Cooperative Living Northern Virginia Electric • June 2020 • SmartConnect

Solar panels are becoming less expensive and more prevalent in the United States and around the world. Whether you’re interested in saving money or helping the environment, solar rooftop panels offer many benefits. But before you make the jump, consider these three key factors.

The best areas for rooftop solar panels generally receive a lot of sunlight throughout the year and are less likely to have natural disasters that could damage equipment. Lesser-lit areas might not be as efficient, but most still will receive enough sunlight to power panels. Areas prone to natural disasters should consider unique ways to prevent damage; for example, by using different mounting procedures to protect against hurricanes.

Location figures into the budget side as well. Some states and localities offer incentives and rebates for installing residential solar panel systems on top of the federal solar tax credit of 26% in 2020. Your electric cooperative can help you with specifics or point you to someone who can.

The direction that your roof slant faces and the angle of the slant are major factors in determing solar panel efficiency. Tops on the list: south-facing roofs with roof angles between 30 and 45 degrees. Even if your home does not have a south-facing roof you can still have an economically viable solar panel system.

Solar panels can be installed on practically any type of roof material, but composite roofing and tile roofs are better suited to the job. More complicated roof materials, like tar and gravel roofs, may be more expensive and require additional expertise.

Ensuring your roof is in good condition plays a large part in situating your solar panels correctly. Don’t install panels on a roof that needs replacing.

There are many ways to make solar affordable for all electric cooperative member-consumers. You can buy or lease your solar panels from a solar developer or installer in almost all cases. In some states and areas, you are able to finance your solar panels through a power purchase agreement, or PPA, where the solar company owns your panels and you pay the company back over time through purchasing the electricity that the panels produce, until the panels are paid off.

A variety of financing options also plays a role in how the various state and federal tax incentives are applied. In Virginia, nonprofits and governmental members of electric cooperatives can use the PPA financing option as a result of legislation passed in 2019 with the support of Virginia’s electric cooperatives.

Before you decide on a financing option, talk with your local electric cooperative to determine if installation is right for you or if there are other measures you can take to save energy (and money) at home.

These three considerations are a starting point for learning how to go solar, but additional details such as how long you plan to live at your current home are worth keeping in mind. Remember, your electric cooperative is a great resource to discuss the benefits and considerations of rooftop solar, especially before making any agreements with solar vendors.

Maria Kanevsky is a program analyst for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.