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Solar Energy Business Soaring in Mesa County

by KREX News Room
by Danielle Kreutter

Story Created: Feb 21, 2013 at 4:54 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2013 at 6:09 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The crews at Syndicated Solar have been keeping themselves very busy lately installing free solar panels on customers' roofs.

"We grew from 2009-2010 about 300 percent and we've been doing triple digit growth ever since since," said Justin Pentelute, C.E.O of Syndicated Solar.

Pentelute is a Western Slope native and has been working in solar energy for the last six years, he says a lot has changed in that time.

"When I first got started, solar was about eight dollars a watt installed, today it's about $3-$4," he said.

Pentelute says it's becoming more common for people to explore solar energy options.

"We also see that sales continue to increase and the market only seems to get stronger," said Jason Richards, Vice President of Quality Electric & Controls.

Joseph Jueschke is one of many Mesa County homeowners taking advantage of the saving that solar energy has to offer.

"Ultimately we should save somewhere in the vicinity of about $20,000- $30,000 in the time we have this system up and running," said Jueschke.

While customers are saving money with solar rates that they can lock in, officials say it's also helping out local businesses.

"We're doing anywhere from two to four installs a week for Syndicated Solar and that provides jobs for about six to eight guys full time and a couple of office staff," said Richards.

Pentelute hopes to see this positive trend continue.

"It's a real opportunity and I don't see why everyone wouldn't do it as a homeowner. It's lower cost of living and in today's economy that's very important," he said.

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Hmm said on Thursday, Feb 21 at 8:31 PM

If it wasn't subsidized by tax dollars would it be "soaring"?

Walter said on Friday, Feb 22 at 12:36 PM

Hmm - you raise a valid question. I've worked in the solar industry for three years now and currently with Syndicated Solar. To clarify, the reality is that all energy sources are currently subsidized in some form of another (corn, transportation of fossil fuels, renewables, etc). Currently the only federal funds given to renewables is in the form of a tax credit that goes directly to the purchaser so your tax dollars don't pay for anyone else's systems. The other incentives are provided by the utility (in this case Xcel) which has a fund that everyone pays into to fund the program (so they don't actually have to pay for it). Your original question, "Would the industry be soaring?", maybe, we have customers in GVP with no incentives. As energy rates rise, the more financial sense it makes. In CA, rates are so high that it does make sense to go solar without incentives. We have reached the point now (with current incentives) that it is cheaper to power your home with solar than Xcel

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