EarthKind Energy is a young company, founded in January 2007. The founders spent that year getting all their ducks in a row- and by 2008 , EarthKind (www.earthkindenergy.com) had become the state’s leading authority on Solar Thermal technologies. They’ve conducted more public education and trainings on the subject than any other public or private entity in New York, and developed the most extensive statewide network of installers. EarthKind trained dealers currently sell and install 20% of the solar thermal installations in the state of New York.
MGB spoke with founder Ron Kamen, currently the President of the New York Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA), about the state of solar tech in the Great Northeast.
Suppose I own a small business- does it really make sense for me to invest in solar?
Depends. If you’re planning to be in business and will be staying in your current location, solar can be a great investment as it provides a fuel-free energy source – and helps position your business as a “clean and green” company who is also helping move our country toward energy independence . However, solar should be part of an overall plan for your facility. Start with a look at where you are wasting energy and how you can improve your energy efficiency.
What are some of the incentive programs set up to encourage businesses and individuals to go solar, and how well, in your opinion, are they working?
There is an immediate 30% federal tax credit, plus an accelerated depreciation which allows businesses to gain additional tax benefits over 5 years. So if your business has a 40% tax rate, you can regain 70% of your investment from tax savings alone. New York State also has substantial incentives for solar electric (Photovoltaics, or PV). And NY City has a property tax reduction for PV as well.
Is there more that the government could or should do to encourage this?
There are many additional things that government can do. The New York Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA), which I currently serve as President, has a comprehensive plan for what government can do to better support solar, including instituting a government purchasing program, educating the public to the benefits of solar, and additional public-private partnerships that can exponentially increase the use of solar.
EarthKind Solar partners with a German firm, PHOENIX SonnenWaerme AG. How did that get started, and what role do they play? Is the green technology sector a truly global marketplace?
EarthKind’s mission is to bring solar manufacturing to New York State, and we were seeking a partner to expand our engineering, project management, and product development expertise. Phoenix is a solar heating company who has 40,000 systems installed throughout Europe, with some of the most advanced solar heating products in the world. There are over 42 million solar heating systems installed throughout the world.
What role do you think solar technology can play in creating a sustainable economic and social future?
The sun is the largest power source in the solar system. In a few hours, more solar energy reaches the earth than the entire human race uses in a year. The sun’s clean, green, and virtually limitless power provides the best option for creating a future free of our dependence on fossil fuels. Solar heat and solar hot water technologies are already cost-competitive with fuel oil, propane and electric heat. Solar electric technologies are improving every day, and will be equal in cost to fossil fuel generation within a decade. Solar provides a real option for being independent from unstable, anti-American oil producers – and provides a stable source of power without volatile price increases.
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