Oldest Volunteer Fire Department in Nevada County, CA Installs Solar
The North San Juan Fire Protection District (NSJFP) is the oldest volunteer fire department in Nevada County, California – serving the town of North San Juan since 1862. Today, the district covers the largest territory spanning 87 square miles, serving approximately 2600 residents and has the smallest budget of all fire districts in Nevada County.
In May of 2019, Battalion Chief Bruce Boyd introduced solar power to Station 3 after California’s deadliest “Camp Fire” blaze and PG&E’s subsequent statement that they would be shutting down power during high fire risk days. These events, combined with the increasing utility rates due to PG&E’s bankruptcy proceedings, solar seemed not only like a good idea, but a business critical necessity.
The Benefits of Non-Profit Fire Department Going Solar
Martin Webb, commercial manager for California Solar Electric Cooperative presented a proposal for a 9kW photovoltaic system with batteries and without batteries. His main points to support NSFJPD installing solar at Station 3 included:
Utility power rates are increasing while solar power costs are declining.
This year is the last year for the 30% federal tax credit.
Code changes will increase costs effective next year.
California Solar Electric Cooperative offers reduced net cost due to a partnership with SDC Energy, a bespoke investment firm specializing in renewable investments pairing non-profits and investors.
Battery back up, from Outback Power, provides a reliable first layer of back-up power in the event of a power outage.
Battery system will kick in within a millisecond.
Solar is the Responsible Thing to Do
According to the minutes from the NSJFD Board meeting in May of 2019, Ed Beckenbach, Chairman of the Board shared that solar is clearly the responsible thing to do. He stated that he saw no reason to not move forward with this project. Battalion Chief Boyd shared that the Finance Committee was leaning toward the battery back-up system option. In the end, the Board decided to proceed with a battery back-up solar system at Station 3. The motion passed unanimously.*
“For us, living and doing business in a designated High Fire Threat area of rural Northern California – that is less than an hour from the town of Paradise – means that our emergency responders are of the utmost importance, and reducing operating costs and enhancing reliability during power outages are key needs for a Fire District, said Martin Webb of California Solar Electric Cooperative.
Partnerships Make Solar Possible
California Solar Electric Cooperative’s partnership with SDC Energy enabled the NSJFD to move forward with their solar installation so that they could continue to protect the residents of the county.
Impact investing refers to investments “made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return”. Impact investments provide capital to address social and/or environmental issues.
How Does it Work?
SDC Energy’s commercial prepaid solar financing solution connects private investors and installers to fund solar projects that create significant tax benefits for investors and cost-effective renewable energy for non-profits.
Non-profits like the NSJFD can’t use tax credits – but investors with large tax appetites can. Often referred to as impact investing, investors help lower a non-profit’s energy costs while the non-profits roof enables investors to take advantage of a hefty 30% federal tax credit that lowers income taxes and affords an accelerated depreciation schedule for the asset.
“After partnering with SDC Energy on a successful grid-tied solar system for the Penn Valley Fire Protection District in 2018, we were honored to be selected to install a grid-tied solar-plus-batteries system for the North San Juan Fire Protection District in 2019, now our third fire station solar install. It is also the first local fire station to have double power redundancy in the event of a blackout, pairing solar-plus-batteries with the existing generator,” Webb continued.
The project was completed in October 2019. The system installed has a 25-year warranty on the panels, 12-year warranty on the inverter and 25 years on the workmanship.
“We are excited to help create a safer community and are extremely grateful to SDC Energy for their support of this important work. They were able to lower the upfront cost, reducing the payback time and allowing us to win the bid,” Webb added.
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 70 gigawatt hours of clean solar power. Visit https://sdc-energy.com for more information.
California Solar Electric Company
A locally owned and nationally recognized company has served Nevada County and neighboring communities since 2000. For more info visit https://californiasolarco.com.
*https://nsjfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Board-Packet-06.25.19.pdf
