We’ve been installing SolarWorld for years and see this company as a hands down leader in quality and performance. But the thing we like best about SolarWorld is that the modules are made right here in our backyard. SolarWorld’s Hillsborough plant is an impressive work of modern manufacturing, employing over 1000 people. With over 35 years of solar manufacturing experience in the United States, we believe SolarWorld is here to stay.

Where: Solstice Wood Fired Cafe, upstairs meeting room, 415 W. Steuben St (Hwy 14), Bingen, WA. http://www.solsticewoodfirecafe.com/

Our first Capture the Sun meeting at the White Salmon United Methodist Church on May 1. It was a great success with about 60 people showing up.

In conjunction with Ray Schultens Motors, who will be bringing a Nissan Leaf to demo, and Pedal In Power Out, who will be demo’ing their electric bikes, Hire Electric will be hosting a “Capture the Sun” meeting at the Solstice Wood Fired Cafe, upstairs meeting room, 415 W. Steuben St (Hwy 14), Bingen, WA. http://www.solsticewoodfirecafe.com/

Open house with no host food and drinks from Solstice, cars, solar panels, charging stations and bikes on display in the parking lot from 11am to 4pm. A presentation on the benefits of going solar in Washington (and Oregon for those brave enough to cross the bridge) will be at 1pm.

We will be discussing:

• The Washington solar incentive
• Community solar options
• Neighborhood & White Salmon group buying discounts
  - Solarize White Salmon!
• Hire Electric’s Referral Program - GreenYou$elf
• KPUD’s awesome Net Metering policy
• Solar’s remarkable price point
• Washington made solar equipment
• Electric vehicles and solar
• EV charging

The event is free and everyone’s welcome. Please RSVP here or call our office for more info 541-296-5574.

Financing for Gorge Businesses can also be available through the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s Revolving Loan Funds for Small Business Program. Find out more here: MCEDD_RLF_Overview_2012

Ray Schultens Motors in The Dalles let me test drive their Nissan Leaf and take some photos at the Sherman County RV Park solar array in Moro, OR (the SunStorage Carport Array was just aching for and EV photo shoot and I was looking for any excuse to drive a Leaf). It is 37 miles from The Dalles to Moro with a 1847′ hill climb in between. My plan was to drive the car up and let it charge at the solar array all day. Then drive back to Schultens in the afternoon – no problem. When I arrived at the dealer in the morning they told me the car had been sold and the new owners would be picking it up at 10:30. If I wanted to drive up, take my pictures and drive back that would be okay. Yikes. I left the dealer with 120 mile range. 65 mph down Hwy 84 for about 16 miles really ate range. There’s this gage on the dash that shows how far you have left. Heading up the Fulten Canyon hill climb the range dropped dramatically. When I finally got to the the RV park I only had a 22 mile range left. RANGE ANXIETY was pulsing through my veins. I plugged it in to the 120V receptacle at the solar array. This car – all cars – charges very slowly at 120V (120V x 10amps is only 1.2kW and the heater in this car uses 6kW). I was only able to charge for about 20 minutes before heading back. The range had only increase to 24 miles while charging and I had 37 miles to go. In my mind I was picturing the tow truck hauling the electric car back to the dealership with the new owners bailing out of their commitment…This was range anxiety peakdom.
I babied the car through town and across the prairie – going 20 to 40 mph and loosing range all the time. When I finally hit Fulton Canyon again the car started to generate power. Magic! At the botom where I got back on I-84 at Cellilo I had gained range. Only 16 miles left to go and 31 miles of range. RANGE ELATION! What a thrill. I took it up to 70mph and cruised down the Gorge to deliver the car to Schultens with 5 miles of range left. They plugged it in to their 240V charging station and everyone lived happily ever after.
The electric car experience is definitely not for the faint of heart. You have to know your range, know your route and plan your trip around available time and charging options. But EV driving really does put the zip back into the automotive experience. It gives the thinking person something to think about. Think about driving an average 2.9 miles per kWh. Multiply that by your electric rate. In The Dalles that’s 6.3 cents per kWh so I took this trip for about $1.60 (thank you Ray Schulten). Think about making those kWh’s with sunshine. RANGE REVOLUTION.
The Nissan leaf is going to join us at the Solarize White Salmon Kick off Meeting on May 1st http://hireelectric.com/solar/solarize-white-salmon/

Your system needs to be “placed in service” by Dec 31st of the year you want to take the tax credit. If the system is placed on a new home the “placed in service” date is the date of occupancy. We end up doing lots of snow shoveling and on-roof ice chipping in late December for those solar enthusiasts who like to wait until the last minute. The home does not need to be the owners primary place of residence.

Once a homeowner has their system and is eligible for the credit they use IRS for #5690 and fill out Part II, Line 15 (2011 tax year). This form gets attached to your 1040.

The tax credit can be carried forward if your tax liability isn’t large enough to take full advantage in year one.

Easy. Of course you need to consult a tax professional for the whole story.

I Go to KPUD’s web site fairly often to get updates to their Net Metering policy or incentives. Today I was pleasantly surprised to find a Hire Electric, Washington Manufactured project in their banner photo. Hire Electric and Seraphim Energy have been responsible for about 90% of the net metered systems in Klickitat county and it’s been a great relationship from the very beginning. KPUD has a very proactive and helpful approach to all forms of renewable energy which isn’t the case with all small utilities. Sharon Ohnstad is KPUD’s Energy Services Specialist and she’ll be with us at the Solarize White Salmon meeting on May 1st.  Keep up the good work KPUD and thanks for adding solar to your web page!

Go Bob!

Robert Skinner

In conjunction with Ray Schultens Motors, who will be bringing a Nissan Leaf to demo, and Pedal In Power Out, who will be demo’ing their electric bikes, Hire Electric will be hosting a “Solarize White Salmon” meeting at the White Salmon United Methodist Church on 341 N. Main Street in White Salmon, Washington.

Open house with munchies, cars, solar panels, charging stations and bikes on display (the munchies are for more than display actually) will be in the church parking lot from 4pm to 6pm. A presentation on the benefits of going solar in Washington (and Oregon for those brave enough to cross the bridge) will be from 6:30 to when the questions are over in the church hall.

Sharon Ohnstead from KPUD energy services will be on hand with Net Metering and state incentive information.

We will be discussing:

• The Washington solar incentive
• Community solar options
• Neighborhood & White Salmon group buying discounts
  - Solarize White Salmon!
• Hire Electric’s Referral Program – GreenYou$elf
• KPUD’s awesome Net Metering policy
• Solar’s remarkable price point
• Washington made solar equipment
• Electric vehicles and solar
• EV charging

The event is free and everyone’s welcome. Please RSVP here so we can have enough munchies. Or you can call our office for more info 541-296-5574.

www.nissanusa.com

Red Lion Columbia Center

Last years seminars were a great success with about 20 people each time excited to learn about the new Washington State incentive programs. Our next seminar will be at a NEW Tri Cities location on the 22nd of March – the Red Lion Columbia Center in Kennewick.

Bob Skinner and Jonathan Lewis of Hire Electric will cover the basics of going solar in today’s economy, the Washington State incentive program, Washington manufactured inverters and solar panels, community solar options, federal tax credits, electric vehicle charging coupled with solar and much more! Munchies provided. Bring lots of questions.

Please RSVP here: hireelectric.com/rsvp/

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