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2 weeks ago | 
pv-magazine-usa.com | David M. Kuchta
As Congress just approved a bill that ends the 30% tax credit on residential solar installations, the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) pointed to solar’s remarkable boom in Trump country. SEIA recently said, “Red state solar is surging because it is the fastest, most cost-effective option for new power — full stop.” The message: economics trumps politics, and legislators would be wise to do well by their own constituents by retaining the residential tax credit.
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1 month ago | 
pv-magazine-usa.com | David M. Kuchta
With federal clean energy programs facing potential cuts, solar installers are speaking up. But what can small- and medium-sized solar installers do to protect their businesses? Rarely do these solar installers have their own in-house lobbyist able to craft communications or speak with policymakers. Influencing federal legislation and regulations often requires major clout and major cash.
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2 months ago | 
pv-magazine-usa.com | David M. Kuchta
Nearly 90% of American homeowners who have installed solar panels are satisfied with their decision, according to a 2024 Forbes Home’s survey. That leaves roughly 10% customers who are not. Recently, pv magazine USA took an informal survey of hundreds of negative comments on public review sites of solar companies.
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Oct 28, 2024 | 
usnews.com | David M. Kuchta |David Dritsas
Solar batteries can be lifesavers, money savers, or both. They allow you to keep the power on when grid power goes out, get a quicker return on your solar investment, or unplug from your utility company altogether. Solar batteries aren’t cheap, but there are federal and state incentives that can make the upfront cost of installation more reasonable.
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
msn.com | David M. Kuchta
Continue reading More for You Continue reading More for You
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
treehugger.com | David M. Kuchta
The solar industry has come of age, developing into a technology that is rapidly replacing coal, oil, and natural gasByDavid M. KuchtaPublished October 24, 2024 05:00PM EDTProduct Disclosure $$Marketing in 1903 for solar-driven steam engines; Pasadena, California. Print Collector / Contributor / Getty ImagesBefore the first modern solar panels were invented by Bell Laboratories in 1954, the history of solar energy was one of fits and starts, driven by individual inventors and scientists.
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
treehugger.com | David M. Kuchta
Lightning is the discharge of electricity caused by an imbalance between the positive and negative charges that build up in a thundercloud. Most lightning flashes occur between or within clouds, but about 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which tracks lightning strike injuries and deaths. Is it possible to harness that energy to power entire communities? Here, we explore that question.
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Oct 16, 2024 | 
treehugger.com | David M. Kuchta
Preventive measures are key to keeping rabbits away from your garden. ByDavid M. KuchtaUpdated October 16, 2024Tammi Mild / Getty ImagesRabbits. No matter how cute they are, they can be a nuisance if you're a farmer or a gardener. For anyone who lives in an area where rabbit populations run rampant, allowing this furry species to thrive without human intervention may seem at odds with the desire to protect a garden.
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Aug 30, 2024 | 
usnews.com | David M. Kuchta |Erica Beimesche
Net metering programs are generally state-regulated programs that require utility companies to credit customers who have residential solar systems for the electricity that they produce and send to the grid. The way net metering works in theory is quite simple: When utility customers use electricity from the grid, their meters spin forward. When customers with solar panels send electricity from their system to the grid, their meters spin backward.
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May 28, 2024 | 
usnews.com | David M. Kuchta
Costs and Incentives for Solar Panels in IdahoIdaho residents consume an average of 12,058 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. To generate an equivalent amount of electricity, homeowners would need to install a 9-kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar system, according to estimates from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). At an average installation cost of $2.86 per watt, according to EnergySage, it would cost about $25,700 to install a 9-kW system in Idaho.
