Farms: Business Matters: surge in solar

Lowered costs and tax incentives are helping to fuel a booming solar industry in Minnesota, according to a recent report that shows a growing number of solar companies and jobs in the state. At Jim Bowler's house in Coon Rapids, the sun shines brightly on a solar project he's dreamed of doing for years. "Prices have come down, they're half the price that they were ten years ago," said Bowler, a retired engineer who is having 32 solar panels installed on the roof of his home. With a federal tax credit of 30 percent, Bowler will pay more than $22,000 for his nearly 9–kilowatt system. "It should pretty much cover my entire power bill," said Bowler. "I might have to pay a little in or they [the utility company] might pay me a little back." Lower material costs and tax incentives are helping to fuel small solar companies in the state like Powerfully Green, a Champlin company started in 2007 by Rebecca Lundberg and her partner, Dan Williams. "When we started we were doing maybe 10–12 projects a year, and last year we did 47," said Lundberg, Powerfully Green's owner and CEO. According to a recent report by The Solar Foundation, Minnesota currently has 119 solar companies and employment in the industry has grown from 864 solar jobs in 2013 to 1,800 jobs last year. "You can't outsource boots on your roof, so there is a lot of small business contractors that are doing solar work and becoming educated in this field," said Lundberg. At Jim Bowler's house, the solar project is in its final stage. "We got a little read out on the display," said Dan Williams of Powerfully Green as he points to the system's inverter box. "We're making just over seven kilowatts at this exact moment." With the house producing power, the utility meter spins backwards, and that's a sight that makes the homeowner smile. "I don't have to worry about rate increases anymore," said Bowler. "I've made my investment, it's going to be here." It's estimated the solar panel system will pay for itself between six to 12 years. The federal solar tax credit expires in December 2016. Alexandra Renslo reporting http://twelve.tv http://www.facebook.com/12localnews http://www.facebook.com/12localsports http://twitter.com/12sports http://twitter.com/12localnews Learn about our mobile app - http://bit.ly/CH12app Channel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.