Agriculture
Solar Benefits
Whether it's your goal to maximize benefits or provide positive cash flow, we can help determine a package that delivers the financial results you desire.
Solar Security
You can own your own solar system for $0 down and a lower monthly payment than you pay to your utility company.
Solar Incentives
In addition to federal incentives, each state may have its own renewable energy incentives.
Solar Questions?
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our trained staff. We will be happy to help!
Helping You Find A Successful Solar Panel Solution
Feel Like It’s Time For a Change?
Quality Solar is Michigan’s preferred solar panel installer. We specialize in solar panel installation for agricultural uses, so you can start racking up savings from government benefit programs, protect against rising utility costs, help the environment, and even increase the value of your farm.
Your farm requires a lot of energy to keep running and solar energy can help cut costs. With solar energy, you can keep your farm running efficiently with the dependability that renewable energy from the sun provides.
Contact us today and ask about the USDA REAP Grant program.
Accelerated Depreciation
Under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) of 1986, solar equipment is eligible for a cost recovery period of 5 years. Only 85% of the project’s value depreciates, or half of the ITC.
MACRS is a vital tool for businesses to recoup costs over a property’s operation. It allows companies to subtract over five years of tax liability and boosts the rate of return on a solar investment.
In 2010 bonus depreciation was added to incentivize capital investment further. This perk enables companies to depreciate solar equipment by 50% the first year and then further depreciate under MACRS. This 50% bonus is good until 2018, then drops to 40% in 2019, 30% in 2020, and then ends
Grants
Renewable Energy for America Program – (REAP) grants are part of the Energy Title of the 2014 USDA Farm Bill. It provides grant and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to help purchase renewable energy systems. It also supports energy efficiency improvements and beneficial studies for renewable energy. For qualifying businesses, a REAP grant can be sought from the United States Department of Agriculture. If approved, 50% of the project cost is settled by the grant.
Investment Tax Credit
Qualified companies can claim a federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) of 30% of the total project cost with no cap on the amount that can be claimed. The ITC may also be rolled forward into the following tax year if it cannot be used in the current year.
FAQ
How Do I know If Going Solar is Right For Me?
Quality Solar consider our primary customer service to be education. Once our customers understand solar as it is applied to their unique situation, they can then make the wise decision to go forward. Please contact us with any questions you may have, and we will respond within two business hours.
In addition to a lower electricity bill, you are also reducing your farm’s operating costs overall. With access to an abundance of solar coverage, the energy savings are hugely impactful. Along with the release of electric-powered farm equipment, you can finally say goodbye to the high cost of standard fuel.
Solar enables you to insulate your agricultural business against the instability within the energy markets and against annual escalation rates. Going solar helps your farm lock in utility rates.
Clean, sustainable energy saves money while saving the environment. Going solar is one more step to becoming self-sufficient, a dream of many farmers.
Loans
- $0 down financing.
- Long-term Financing Available.
- Farm Credit: Institution that provides lending options and favorable farm loans.
- Greenstone: Financial lenders for America’s rural and farming residents. They offer short and long-term leasing and loans.
- PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy is a financing structure that provides funding for efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects. PACE programs help pay for the upfront costs of green initiatives, such as solar panels. Their goal: To reduce local greenhouse gas emissions by offering affordable loans so owners can enjoy energy efficiency as well as clean the air.
Space and Water Heating
The high energy costs to maintain farming operations can be significantly offset by solar. Up to 40% of a dairy farms' energy costs come from heating water and cooling milk. Air needs to be recirculated and heated in enclosed buildings that house pigs and poultry.
Water Pumping
Where there are no power lines, solar power is a viable method of pumping water. Significant amounts of heated water are used to clean equipment on commercial dairy farms.
Remote Electric Supply
Often there are needs for electricity in remote locations where it is not cost effective to run power lines. Solar can power these requirements or store energy in a battery.
Crop and Grain Drying
LP gas drying methods cannot compare to the cost of drying through free renewable energy. Solar dryers protect profit against volatility in the gas markets.