Solar panels benefits, installation discussed in Havre

The Montana Renewable Energy Association hosted a community meeting at District Four Human Resources Development Council Thursday night as part of their Montana Rural Solar Access Project, which aims to promote small-scale solar energy installation and break down barriers that may prevent people who want to use them from getting them.

Program Coordinator Evora Glenn said this was the second in a series of meetings across the state meant to gather information about community members’ questions and concerns regarding solar energy.

“Most of the solar development in the state has happened in Montana’s bigger communities,” Glenn said in a press release. “... We want to learn about their experience.”

The meeting began with a presentation in which she laid out the benefits of solar power for people in Montana which she said has more potential than other states like Minnesota, despite having a comparatively small industry with only 300 total jobs.

She said the average Montanan can cover all of their energy needs with a seven-kilowatt system, which includes between 15 and 20 panels, and while the up-front cost of installation can be an issue, switching to solar power saves thousands of dollars for home-owners in energy bills over the course of a solar panel’s lifespan.

She said people can go to https://pvwatts.nrel.gov and plug in their address and energy rates to see how much they can potentially save with solar energy and over what period of time.

This up-front cost, which for the a seven-kilowatt system, can be around $13,000 after factoring in federal tax-credits, was a topic of much discussion at the meeting, with one attendee saying the cost can be daunting for home-owners even when the long-term savings are taken into account, and lower-income people may not be able to do it at all.

Glenn lamented that the up-front cost can be a barrier for a lot of people, but resources are out there for people, including loan programs and grants for small businesses looking to change.

She said MREA is trying to expand the number of programs available to people, companies, and cooperativess that need financial assistance making the switch, but much of that will require new legislation or regulatory changes on the state level.

Despite the cost, she said, the energy independence solar energy offers, as well as the savings, makes it a viable option for many and can increase the value of people’s homes as well.

After the meeting, Glenn said the concerns shared by those at the meeting mirrored what she’s heard in other states, particularly concerns about installation costs.

Maintenance issues regarding solar panels were also discussed at the meeting, and MREA Executive Director Andrew Valainis said they are deceptively low-maintenance devices which have no issue dealing with rain or even hail, and even serve to protect the roofs they’re put on.

Valainis said they sometimes need to be brushed off if there’s a great deal of snow, but much of the time the heat of panel melts the snow and it’s not necessary.

He said high wind can sometimes be a concern but installers take such things into account and will have more information than he will regarding the more technical aspects of maintenance.

He said the installer market is still small in Montana so travel is often necessary for them, which can also be a barrier.

Glenn said MREA’s website, https://montanarenewables.org, has a list of reputable installers and their locations, though it is not comprehensive.

Seven people showed up to the meeting Thursday, including Blaine County Commissioner Frank DePriest, which is about half of what Glenn saw at the last meeting in Fort Benton, but she said she is always happy to see anyone come to them.

Meeting like this will continue through late September in White Sulphur Springs, Red Lodge, Hamilton, Dillon, Forsyth, Glasgow, Columbia Falls and Shelby.

Information about future meetings can be found at http://www.MontanaRenewables.org/MRSAP .