to help people understand what is happening broadly with energy development and clean energy development, specifically to Illinois. So we’re focused a lot on state policy, which we’d like to touch base on today. But honestly, there’s a lot of excitement. What is happening at the federal level? It really has been the states leading the charge on clean energy development for at least the last couple of decades, perhaps. You know, as far back as clean energy has been done, there hasn’t been a whole lot of support from the federal government. So to see climate become a cabinet position, and understand as Eric said that both climate and infrastructure are very high on the Biden administration’s list of priorities, which gives us all a lot of hope. Because we do know that clean energy is the significant solution for climate change concerns. I have heard that now that we’ve passed this significant stimulus package, that the administration feels that they have momentum, and will pick up another significant lift very, very soon. So I’m hoping that we’ll see that activity related to clean energy development in one of those two packages this spring.

Joan E: Aside from what we can expect from the national level, Lesley, since your focus is the state of Illinois, what is what’s going on here? Are there any bills that we should keep an eye on down in Springfield?

Lesley M: Yes, there are. Thank you for asking. So just a little bit of a little bit of background, at the end of 2016, Illinois passed a significant piece of legislation to help develop wind and solar here in the state called the Future Energy Jobs Act and that gave us a goal of reaching 25% clean energy for the state by the year 2025. That piece of legislation, which we thought was so significant at the time, just did not give us enough of a runway for all of the pent up demand here in the state. So unfortunately, we have run out of money for that budget for additional clean energy development, here in Illinois. And so yes, we are hoping that maybe your listeners will help put their shoulder to the wheel and send letters to their legislators to help pass that piece of legislation that we’re currently working on that will fix this budget called The Path To 100, as governor Pritzker has committed to 100% clean energy here in Illinois. So we’re very excited about that. But we do need a path to get to that goal and we don’t have that currently. So if folks want to visit the Illinois Solar Energy Association website, which is just Illinoissolar.org. At the top of the page, you’ll see a link to find the path to 100 letter that would go to your local legislators and just encourage them to continue to pay attention to clean energy development here in the state. We do have broad support with the General Assembly in Springfield, as well as at the governor’s office. So I’m very hopeful that we will see a repair to this budget this spring, because the waiting lists from homeowners, small businesses, community solar developers and the like, are growing. They’re very long waiting lists of people waiting to get solar developed, but we just need the incentive to be able to flow here in the state. Once again, I want to mention that we have developed quite a bit of clean energy in the last couple of years since the passage of that Future Energy Jobs Act. Illinois has added 309 megawatts of small scale solar, actually, that happened last year. And that’s the third highest number of additions across the country, according to the Energy Information Administration, and Illinois currently enjoys 515 megawatts of clean energy. That covers the energy needs for over 100,000 homes. So you can see that people are very excited about being powered by solar here.

Joan E: Lesley and Eric, we’re going to take a quick break. And when we come back, Eric, there’s a couple of things I want to talk to you about and that’s solar panels and things like that for home use and what the economics of that situation is. And also you may have heard that the governor of Texas blamed the whole grid crash on windmills, those darn windmills, they got all icy and the whole state went to heck in a handbasket. So I’m gonna ask you to weigh in on that. We’re talking to Eric Pasi and Lesley McCain about clean energy we’re going to continue this discussion after a break.

Joan E: Right before we went to break, I reminded Eric, that Governor Abbott of Texas, I believe it was the governor, but certainly, some lawmaker in Texas blamed the recent grid crash there on the fact that those darn windmills froze up. And there you go. And isn’t clean energy a bad thing? And I don’t know if anybody pointed out to him that there are lots of really cold countries in the world that use those same windmills. And you know, what, they use them year round, and they never have any problems. What would you say to the people in Texas, Eric?

Eric P: Yeah, isn’t that strange? I mean, we’ve seen windmills work across the Midwest with no issue. And really, it comes down to a concept or methodology of how you run the electric grid in your local area. We’ve had several weeks to digest this. Texas is, as everybody knows, big on self-reliance and kind of a go it alone strategy. And that just doesn’t work that well when it comes to the electric grid, which spans nationwide. Texas is governed by a local grid called the ERCOT. For years they’ve really tried to withstand any input from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to help with this issue, which is what happens when local grids have had problems, and need to port in electricity from elsewhere. You know, when we leave decisions to the free market with little to no oversight, the free market will take the least costly approach. This is what happened exactly as it pertains to weatherization. What happened in the Texas grid is really a story that has gone back for decades. This wasn’t the first disaster in Texas related to cold weather. 1989, 2011 most recently, we had similar crises. And at the end of that most recent one in 2011, an exhaustive study was released, and it urged regulators to require upgrades to weatherize the grid and specifically natural gas facilities, which had pipes freeze & burst in this most recent disaster, which caused outages across the state. We saw some homeowners receive monthly electricity bills of over $10,000, the cost of electricity spiked to 3,000%. And even our own Chicago-based Exelon is expecting a half billion dollar hit in the first quarter because of this issue. And really, what we need to think about is, how do we plan for the worst, knowing that our climate is changing? And that’s going to be the number one point on many people’s letter to the governor asking for, for some reform here after this disaster.

Joan E: I thought it was interesting, Eric. I read that there was one area around El Paso, where the grid did not go down and the utility company there, even though as you just pointed out, much of the state of Texas resisted any kind of federal regulation. They left it up to the utility companies, even though they had a devastating snowstorm 10 years ago that did much the same damage. They left it up to the utility companies. And one power company in El Paso, Texas, decided to go ahead and spend the money and winterize their equipment, I think their equipment was good to 10 below zero. And you know what, Eric? They didn’t lose power. And that was a story that I thought needed to get a lot more attention. Everybody was like, oh, everybody in Texas is suffering. Well, everybody except this one area that decided that even without the state breathing down their neck and even without federal necessity that they would do the responsible thing. The other thing I wanted to talk to you about Eric, is from time to time since I’ve started doing this show, I talked to people about solar. You know, I know that solar farms exist and they can be great even in the Midwest with our weird weather for generating power. But what about solar for your home? Does that make sense? Or does it only make sense if you’re going to live in your house, you know, five or 10 or 15 years to amortize the costs?

Eric P: Great question. And, Joan, I want to just touch on what you’d mentioned about El Paso in terms of the weird geographic issues that plagued the Texas grid. Actually, El Paso is part of a different separate grid, mid intercontinental system operator MISO, so they actually avoided the issues from ERCOT. So back to your question about solar, for residences. I’ve been with Impact Power Solutions since 2007, right out of college. I started as a residential installation expert and then moved into sales and other areas of the company since that time. it’s really moved from just people with means and ideals to really mainstream at this point. For most residences that are looking to install solar, you’re going to see somewhere between an eight to a 10-year return on investment. Not just that, it adds to the equity of your home. So when you mentioned, if you’re going to stay in your home for five to 10 years, well, actually if you’re going to incorporate the equity value of the system upon resale, that payback is even less than two years, in most cases. It’s a really fantastic investment for homeowners. You know, some of the challenges that we’ve seen, though, is that there’s kind of a Goldilocks situation. You’re looking for a newer roof that you want to install the system on, you’re looking for the roof to be unshaded and oriented somewhat close to South. In cases where maybe you’re renting your home, maybe you’re in an apartment or a condo, and you don’t have access to actually put solar on your roof, or you don’t want to put it on your roof. Really what Illinois and a lot of other states have done is allow folks to participate in programs, like community solar. That’s what has been a major driver in the state. The concept behind that is homeowners and residents and businesses and schools can participate in solar by subscribing to a solar field that’s located off site, not on their home, and not necessarily next to their business. What happens is that the utility will monitor the production and then provide bill credits on your bill. Then you’re usually working with a solar provider then to pay back a portion of those savings. It’s a really neat and, and very lucrative solution for the residents that are expecting to save money from day one without having to put any capital up to participate. So that’s a kind of new wrinkle for folks that can’t put it on their home or don’t want to. You’ve got community solar as an option as well.

Joan E: Okay, Eric, we started this discussion with my reminder of my utter and complete ignorance on this topic. So what you just talked about when you said “homes or schools could subscribe”. What does that mean? Does that mean I as a homeowner find a solar farm somewhere, and I just sign up like a book club? I pay them a monthly fee? I’m a little confused here.

Eric P: Yeah, it’s almost as simple as signing up for a book club. I would encourage folks to go to The Illinois Solar Energy Association website. Lesley’s organization has a list of providers for community solar, and also more information about how it works. So if folks did not catch that at the outset, Illinois, solar.org is the website you can check out how community solar works, see if it’s a good option for you. And it’s available statewide.

Joan E: Lesley, I used to get a newsletter that was all about clean energy and solar energy. They had all these articles of futuristic stuff or stuff that was being tested in labs right now. And there were articles about maybe like blinds in your house, maybe the blinds could have little solar coatings and the blinds that you have on your windows could generate some energy. There was even an article that I read, and I don’t understand how this could possibly work, but they were talking about paint, how you can paint your wall and somehow the paint itself would be constructed in a way to produce energy. Are any of these ideas close to fruition? I would buy solar blinds. That’s a good thing.

Lesley M: I’ve seen some of those articles myself in the past. I don’t know if they have been turned into reality. I don’t know if Eric does. I do know there’s an organization here in the Midwest, they’re out of Iowa (don’t quote me on that) called Solar Roadways. They are working on embedding solar into driveways, and streets and sidewalks. There is all that type of innovation happening. I don’t know if there’s any solar blinds available. I’ve not heard that, no. But you know, we have seen walls made of solar, we’ve seen shingles, folks are paying attention to Tesla. So, this building integrated concept of integrating solar into everyday material, it’s definitely coming.

Joan E: That’s so very cool. What else do you guys want our listeners to know? Eric, you have the floor. Tell our listeners what they need to know about Impact Power Solutions. Then we’ll give the last word to Lesley.

Eric P: Absolutely. So again, thanks everybody. One thing that I think your listeners might be interested in, because solar is a hot topic, both for job creation and for folks that might be either mid-career or coming out of school. I recently wrote a book, it’s called Clean Wave: A Guide to Success in the Green Recovery and it’s really focused on the past, present and future of clean technology, with actionable advice for career seekers. The website is www.cleanwavebook.com if folks want to go and see how this transition could benefit them from a career standpoint. We need talent, and we’re looking for talent so I would encourage folks to go check that out. In fact, Impact Power Solutions is hiring across the country. I encourage folks to go check us out at www.ips-solar.com where we mainly focus on commercial scale and community scale solar projects. And again, Joan, really appreciate you having us on this week. And I look forward to connecting next month, just a short several weeks away.

Joan E: Lesley, what message do you want to leave our listeners with today?

Lesley M: Well, first of all, I want to thank you, Joan, for your time today. And certainly to Eric, for including the Illinois Solar Energy Association. Impact Power Solutions is a very important member of the Illinois Solar Energy Association. We appreciate all of the work that they do to broaden people’s knowledge about the opportunities for them to be powered by clean energy. I would just encourage your listeners to visit that website, www.Illinoissolar.org. There are a lot of educational resources that are very accessible to the public on there. We have a whole portfolio of recordings up on our YouTube channel that you can access from homeowners who are just telling their story of what it was like to get solar, what it is like to live with clean energy. It’s very user friendly to be able to listen to a communication like that from somebody just like you to, somebody like one of your neighbors just telling you what it’s like to be powered by clean energy. While folks are there, we hope that they will also take the opportunity to click on that path to 100 act link at the top of the homepage and sign the letter to their legislator. It’s already crafted, you just have to sign it, you can modify it if you’d like to. It will let our decision makers know that we all want clean energy.

Joan E: Thank you both for being here!

 

Community Solar Gardens: The Basics

Solar energy isn’t just for rooftops anymore. With community solar, tenants and building owners now have access to solar energy, regardless of their roof’s characteristics or available capital. It’s more than monthly savings on electricity – it’s a leap toward increased renewable energy access, economic benefit to rural communities, and a reduced carbon footprint.

 

How Does Community Solar Work?

Community Solar gardens are off-site solar arrays that produce energy sent to the electric grid. They’re similar to power plants, producing energy away from the end-user but are typically less than 5 MW in electrical capacity. (Enough energy to power roughly 542 homes per year.)


Community Solar Gardens (CSG’s) are often found in rural areas on parcels of leased land that are not currently being used for agriculture. These locations are optimal for solar energy production, and the duration of the lease allows the land to naturally replenish nutrients for future crops. During installation a pollinator-friendly seed mix is planted in order to provide a habitat for native bees, butterflies and other wildlife. CSGs can be completed with little impact on current operations and require little to no maintenance. When the lease is up, the equipment is removed and the land is returned to the owner unharmed.

 

What are the Benefits of Community Solar?

  • The need for building ownership, ideal roof conditions, and approval from local agencies is eliminated for people that want solar energy. 
  • More people have access to the benefits of renewable energy. 
  • landowners can diversify their income streams without investing any overhead.
  • Local economies benefit from the additional income generated from, and saved by, the leasing and subscription to CSG’s.

 

How do I Get Started?

Many utility companies have programs available, allowing you to subscribe to a CSG. A community solar subscription allows you to use a portion of the energy produced, with savings applied as credits to your monthly bill. If you’re a landowner and you think your parcel might be a good location for a solar site, you can contact a solar developer. 


Whether you’re interested in hosting a CSG or looking for a subscription plan that fits your needs, Impact Power Solutions is here to assist your renewable energy transition. 

 

Impact Power Solutions Ranked top 10 Solar Developer in the US

What is the Top Solar Contractor’s List?

Curated by Solar Power World, the Top Solar Contractors list is made to showcase the work of solar installers and developers of all sizes. The list is determined by the number of kilowatts installed by a solar energy company in the previous year, divided into categories by the type of service the top solar contractor provides, regions, and states.

From the Curators of the Top Solar Contractor’s List

“The Solar Power World team is so pleased to highlight more than 400 companies on the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, especially during this unprecedented time,” said Kelsey Misbrener, senior editor of Solar Power World. “All contractors featured on the 2020 list reported strong 2019 installation numbers and are continuing to stand tall this year.”

Top Solar Contractors Continue To Strive For Recovery

Despite COVID-19 being the immediate issue for the world to address, reducing carbon emissions to aid in climate change remains a top priority that affects all of us. 


The top solar contractors that made the list, the people we work with, and the communities we live in are all facing obstacles that have never been seen before. Q1 showed the largest amount of solar capacity ever installed in the United States, adding 3.6 GW of solar capacity. The force of these challenges emerged in Q2, with forecasts of 25% and 38% decreases in year to year volumes in 2020. 


Regardless of the turbulence faced in these uncertain times, solar energy is still effective in combating greenhouse gas emissions as an alternative to fossil fuels, and will continue to aid in efforts for economic recovery. 

Our Take On Being A Top Solar Contractor

We’re thrilled to announce that we are the #1 solar developer in the Midwest, among the top 10 commercial solar developers in the US, and grateful to be a part of Solar Power World’s Top Solar Contractors list for the 8th consecutive year.

 

In the 29 years since our founding, we have never faced challenges like the ones we see today. We extend our deepest thanks to our employees, clients, and community for making the installation of 29,784 kilowatts of solar capacity possible, and for the positive impact we’ve made on the environment together.