DJH Construction, Inc. Completes A Solar Installation On A Habitat for Humanity Project

Habitat for Humanity solar project makes the front page of the September 1, 2009 issue of the Mojave Valley Daily News. The project was made possible by the efforts of DJH Construction, Inc., Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, and Mojave Electric Cooperative.

To read more about the project, click on the link below or paste the link to your browser.

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2009/09/01/news/local/local2.txt

Why Going Solar Is More Affordable Now?

If you have been looking into going solar but think it is too expensive, you may be able to go green sooner than you think.

Anyone who has looked into going solar or wants to go solar can now benefit from the decrease in solar panel prices and the increase in federal and state incentives that subsidize solar. According to investment bank analysts at Piper Jaffray, the price of panels have dropped nearly 40 percent compared to last year. What is driving the cost down? Simple supply and demand as well as the decreasing cost of raw materials.

Although solar demand has increased in the United States due to federal and state incentives, overall worldwide demand has decreased. The decrease in demand is in large effect from the decreasing solar subsidies in European countries, making the installation of solar more cost-prohibitive with a longer payback period. According to Emerging Energy Research, a consulting firm, solar photovoltaic installations in Europe are forecasted to fall by nearly 26 percent compared to last year.

The decreasing cost and availability of polysilicon (the key component to most types of manufactured solar) has also contributed to the decrease in solar panel costs. More overseas companies, especially in China have become involved in the direct manufacturing of polysilicon which has decreased the overall cost of manufacturing the panel. Consumers can also benefit from the technological advances in the solar industry that have lead to increased efficiency in the solar modules manufactured today. This means fewer panels with greater energy output.

In addition to the decreasing cost of panels, consumers can also take advantage of available federal and state solar rebates, credits, and grants to further decrease the net cost of their solar system. To better understand what solar incentives are available in your state, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at: www.dsireusa.org.

Attention Business Owners - 30% Solar Grant Now Available

The Department of the Treasury has recently made available the instructions to apply for the Renewable Energy Grant. This grant is part of the Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. It authorizes the US Department of the Treasury to make payments in the form of a cash grant to commercial, agricultural, and industrial properties that install a qualified renewable energy system such as a solar photovoltaic system.

Where previously the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allowed solar investors to reduce their tax liability by the amount of the tax credit, Section 1603 now allows investors the option to access a cash grant instead. This is advantageous to those who are looking to invest in solar but do not have the tax liability to take advantage of the 30% tax credit. Although the tax credit can be carried forward into the subsequent tax year, the full benefit of the 30% tax credit cannot be realized until taxes are filed. The grant provides a great alternative to the ITC. The solar grant allows investors to receive a cash grant within 60 days or less of the grant application or the date the solar system is placed in service, whichever is later.

If you are interested in taking advantage of the 30% grant, below is a list of eligibility and provisions for Section 1603:

o Only tax-paying entities are eligible for this grant.
o Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural
o Grants are available to “eligible property* placed in service in 2009 or 2010
o Eligible solar-energy property includes equipment that uses solar energy to generate electricity (photovoltaics), to heat or cool (or provide hot water for use in) a structure, or to provide solar process heat. Passive solar systems and solar pool-heating systems are not eligible. Hybrid solar-lighting systems, which use solar energy to illuminate the inside of a structure using fiber-optic distributed sunlight, are eligible.
o Grant applications must be submitted by October 1, 2011
o The Treasury will make Section 1603 payments to qualified applicants equal to 30% of the basis of the solar photovoltaic property - this includes solar equipment, installation, and freight.

Contact us to learn more about this grant and other incentives for your solar installation at info@djhconstruction.com.

Renewable Energy Trike On Display At The 2009 4th of July Huntington Beach Parade.

DJH Construction, Inc. recently donated solar equipment to the E/Motion electric vehicle project at Golden West College (GWC). This solar powered trike model electric vehicle will be on display at the 2009 4th of July Huntington Beach parade. Professor Greg Wight’s transportation design students conceived and created the E/Motion electric vehicle and DJH Construction donated (3) 20 Watt YingLi Solar Modules and a 10 Amp Charge Controller. The solar modules and charge controller will be retrofitted on the hybrid (pedal/electric) trike to charge the battery using the sun’s energy. This is the first of many future prototypes that will be created by the students at GWC’s design school utilizing solar technology. Stop by our exhibit to learn more about solar powered vehicles:

Date: July 4th, 2009
Location: 325 Pacific Coast Highway, HB, 92648 (Main & Pacific Coast Highway / Huntington Beach Pier - Huntington Beach, CA)
Event Time:
• Parade 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Exhibitors – Food Vendors – Live Entertainment 10 a.m. – 9p.m.
• Fireworks Show 9 p.m.

View this trike in action at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCgihzmxoQ8

How Arizona Residents Can Tap Into Local, State and Federal Incentives To Go Solar

DJH Construction, Inc., a leading integrator of solar electric power systems announced the completion of a residential photovoltaic installation located in Fort Mojave, Arizona. This 5.06 kW system was installed on the residence of Larry Morse. The solar project was completed from beginning to end in two and a half weeks. This includes: contract signing, permitting, utility rebate reservation, final inspection, and commissioning/start-up. The actual installation itself was completed in two days after materials delivery.

Current incentives available to Fort Mojave residents include: a Utility Rebate, State Tax Credit, and Federal Tax Credit. Mohave Electric Cooperative customers are able to take advantage of a $3.00/watt utility rebate with a $12,000 maximum. This means that clients like Morse are able to offset the cost of installation by the amount of the rebate. In addition to the rebate, Morse will be able to take advantage of a $1,000 Arizona Tax Credit and 30% Federal Tax Credit. The basis for the tax credits is calculated from the net cost of the installed system, the cost after deducting the rebate amount.

The 5.06 kW photovoltaic system ties together a total of 22 Sharp photovoltaic panels onto 900 square feet of roof space. The estimated reduction in green house gas emissions from this system is estimated to be 141 tons of CO2 over the 25+ years. This reduction in green house gas emissions is equivalent to planting 5,648 trees or driving 478,644 miles in a small car.

"The Morse's solar project is another step in DJH Construction, Inc.’s long-term commitment to advance the delivery of renewable energy to the grid. We are grateful to play an active role in growing this nascent market in Fort Mojave and surrounding counties,” said Don Harris, president of DJH Construction, Inc.

How To Use Property Tax Assessments to Finance Your Solar System.

California passed AB 811 in September 2008, giving all California cities and counties the ability to offer low-interest loans for renewable energy projects to homeowners and small businesses. The cities are able to finance the installation costs through either City internal funds or the issuance of a bond and the project is secured through a property lien. The cost of the bond is then recouped over a specific time frame and repayment is made through tax rolls. For example, in the City of Palm Desert, AB811 offers a low interest rate loan (so far at 7% amortized over 20 years) from the City and is repaid every six months along with the County property tax payment.

Some of the advantages to AB811 are:
• Transferability - Residents would pay back the loans through assessments on property tax bills; if they move, the outstanding loan balance is taken over by the new owner.
• Little to No Out of Pocket Money - The renewable energy property owner immediately enjoys a greatly reduced electric bill with no out-of-pocket expense.
• Access to Capital - It requires NO credit check and can pass to new owners of property without future credit checks through title transfer at escrow. Loans have a minimum of $5,000 and no maximum limits.
• Small Payments Over Longer Time - The interest rate is fixed and paid bi-annually through property taxes.

California cities currently offering this financial vehicle are:

- Berkeley - Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology (FIRST)
- Palm Desert - Energy Independence Program
- Santa Monica - Solar Santa Monica
- Sonoma County - Energy Independence Program

For more information on how you can access AB 811 or other solar financing options, contact us at info@djhconstruction.com. You can read this press release at:
http://www.prlog.org/10260739-how-to-use-property-tax-assessments-to-finance-your-solar-system.html

Join Us At the Semi-Annual Virtual Energy Forum June 24-25, 2009

Join DJH Construction at the next virtual energy forum June 24-25, 2009.
The Virtual Energy Forum is a free conference that brings together stakeholders in the energy industry with potential customers, policy makers, and investors. The event, which meets twice a year and features live video presentations, real-time Q & A and a virtual exhibit floor, answers the need many senior executives have today--to better understand how to implement renewable and cost-saving energy-efficient practices in business.

The conference meets entirely online, making it time and cost-efficient to attend from the convenience of any computer, offering a greener way to gather.

The Virtual Energy Forum features . . .
• Live video keynote presentations from renewable energy and sustainability thought leaders.
• Get your questions answered by these experts in real-time!
• Live video track presentations feature case studies in industries such as consumer goods, healthcare, government, education and retail.
• Browse a virtual exhibit floor featuring product & service solutions from energy innovators.
• Chat live with exhibitors or other attendees and exchange contact information.

DJH Construction representatives will be present for the following webcasts:

"Solar Energy: Understanding the Deal Components"
"Embracing the Renewable Energy Future"
"Sustainable Capital Planning"

To signup or for more information on this forum, visit: http://www.virtualenergyforum.com/