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By Kristin Finan
As is the case with most events this year, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s fifth annual Solar Tour went virtual for 2020.
The 1½-hour online event held Saturday, Oct. 24, showcased a presentation from Micah Jasuta of the Texas Solar Energy Society; testimonials from Bluebonnet members John Gardner and Jerry Douglas, who have installed solar panels on their homes; and a Q&A about the installation and upkeep of solar on a home.
“Solar is an opportunity to speak to the independent nature of us Texans,” Jasuta said. “Texans are very independent people. We value that self-reliance. Solar is a way to do that. You own your own power source.”
In general, with the help of federal tax credits, which could be phased out for residential installations as soon as 2022, those who install solar panels can expect to recoup the cost of their investment in 10-12 years, Jasuta said. He added that most panels have a 25-year lifespan.
“It’s a long-term investment. It’s not going to pay back tomorrow, but it’s something as sure as the sun rises that will pay back,” he said.
Bluebonnet member Gardner, who installed his first solar panels in 2004 and calls himself an “early adopter,” agreed that solar panels have been a good investment for his family.
“One of the interesting things people find out once they get it installed is they can monitor how much power they make on a daily basis or monthly basis. People become quite enthusiastic about that,” Gardner said. “People feel good about having solar once they have it installed.”
Several attendees wanted to know how to find reputable installers.
Ask friends and family who already have solar for recommendations, and search the business member page at TXSES.org, Jasuta recommended, and review sites such as the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and solarreviews.com. “Get at least three proposals,” he said. “Don’t succumb to high pressure sales. Ask questions. There aren’t that many industries left where you can negotiate and haggle. This is one of them.”
Find more solar FAQs below. Learn more about installing solar on your own home here.
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If a member decides to install solar, the member or their vendor will submit the interconnection documents, said Brittany Hardy, a Bluebonnet member service representative who handles many of Bluebonnet’s residential and small commercial members with solar panels. When the documents are approved, the vendor will complete the installation, and Bluebonnet will inspect it for safety before it’s turned on.
“The skills you need are not just being an electrician but also being a roofer,” Jasuta said. “There’s a leak risk. If you have holes in the roof, those leaks are covered in a contract if you use a licensed contractor. People think they can find a great deal for solar panels on the internet, but installers have access to buying in bulk through electric supply houses, and they typically get lower prices for solar equipment than cheap stuff off the internet. Yes, you pay more for labor, but you’re getting peace of mind, and you’re probably getting a better price.”
Typically, Jasuta said, the answer is no. “If you have a standard residential roof, you should be fine. Solar panels add about 3 pounds per square foot. … The only roofs I’ve see that could not support solar were barns. At 3 pounds per square foot, the weight is very distributed.”
Bluebonnet does not charge to install solar, including third-party installation, Hardy said. She added that because Bluebonnet is a member-owned cooperative, any financial assistance offered to one member for renewables would have to be offered to all members. Consequently, Bluebonnet does not offer rebates.
Some companies make misleading offers, including exploiting the idea that you can have solar for no money down with their financing, Jasuta said. “The reality is it doesn’t usually pencil out that evenly or that nicely. Do your due diligence. Look for those catches. Estimate how much money you’ll be getting. Make sure you really will be saving.”
A $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help the Fayetteville Community Foundation upgrade the electrical wiring and water fixtures at the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $7,000 in matching funds, will help replace unsafe electrical wiring, install LED lighting and update water fixtures throughout the museum. The Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was once occupied by Fayetteville's first post office.
“The electrical wiring was installed in the ‘70s and is in dire need of repairs,” said Ronald Pflughaupt, president of the Fayetteville Community Foundation. “The grant will make the building safe for the community to visit and bring the structure up to code for years into the future. Lots of history of the Fayetteville area is archived in the museum.”
The museum houses irreplaceable collections and exhibits documenting the Fayetteville area and its early settlers. Its archival programs include acquisitions, preservation, research and an oral history collection. The museum also offers educational programs, permanent and rotating exhibits, demonstrations, reenactments and genealogy.
Serving a population area of about 4,000 people, the museum attracts visitors from all over Fayette County and Central Texas. The museum is available for school field trips, family reunions, bus tours and community meetings. It also serves as a resource for people who are home bound, and provides computer and internet access and training, as well as access to museum databases.
“Without this grant we would not be able to keep the museum open to the public and would definitely not be able to archive any items that will be presented to the museum in the future,” Pflughaupt said.
The community grant is one of 27 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
The Blue Volunteer Fire Department will soon construct a new building and renovate the existing fire station, thanks to a $49,565 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $13,150 in matching funds from the department, will allow BVFD to expand its resources to continue to meet the needs of the community. The new building will assist in housing the department’s growing fleet of emergency response vehicles, while a renovation to the existing station will create a space for training and community meetings.
“We service a little over 100 square miles of mostly rural farmland, but we are seeing an influx of people coming from the Austin area and our population is growing,” Fire Chief Rick Isaacks said. “There are plans for developing new RV plots and tract housing, and our call volume is increasing.”
The department is committed to anticipating and preparing for a rise in the demand of its services.
“As we have more people move out here, we’re seeing different types of emergencies,” Isaacks said. “In the last several years, we’ve brought the department to another level as far as equipment, training and response capability goes.”
Currently, the area lacks a community events center. The grant will help the department create a meeting space for operations and fire safety trainings that will also be available to local groups.
“This will open up opportunities for nonprofits to have a meeting place,” Isaacks said. “They’ll have a bathroom and kitchen area, too. It helps us give back to the community.
“We are very appreciative for LCRA and Bluebonnet granting this to us,” he said. “This is a big need that we’ve been trying to accomplish for many years. We’re trying to stay ahead of the growth in the area so we can maintain the high level of response that our people deserve. Our volunteers just want to help the community. That’s what it is all about for us.”
The community grant is one of 27 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
