Connecticut Green Bank Helps Homeowners Go Solar

Connecticut Green Bank — which has an office in Stamford — has helped more than 10,000 state households go solar through its Go Solar Connecticut initiative.

Declining solar installation costs have made solar options more cost-effective recently.

“Residential solar is growing exponentially in Connecticut,” Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank (formerly the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority), which directs Go Solar, said in a statement. “There has never been a better time to switch to solar energy. Solar demand in Connecticut is more than doubling every year, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently ranked Connecticut third among states for favorable economics of going solar.”

Garcia added, “Going solar is a smart choice, particularly now with the widespread availability of financing, including no-money-down options for leasing and owning your system. Using reliable, pollution-free technology, these systems allow homeowners to take more control of their energy bills, making it easier to manage expenses over many years.”

Solar PV systems also increase property values without raising property taxes. Homes with solar panels sell twice as fast, on average, and at a premium compared with homes without solar panels.

Citing another important benefit, Garcia noted: “Installing a solar system contributes to economic development and creates jobs. Go Solar installations have created more than 2,000 jobs in the residential solar PV market in Connecticut. Converting to solar energy also helps the environment. Buildings produce about one-third of carbon emissions in the United States. Solar power can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by three to four tons a year – the equivalent of planting more than 100 trees annually.”

“Our Go Solar program makes the move to solar energy easier and more affordable than ever,” said Kerry O’Neill, Connecticut Green Bank Director of Residential Programs. “We are very sensitive to how quickly a homeowner may become overwhelmed or confused while researching the benefits of solar. So we created a very user-friendly website for residents to learn everything they need to know at www.gosolarct.com.

“Not only will homeowners be able to get a better handle on the technology; they also can take advantage of attractive financing, including loans and leases, through a simple application process and attractive terms. Many of the local and regional solar contractors with whom we work also provide additional financing options.”

For even more savings, the Connecticut Green Bank is offering two free lease payments to any new customer who applies for the CT Solar Lease by March 31. O’Neill added that homeowners who go solar also have the opportunity to take advantage of additional incentives and tax credits. For an average solar installation, the incentive from the Connecticut Green Bank is 10 to 15 percent of the system’s installed cost. Factor in the federal tax credit, scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2016, and a homeowner can enjoy a credit of 30 percent of a system’s installed cost, less the Green Bank’s incentive.

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