We are currently living through one of the best times in commercial solar deployment history. Between the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Illinois Solar Renewable Energy Credits, and MACRS accelerated depreciation, it is possible to offset 90% of the cost to bring your business into the 21st century with a solar power system. Unfortunately, one of these incentives will be phased out very soon. But if you act quickly, it is still possible to take advantage of the savings.
If we can be sure of anything, it’s that brick-and-mortar stores are not going anywhere anytime soon. According to a recent Forrester report, 86% of retail sales in the US still happen in traditional physical stores. This is due in no small part to the fact that Millennials and Generation Z, who prefer in-person shopping at a greater than two-to-one rate, now possess the greatest buying power in our economy.
In the nearly 20 years that I have been immersed in the world of sustainable energy, I have continued to see the cost of purchasing and maintaining a solar rig drop year after year. In fact, according to a recent Bloomberg report, PV system operations and maintenance costs have shrunk in half over the last four years alone.
It’s the time of year when we are all called upon to count our blessings and remember what we are thankful for, and we have plenty that fits the bill. We are grateful to be in an industry that is actively working to save the planet. We are grateful to be located in such a beautiful area and surrounded by a terrific community. But most of all, we are grateful for our customers, for giving us a reason to get up every morning and get people energized.
If you’ve ever met Aur Beck (and if you’ve spent any amount of time in Southern Illinois, you probably have), “shy” is probably not the first word that comes to mind. Aur’s gregarious presence as part of innumerable events and organizations in the region would probably lead you to believe he is an extrovert, but as it turns out, quite the opposite is true. Aur credits “tons of passion” for helping others and serving as our Founder and Chief Tech for motivating him to regularly get out of his comfort zone.
