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Solterra Client Spotlight: Meet Marine D. and Brad L.

Meet Marine D. and Brad L. - Earth Scientists and Solar Energy Enthusiasts! For Marine and Brad, going solar was a necessity.  Both are assistant professors of Earth Sciences at the University of Washington studying the impact of climate on geohazards, so the environment is always top of mind.  While Brad studies and teaches about glaciers, Marine’s expertise is in earthquakes.   According to Marine, “it's natural that we worry about the future of our planet, especially now that we have kids.” ...

The Future Is Now: Current and Upcoming Solar Energy Innovations

Get excited! The future of solar is encompassing and fun.  According to Forbes, “Of all renewable energy generation, solar PV is expected to grow the fastest from now to 2050.”  Solar installation applications are flowing into grid interconnection queues all over the United States, as the capacity of installed US solar projects is estimated to more than double over the course of the next 5 years. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also estimates that Solar PV Installer will be the fastest-growing job between now and 2028.  Estimates for global PV growth are expected to more than triple by 2050, with the US/North America responsible for about 20% of total new installations. ...

[Battery Series] Batteries vs. Generators

The conversation for our solar customers often includes questions about how to back up your home during a power outage. No one wants to be powerless during a storm or other emergency and thankfully there are several directions you can go. When trying to decide what option is best for you, you will want to think about what you want to back up in the event of a power outage and for how long you want the backup to last. Then you can compare this to your budget. Check out our overview on backup systems here. The more you want to back up and the longer you want to back it up generally works out to be a larger generator or battery system. ...

How is the American Jobs Plan Affecting Solar?

What is the American Jobs Plan? US president Joe Biden has reached a bipartisan agreement with democrat and republican senators on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan.   The American Jobs Plan is a new investment plan from President Biden and the White House, focusing on infrastructure, the core economy, climate, and job creation.   While recent stimulus plans focused on short-term responses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Jobs Plan is geared towards long-term recovery and rebuilding, and a competitive U.S. economy.  ...

[Battery Series] Enphase vs. “Others”

As energy storage with solar installs becomes more popular and mainstream, we are seeing more companies entering the residential battery storage market. With increased competition, technology will progress more quickly and pricing will improve (spoiler alert, it already has come down drastically in the past two years). ...

Summer Solstice in Seattle

The Summer Solstice in Seattle is a day of notoriety for numerous reasons to many people across our region. Whether it be rising early for an extended day of outdoor activities or aligning your chakras with the sun, the day is always a bit special. One thing that might not (yet!) be high on people's list, though, is a high amount of solar production possible on this long day. ...

Solterra Client Spotlight: Meet Karen T.

When Karen first became interested in solar energy, she was looking to offset her electricity consumption after adding AC to her home and switching to an electric heat pump over the winter.  “Solar is a long-term investment that I know will eventually pay off monetarily, but for sure will pay off in doing my part to reduce my emissions. I love my new solar and tell everyone about it.  Of course, the question is, ‘What are the payoffs in investment?’.  In my opinion, if you love where you live, and are going to stay for a while, solar is a no-brainer.” ...

HOAs and Solar: Myths vs. Reality

Myth: My homeowner’s association won’t allow Solar. If you live in a planned neighborhood or development, chances are you had to join a homeowner’s association (HOA) when buying your property. HOAs establish rules for a neighborhood’s aesthetic and play an important role in raising money for shared amenities. Reality: There is good news. Your HOA should respect your solar access rights!...

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