Non-Profit School and Neighborhood Police Station Benefit from Solar
Full prepay solar financing through third party provides lower cost energy and tax cuts
When Mudflat Pottery School, a non-profit, was looking to reduce their high electric costs, they turned to solar. With five electric kilns, 36 electric pottery wheels, and other assorted electrical equipment necessary for artists to work with clay, electricity costs for the studio soared. Additionally, the building houses a police department neighborhood station whose electric usage also helped fuel the ever-increasing energy bill.
Challenges for Non-Profits Who Want to Go Solar
In general, non-profit organizations – schools, museums, churches, houses of worship, and other not-for-profit entities – are big consumers of energy. However, their non-profit status makes the process of going solar complex for many reasons:
– Non-profits cannot directly take advantage of federal tax benefits (i.e., the Investment Tax Credit) resulting in a higher cost of solar
– Most nonprofits operate on a consensus model that prolongs decision-making, thereby jeopardizing the temporary availability of rebates or price discounts.
– Non-profits often deal with less predictable budgets that can make long-term financial obligations more complicated.
Lower Cost Energy Solutions
Despite the above difficulties, SDC Energy helped Mudflat Pottery School go solar through a financial solution that created substantial savings on energy costs for the school and one that enabled them to do so in an environmentally friendly way.
Unique Solar Financing Solutions
Through SDC Energy’s “prepaid” solar financing solution, SDC Energy matched an investor with the solar project that fit the goals of both the investor and the school. The school made the up-front one-time prepayment for all energy to be produced over the life of the solar agreement. The investor funded the remaining costs and the contractors completed the installation. The solar equipment is now generating clean energy, while saving on the school’s utility bills. Ultimately, after the school completes the buyout at the end of the sixth year of operation, they will own the solar asset outright. So, what is in it for the investor? They redirected dollars that would have gone to the IRS and create an investment return as opposed to paying taxes and getting no return! Take a look at the other benefits of investing in solar:
Benefits of Investing in Prepaid Solar Projects
Net investor funds approximately 1/3 of the capital cost of the solar project
Federal Investment Tax Credit and Depreciation are based on full capital cost
State depreciation, if applicable, also based on full capital cost
Creates immediate return on investment and allows investor to invest tax savings
Solar has become a stable asset class with reliable customer performance
Solar investing fit squarely into local and global Impact Investing
Your tax dollars are Protecting the Planet!
Are you ready to invest in solar?
Mudflats Pottery Studio & Neighborhood Police Department Station System Overview
System Size: 55 kW System
EPC: NuWatt Energy
Panels: 134 LG Solar 375-Watt Panels
Inverters: 3 480V Solectria Solar Inverters
Racking: Ecolibrium Solar
Utility Cost Reduced: Approximately 40%
Constructing the Solar Equipment
NuWatt Energy was the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) for the solar project, which took approximately two months to install. NuWatt Energy designed the solar power system to fit the energy needs and objective of both the pottery school and the neighborhood police station and also worked to customize the system to the property itself.
Outsmart Uncle Sam
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Invest in Solar. Grow Your Money. Protect the Planet.
The SDC Energy team of professional solar consultants can walk you through the benefits, advantages and disadvantages of solar. Whether you are a non-profit interested in adding solar to your property to lower energy costs, or if you, or your client, has a large tax appetite and would like to invest in solar to receive tax benefits, SDC Energy is right for you. We fuse projects and money.
Here’s How it Works
SDC Energy has an active portfolio of lucrative solar projects, like Mudflat Pottery Studio, at various stages of development. Big or small, we can find the right one for you.
We advise you every step of the way through financial and technical assessments to help you make the right choice.
We step in after you initiate financing. We oversee construction and set pay-for-performance milestones to keep everything on track.
Our expert installers build high-quality systems and streamline authorizations to get your project generating revenue fast.
We are stewards of your solar asset. We invoice your customer; collect their payment and forward revenue on to you.
Because each system is unique to each property in size and solar rebates and incentives are different from state to state, savings and pricing will be unique to each system which is customized to the property and location, therefore savings and pricing and may vary.
Take Your Tax Planning Forward
Fund a solar project to keep your money working for you.
About SDC Energy
SDC Energy is the leader in commercial solar financing; connecting private investors and installers to fund projects that create significant tax benefits and cost-effective renewable energy. Since 2009, SDC Energy has helped American businesses finance over 67.8 gigawatt hours of clean solar power enough electricity to power 5,747 homes for one year! www.sdc-energy.com
About Mudflat Pottery School
Mudflat Pottery School is a clay studio for students and artists of all ages and levels in the suburbs of Boston. The non-profit school offers classes, workshops, outreach programs and events, plus a mix of studio rentals for 38 professional clay artists.
Located in Somerville, MA, Mudflat is a nonprofit, 501(C)3 organization. Mudflat is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, and the Somerville Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The school also receives support from foundations, corporations, and individuals. https://www.mudflat.org/
