UPDATE: Namasté Solar Responds

I sent a link to my last post to Namasté Solar, and they emailed me a very polite response. In the interest of fairness, I am reprinting the entire message here:

Whether solar energy is worth investing in at the federal level is open to debate.  We welcome this debate.  We would like to provide you with the following clarifications:

• In our business area in Colorado, approximately 50% of the cost of a solar electric system is paid for via a rebate program administered by the local utility, Xcel Energy.  The rebate program is funded via a rider on customer utility bills, which was instituted as a result of Amendment 37 in 2004 which was directly approved by voters and created a renewable energy requirement.  The renewable energy goals were doubled by the state legislature in 2007.

• Federal subsidies only cover 15% of the cost of a typical solar electric system since the tax credit is applied after the utility rebate.

• The cost to the consumer after all subsidies is typically $10,000 – $20,000, leaving substantial room for competition to drive down costs.

• Namaste Solar competes in the same market with companies who have traditional business models.  We are #1 in market share and we have been profitable since our second year of business (2006).

Best regards,

Dan Yechout

Co-Owner

This doesn’t really change my views, but I respect them for responding.