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The Cost of Solar Panel Installation: What You Need to Know

Harvest Energy Solutions — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:27:51 GMT

Discover the key factors that influence the cost of solar panel installation and how to make an informed decision.

Solar in Ohio

Harvest Energy Solutions — Fri, 03 May 2019 18:00:00 GMT

Ohio has one of the nation’s highest electricity prices. Why does the price of electricity matter?

Why Schools are Going Solar

Harvest Energy Solutions — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 15:28:00 GMT

Funding for school districts varies year-to-year, leaving schools unsure as to how much money will be available to them to keep educating and molding the youth of the country. This uncertainty has forced school leaders to find methods to keep costs down in order to make the most of the funding that is provided to them. From 4-day school weeks to cutting extracurricular activities, schools have tried many different tactics to keep their budgets low. One option that is gaining in popularity is for schools to install solar panels to reduce the energy costs of the school. With decreased energy costs, schools are able to re-distribute that money in order to improve their existing programs and offer additional programs that will help the students learn and grow.

Illinois Renewable Energy Credits

Harvest Energy Solutions — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:30:00 GMT

In 2017, the state of Illinois passed the Future Energy Jobs Act, which called for a significant increase in new solar energy development. This program will offer payments to qualifying projects for the RECs that the system produces over a 15-year contract. The end goal of the program is to produce 1,000,000 RECs annually by May 31, 2021, which will require about 666 MW of solar energy.

Net Metering in Michigan

Harvest Energy Solutions — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 20:00:00 GMT

Net metering allows residential and commercial energy customers who generate their own electricity from solar power system to feed excess electricity they do not use back into the power grid. Essentially, net metering in Michigan is when the excess energy produced by a solar energy customer’s solar system is placed back into the utility and a customer is then “credited” for this excesses power going back to the utility company.

Agricultural & Commercial Solar Benefits

Harvest Energy Solutions — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:00:00 GMT

When considering ways to help reduce operating expenses for your business, a solar investment should be at the top of your list. Harvest Energy Solutions can help design a system specific to your application requests, to overcome an array of challenges and help you be on your way to energy independence.

Selecting the Best Solar Bid

Harvest Energy Solutions — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 20:23:17 GMT

As the solar power industry in Illinois has significantly expanded in the last 8 months, there are many things to be cautious of as you do your due diligence in comparing bids and selecting the best provider for your needs. Many concerns can be eased by just asking the right questions and learning more about the company and their solar bid to you. Below are a few suggestions from the experts at Harvest Energy Solutions.

Our Big Announcement

Harvest Energy Solutions — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 12:57:22 GMT

Types of Batteries

Harvest Energy Solutions — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 18:52:58 GMT

In a previous blog post, we introduced how batteries can supplement solar and wind energy to provide power even when the sun isn’t shining, or the wind isn’t blowing. There are several types of batteries available; in this blog, we will delve into some of the different options for both small-scale and large-scale battery systems.

Solar Energy Policy - Indiana

Harvest Energy Solutions — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 16:40:58 GMT

In 2017, the state of Indiana changed their solar energy policy for the Investor-Owned Utilities in the state, IP&L, Indiana-Michigan, NIPSCO, and SIG&E. The current policy limits the size of the system you can install to 1 MW (1,000 kW) or large enough to meet your annual electric needs, whichever is smaller. Under the new law, if a customer produces more solar energy than they use during the month, they will receive a credit for the excess generation sent back to the electric grid at a rate of the utility’s wholesale price (what the utility pays to buy or produce the electricity) multiplied by 1.25. This is typically 5-8 cents lower than the retail price of electricity.