Shaw Solar’s facility at the Cortez Elks Lodge. (Photo courtesy of Shaw Solar)
Shaw Solar encourages small business owners and producers to participate in federal funding
Solar energy is an environmentally and budget-friendly way to reduce energy costs, and thanks to grants available through September 30, this option is now even more feasible for small businesses.
“It’s a great potential solution to our energy needs,” said Gregg Dubit, solar sales consultant at Shaw Solar, a Durango-based solar company that serves southwest Colorado.
It is also cost-effective.
“A lot of farms are struggling with rising operating costs and … we’re pretty immune to those rising electricity costs for the most part,” says Sam Perry, farmer and co-founder of Fenceline Cider in Mancos, a farm where Shaw Solar has installed solar panels.
“This is thanks in large part to our investments in solar energy on the farm and in the cider press.”
Solar array on the roof of Fenceline Cider in Mancos, installed by Shaw Solar. (Photo courtesy of Shaw Solar)
The 52.44 kW system on the roof of the cider press produces around 87,000 kWh annually, which is almost 100% of the company’s own consumption.
While they still receive a monthly base fee, solar power can reduce that bill by about $7,000 per year, based on Empire Electric’s general service rate.
“So far, none of our solar projects have displaced agricultural land. They have simply helped offset the operating costs of running them,” Dubit said.
“We are doing this on a small scale… in small steps to offset local electricity consumption.”
Shaw Solar doesn’t install solar systems on a large scale – or industrial scale – which is often why people are unhappy with the renewable energy source. They say projects of this scale destroy the land forever by removing trees, degrading the soil and destroying wildlife habitat.
“It’s really a different business model than ours,” Dubit said.
Shaw Solar is working with small producers and entrepreneurs to help them access grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America program. The grants are available through next month and cover half the cost of installing a solar system.
“We have staff who submit grant applications, and I am proud to say that our team has a 100% success rate when it comes to applying for grants for our region,” Dubit said.
To date, Shaw Solar has secured solar energy grants from Kokopelli Bike and Board, Southwest Ag Inc., Fenceline Cider, Southwest Seed Inc. and Alpacka Raft, to name a few.
Solar array on the roof of the former Alpacka Raft, now Mancos Brewing Co. (Photo courtesy of Shaw Solar.)
In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act, which has been extended until 2033, provides a 30% tax credit and special depreciation that further reduce installation costs.
These tax-credit solar projects are now also available to nonprofits – churches, schools, fire departments and the like – with what’s called a direct payment. Essentially, nonprofits can get money back from the federal government as a direct payment or rebate when they install solar systems.
“There is a very strong incentive nationwide for people to put solar power in their homes and businesses to reduce their energy costs. The offer is better for businesses than ever before,” Dubit said. “It’s a very rosy time for solar, shall we say.”
While there will be more grant opportunities after September 30, they may not remain at 50 percent of project costs.
If our region doesn’t use the money, it will go to other rural areas across America. The money is already there, Dubit said. People just need to apply for it.
As for the facility at Fenceline Cider, Perry said he’s glad he aligned their values and reduced their carbon footprint through solar power. So are their customers.
“As a cider producer, many of our customers are gluten-free, care about their diet and where it comes from, and value organic and sustainably produced products,” Perry said.
“They are pleased to know that the process of making our cider does not leave a large carbon footprint or require additional generations of fossil fuels.”
Perry said he noticed cooler temperatures at Fenceline Cider, a side effect he didn’t expect.
“This is a huge advantage, not only for the work there, but also for the cider itself, because in order to keep the yeast and microbial growth under control, one of the things we need to do is control the temperature,” he said.
Perry noticed that grass was growing on unproductive, sun-bleached land where none had previously grown, namely under and around his ranch’s 10-kW power system.
“If we approach it (solar) intelligently and don’t install solar on prime farmland, it could be a really good thing for our community,” Perry said. “I believe that agriculture and photovoltaics together have a very bright future.”
