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So there I was outside the house, watching my meter spinning forwards as it had been for years. From where I was standing in front of the meter I could see the new solar array in the back yard. Before the panels had received any direct sunlight, operating on just the ambient light, I watched with pleasure as my Edison meter began to spin more slowly. The solar system was starting to work it’s magic, turning the photons from the sun into an electric current. A few moments later when the first rays of sunlight hit the solar panels, my meter came to a dead stop and by the time all the panels were in the direct morning sunlight, my meter was spinning backwards. I was ecstatic. Seeing my meter spinning in reverse for the first time was a deeply satisfying experience and at that moment, 3 years ago, my passion for solar power and my career became one. I ended up jumping into the solar business with a passion.

I enjoy what I do and I have the privilege of working with a wonderful and dedicated team of solar energy professionals. We design and install residential and commercial solar electric system throughout California and New Jersey. The solar industry is at the beginning of what is certain to be a long period of explosive growth. Besides California there are exciting new solar programs starting up in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and New York. The United States is the sleeping giant of solar energy, and we are beginning to wake up and smell the sunshine!

The California Energy Commission’s Emerging Renewables Program (ERP) provides rebates to homeowners that install solar electric systems. This program has been wildly successful and continues to offer cash rebates of up to 30% of the cost of a system. Starting in 2006 there will be a residential tax credit of $2,000 per system. Let’s face it, energy costs are going nowhere but up and solar power makes a lot of sense.

The Santa Barbara Credit Union now offers special ‘hassle free solar power loans’ designed specifically to help it’s members easily invest in solar power for their homes. Energy efficient mortgages (EEM) are stirring interest among home buyers, lured by the promise of lower monthly utility bills and the ability to qualify for larger home loans, enabling buyers that may have been priced out of the rising housing market to buy larger and better homes. When you finance your solar system purchase with a mortgage loan your payments are typically lower than the electric bill you’ve replaced and payback is instant!

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has proposed $300 million in new funding for commercial solar rebates and the Federal government has, for the first time in over two decades, initiated a 30% solar tax credit. Business owners that install solar will benefit from the 5-year MACR accelerated depreciation, the 30% rebate program, the new 30% federal tax credits, and save huge dollars on their energy bills. Patagonia just installed a 66 kW system that provides shaded parking for their employees, so did the city of Ventura at the city maintenance yard with a 130 kW system and Seaside Park has the largest system around at over half a megawatt of solar power!

Is solar expensive? Absolutely not – solar power is much less expensive than utility power. You will pay a lot more over the next 10 to 15 years ‘renting’ your power from the utility than if you had simply invested in your own solar system. Why rent if you can own? A solar system is a fuel less source of power, will pay for itself in savings and then continue generating cost free power for years and years.

Most modern solar panels come with a 25-year warranty. Part of the reason the warranty is so long is that solar panels have no moving parts and they have an expected useful life span of more than 50 years (longer than a nuclear power plant). Think about it.

For the months of July, August and September I produced more electricity from my little solar system than I used, and I now have a credit balance. How much was your last bill? When do you want to start taking control and stop ‘renting’ your power?

Michael Lind lives in Ojai and manages the Ventura county region for REC Solar, a member of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chair of the Business Referral Group and a contributing member of the Chamber’s Environmental Committee.