Big Dog Solar allows you to

Harvest The Sun.

Agricultural Solar Energy

Farms and agricultural properties are perfect for saving money and adding revenue streams with solar power. Outbuildings, barns, and other site structures contribute to why farms are inherently terrific solar sites. Roofs with a lot of square footage and large, unused areas of land are also typically ideal locations for solar energy systems which offset the high costs of daily power usage. In many instances, the USDA also offers grants and funding for agricultural solar systems, dramatically reducing the overall system cost.

What Our Customers Say

William T.
William T.
Read More
Quality materials and excellent installation provided by Big Dog Solar. I had 20 panels put on my house and the installer crew was great. No issues what so ever.
Ashley R.
Ashley R.
Read More
You can't go wrong with Big Dog Solar Energy. Their knowledge and professionalism is top notch. Every question was answered from start to finish and I was always kept in the loop with what was happening during each phase of the process. They use only the best equipment in the industry and offer a great warranty!
Kevin M.
Kevin M.
Read More
I have had my solar panels for three years. U love not having a power bill. They installed my panels on my roof and did a great job. I received my tax credit, Installers were professional, love my app. I can see how much money I'm saving. Big Dog Solar is great company to work with.
Previous
Next

Benefits of Solar Energy

Tax Benefits of Going Solar

The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) from the federal government gives businesses that install a photovoltaic (PV) solar system a 30% tax credit on the cost of the system. There is no cap amount for the ITC. Any unused portion of the tax credit may be able to be used in subsequent years. If that wasn’t enough, states and local utilities offer their own rebate systems to reduce the overall costs of having a solar energy system installed for your business. 

Net Metering to Offset or Eliminate Your Power Bill

Most states also have a net metering policy. Net metering is when a customer only pays for the net amount of electricity they use. With the net metering option, businesses with a solar panel system can “bank” the excess electricity their solar system generates as “credits.” You can receive a credit for up to 100% of your electric use at the full retail electricity price.

Additionally many states exempt the value of a renewable energy system from an owner’s property taxes. Unlike other improvements, which are likely to increase a property’s assessed value, some businesses do not have increased property taxes even though the value of the building will increase with the addition of a solar power system.

Other Benefits of Solar Energy

Accelerated Depreciation

In addition to government tax incentives, businesses can take an accelerated five-year depreciation on the cost of the system with the Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS). While your company receives cash flow from a power company for your solar system for 25+ years, the total value of the solar system (in terms of upfront costs) will be taken out of gross income over the five-year period, allowed by MACRS. This results in a lower tax liability over the initial five years the system is installed.

Operating Advantages with Solar

Installing a solar system can dramatically reduce a business’ operating expenses and therefore, improve the financial bottom line. In virtually every system we’ve installed, the corporate utility costs have significantly declined, even to the point where the savings can pay for the solar system. The financial investment in most solar power systems will not only cover the initial costs, but will pay for itself 10 times over.

Don't Worry About Increased Electric Costs

On top of lowering operating expenses, solar power can help guard against fluctuations in the power markets. Aside from seasonal swings in utility rates due to high consumption (ie. summer and winter months), electricity rates on average seem to increase annually by 5.5%. Investing in solar power allows a business to insulate itself from these increases by cheaply producing its own electricity. By guaranteeing a certain electricity rate with solar, businesses can take the variability out of their utility costs and instead categorize utility costs as a fixed expense.

Low Maintenance / High Reliability

PV systems are a highly reliable and low-maintenance option for electric fences, lights and water pumps. Although current solar panel prices could be too expensive for many crop irrigation systems, photovoltaic systems are economical for remote livestock water supply, pond aeration, and small irrigation systems. In addition, the cost of PV is projected to decline significantly over time, which will make more applications cost-effective.