Bishop - Helping residents see the light on solar energy

With a little investment, residents all over the Eastern Sierra and Southern California can bring their energy costs down significantly, and possibly even make money off of power they generate.
With that in mind, the Eastern California Museum and Owens Valley Contractors and Vendors Association hosted a presentation to more than 70 residents, outlining the costs and benefits of a photovoltaic – solar energy – panel system for their homes and businesses.
California is ranked number one in the U.S. for utilization of solar energy, but as the technology advances, it becomes more and more accessible to private residents.
“Solar energy is one of the few sources of energy that everybody can use for free,” said Dr. James M. Stroh, one of five speakers on Tuesday. “Now, harnessing it can cost you a little money.”
According to Steve Cupp of Energy Source, a solar power installation company in the Eastern Sierra, the average photovoltaic system for a four-person family home can cost between $5,000 and $7,000.

Dr. James M. Stroh discusses solar possibilities in Inyo County during Tuesday’s presentation. Stroh said that, on average, this area has more sunny days than most of the country. Photo by Mike Gervais

Despite the steep initial price tag, “the systems pay for themselves in four or five years and they keep on paying for themselves,” Cupp said. “I’ve got a lot of systems out here that are 25 years old or more.”
But according to Jon Klusmire of the Eastern California Museum, residents won’t have to foot that bill alone, thanks to rebates and discounts offered by the federal government and local utilities such as Southern California Edison and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
“For a photovoltaic system, LADWP will provide up to 75 percent of your costs in a rebate,” Klusmire said. “They say the average rebate is 30-50 percent, but there is also a federal tax rebate.”
Klusmire said the rebates are not “free money,” because there is a lengthy application process residents are required to fill out.
Klusmire also encouraged residents and business owners to research what kinds of solar power systems are eligible for rebates before purchasing or installing a system.
He also pointed out that there are some steps everyone can take to reduce their electric costs without a solar power system.
Simple steps such as installing double-pained windows or calking drafty areas of the house or business can go a long way towards saving money.
“You probably don’t want to put in a $20,000 solar system if you have single-pane windows where the heat is just flowing out,” Klusmire said. “If you’re considering solar, you really need to do this first.”
Residents can also reduce their energy costs by taking simple steps to purchase new, energy-efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines or water heaters.
Klusmire said that rebates from SCE and LADWP are available for appliances.
Scott Smith, of High Point Solar of Mammoth Lakes, said that when he installs a photovoltaic system for his clients, he is sure to fill out all the proper rebate forms.
Smith added that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently sent Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 920 to the California Public Utilities Commission for review. If passed, the bills will allow utilities to compensate residents for any energy they generate above and beyond what they use. In other words, if a resident or business owner is generating energy with their solar system, they have the ability to sell it back to SCE or LADWP.
For a list of rebates available for going green, visit flexyourpower.org.