Originally posted at Columbian.com
Read the original post here.

Sunday, February 22 | 12:44 p.m.
BY JULIA ANDERSON, COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

Last week, I had the good fortune to sit in on a solar energy presentation geared to homeowners interested in reducing their energy bills. While the presentation targeted Oregon property owners, much of the information applies to Washingtonians. It looks like there's no better time to consider an investment in solar. Here's why:

Solar technology — for water heaters and electric power production— is much improved from when it first appeared on the "green" scene 30 years ago.

Efficiencies are going up, and equipment costs are coming down.

The federal stimulus package provides increased incentives and tax credits to help homeowners with the overall capital investment.

I learned that the typical solar water heater system reduces energy use by 50 percent to 70 percent a year, and costs about $4,200 to install after incentives and tax credits are applied. Payback for the investment will take about 15 years in terms of savings on current power bills.

Solar power in the form of a medium-sized photovoltaic energy collection system will generate about 3000 watts of energy and cut a typical energy bill by 30 percent to 50 percent. Such systems cost about $5,000 to install after incentives and tax credits. Using current utility electric rates, it would take about 14 to 15 years to recoup the installation costs in power bill savings.

Presenter Lizzie Rubado with Oregon's EnergyTrust, a Portland-based nonprofit, suggests there are additional incentives from solar in the form of enhanced home resale value. And as power rates continue to increase, the payback window narrows. Reliability of the solar equipment and the warranties are much improved, Rubado says.

The $787 billion economic stimulus package allows homeowners to get a federal tax credit worth 30 percent of the cost of a new solar system, even if they are also receiving state or local financing. The good news is that most of the Oregon presentation applies to Washington homeowners. Clark Public Utilities devotes an entire Web site page to solar investments at www.clarkpublicutilities.com, search for "solar options."

Originally posted at Columbian.com
Read the original post here.