FRESNO, CA, 2022 / Many California cities see nearly 300 days of sunshine per year. Wellman Shew, who led the solar panel project for the Clovis Hills Community Church in Clovis, California. So far, the church has saved over half a million dollars in total energy costs. Shew recently discussed the many ways other Californians can benefit from going solar as well.Â
“In California, we are fortunate to have an abundance of sunshine,” Shew said. “I want to encourage everyone to go solar to save their wallets, the planet, and more.”
Say Goodbye to Power Outages
Power outages are inevitable anywhere a person lives — unless their home runs on solar power. A home with solar panels on the roof is one step closer to moving off the grid, and adding a battery to the solar power system stores energy in the battery bank. This power can then be used in the home when power outages occur.
“Many Californians remember the scheduled power outages in 2019 due to the G&E bankruptcy,” Shew said. “Installing solar panels and a battery backup makes situations like that one much less stressful.”
Save Big Bucks
Shew added that Californians save a lot of money on monthly bills when switching to solar. Most Californians pay an electricity bill every month, and the Golden State is the seventh most expensive in the state for energy. Monthly rates tend to increase by 5 percent each year. Installing solar power drastically cuts the cost of power and allows individuals to lock in their current prices.Â
“The State of California encourages individuals and families to go solar, so there are many government-driven benefits for those who do,” Wellman Shew said.
Increase Home Value
California home prices are on the rise, and there are numerous ways citizens can boost their home values even higher. Installing solar panels increases the price of a California home selling for $700,000 by $26,180. The cost of adding solar quickly pays for itself in increased home value.Â
“Homebuyers love when a solar power system is already installed,” Shew said. “Some don’t want to deal with the time and money needed to install one once they move in. Those interested in solar power are much more likely to jump on buying a home that already has a system installed.”
Wellman Shew and California Solar Power Incentives
California urges its citizens to install solar power systems, offering several incentives to encourage them to do so. One significant advantage is the Investment Tax Credit, which makes individuals who activate a solar power system eligible for a tax credit of 22 percent on the cost of the system and installation. Municipal governments and utility providers often offer even more incentives.
With their energy bills being almost non-existent- even when hitting over 100 degrees in the middle of summer- Wellman Shew succeeded in helping his community church of Clover Hills become more energy efficient. Shew encourages businesses, individuals, and families to contact their local governments to learn more about tax credits and other incentives they can take advantage of.Â
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