With all the publicity about the push for energy independence and “going green,” it is easy to assume that solar energy products practically sell themselves.  This may hold true on the West coast, or in states with added incentives to encourage solar investment, but not in our part of the country.

The misconceptions may stem in part from the 30% tax credit offered by the Federal government for investing in solar energy.  These rebates directly benefit the consumer.¹ There are no rebates offered to those of us marketing solar energy products.   As a matter of fact, the company must pay excise tax on all solar energy equipment delivered from another state.  Most solar equipment is manufactured in California and the cost to ship products to the middle of the country remains high, not to mention the overhead required to operate a small business.  Add costs for marketing, insurance and labor and you can see how the costs can add up in a hurry.  In a global economy, even small business must keep their profit margins low in order to remain competitive.

Sun City Solar Energy has been in business since 1983, and the company is proud to be the most experienced and knowledgeable provider and installer of quality solar equipment in the area.  As such, Sun City Solar is contacted on a regular basis by individuals, architects, engineers, municipalities, electricians, plumbers and other professionals seeking information about the proper design, layout, equipment specifications, sizing and numerous other questions about solar energy.  Although we are happy to promote solar energy, giving this information to individuals, companies, agencies and design professionals for free does nothing to keep our doors open.

Small businesses new to solar have a very steep learning curve, especially if the owners believe they can take advantage of stimulus money available for renewable energy.  As taxpayers, we are grateful the government accepts only the lowest bid for the solar applications for local, state and federal government projects.  The bottom line is that only large companies able to buy equipment in bulk at discount prices will be able to win a low bid government project.  And there is no guarantee that because a company is large, the margin for error decreases.  Sun City has been able to capitalize on redesign and repair of systems installed by companies both large and small.

There are the programs funded by the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), which are publicized specifically to benefit small businesses.  These programs have fallen far short of their intentions.  Solar is a relatively new technology, and some of the government projects sent out to bid are not properly designed or do not specify correct equipment.  Small businesses that win a low bid further complicate the problem because they do not have the knowledge or experience to properly execute the project.  The end result is that a small business may win the battle, but lose the war.  In other words, the small business will win the bid and add revenue to their bottom line, but go out of business because they are not profitable. Also, a company that bids the job too low ends up substituting inferior products in an effort to keep the overall cost within the amount bid.  Often, this ends up being a lose / lose situation for small businesses and the government.  The government ends up getting an inferior product and the small business loses money because they are not familiar with the equipment and/or installation. The bid did not include all the system products or the business is unable to provide the extensive warranties required by the government.

A recent study ranking 160 countries according to their dedication to the promotion of environmental stewardship ranked the US 61^st on the list.  As a whole, Americans are not willing to change their lifestyle for short or long term benefits.  Sun City Solar Energy has devoted many decades to promoting, encouraging and providing quality solar energy systems to improve the quality of life for our customers and future generations.  It has been a challenging, interesting and rewarding journey.  We encourage you to learn about the benefits of solar and become part of the solution for energy independence at SunCityEnergy.com.

“What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”
- Henry David Thoreau

The advent of sunshine and warmer days should lead to thoughts of caring for Mother Earth.  The Tulsa, Oklahoma area is called “Green Country,” a tribute to all the trees, bushes and flowers we all enjoy.  Several organizations, like the Arbor Day Foundation, encourage planting trees to replace the ones removed to make way for “progress.”  One of the best ways to show respect for our planet is to add a solar system to your home or business.  A solar hot water system, considered the most viable solar application for most families, would save 7,200 pounds of CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) and other greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere and is the equivalent of planting one acre of trees.  If you’ve already invested in solar, you can visualize all those trees surrounding your home, making the air and our planet a better place for everyone.

Earth Day is April 22. Why not do something special for yourself, the earth and generations to come by investing in a solar energy system?   Solar is clean, non-polluting, and uses free energy from the sun.  To encourage you to hop on by our showroom in Tulsa for a free quote, you will receive a free gift.  Find out how you can be kind to the earth, own your own utility company and get a tax credit in your Easter basket, courtesy of the Federal government.

There is still time to take advantage of our $200 discount on a solar pool heater. Click or call Sun City Solar at (866) 407-0527 and start saving today!

When you subtract the initial cost and add up the benefits, installing a solar system was one of the best decisions you made last year.  Think of the health benefits to your budget and the planet if you had the forethought to install a solar energy system five, ten, or even twenty years ago.  Think of all the extra money you would have for food, clothing, mortgage payment, vacations, college, – whatever you need to ensure a long and healthy life.  And investing in solar will only get better because. . .

Yes, Virginia, the New Year started with yet another rate hike from the local utility in Oklahoma. If Santa came down the chimney, he probably ate all the cookies because he needs to store energy for the long winters at the North Pole. Those of us that depend on gas and electricity for our heating and cooling don’t have the same luxury. We don’t get free “cookies.”  Some of us may even toss our cookies when we get our utility bills after the blizzard of 2009.

If you haven’t received a rate increase where you live, chances are, there is one in the works.  When you invest in a solar system, you own your own utility company.  Money you will pay to the utility company will be applied to a power system that uses free, non-polluting energy from the sun. All those utility rate hikes continue to enhance the value of your solar energy investment.

Sun City Solar has been helping people in the Midwest and Mid South with solar energy applications since 1983. If you want to become a lean, mean energy consumption fighting machine, call one of the solar consultants at Sun City Solar. The professionals are well-versed in the technology, market trends and are ready, willing and able to answer your questions. Our solar experts will identify the best system under the sun to fit your needs. Stop by one of our showrooms today and learn how you, too, can be a part of the solution. Call 918-494-0886 today, and become energy fit for the future.

As the saying goes, “Things are brighter under the sun.”  Solar energy is non-polluting, clean and free.  New technology is making solar more efficient, attractive and affordable.  A solar energy application represents investment in your own utility company, and in the future of our country.  An investment in solar energy not only helps you and your bottom line, it is an investment in the future of the planet.  Every time an individual or a company makes the decision to connect to the sun, the air and water become a little cleaner.  The natural world regains some its equilibrium, and our country moves closer to energy independence.

For all of your solar energy needs, contact Sun City Solar Energy at 918-494-0886, and we will be happy provide you with your own utility company, earn the 30% solar tax credit for 2009, and find your place in the sun.

May you all enjoy the peace and serenity of the season and may all your days in the New Year be sunny and bright.

Take care of the earth and she will take care of you.  ~Author Unknown

Do you wish you had invested in Wal-Mart, Coca Cola, Microsoft, or any number of other companies when they first offered stock options?  These companies made many ordinary investors into millionaires. Much like these savvy investors, many homeowners had the foresight to harness the sun and purchased a Sun City Solar system decades ago.  The homeowner’s solar systems are working today, and continue to save families thousands of dollars on their utility bills.

Do you ever check your utility bill for accuracy?  Do you understand all the taxes and fees that are added to your bill every month?  Would you like an alternative to the high cost of electricity?  Don’t you wish you had a portion of the money you have paid the utility companies over the years?

You have the opportunity to take advantage of the sun’s free energy, and earn a Federal tax credit in the bargain.  There is no better time to earn a portion of your own utility company.  Decades from now, you and your children will be able to look up at your solar system and look back on the thousands of dollars you put in your pocket instead of the utility company coffers.  The cost of electricity will not go down, but the money you save and invest in your own future will continue to grow.  Call Sun City Solar Energy today at (866) 407-0527, or visit SunCityEnergy.com and start investing in a better tomorrow for yourself and future generations.

Sun City Solar would like to remind you that there are only two months left to take advantage of the solar tax credit for 2009. And to help encourage you to earn the tax credit and save the hard earned money you would otherwise spend on utility payouts, Sun City Solar has some red hot specials on solar room heaters, solar attic fans and solar hot water systems.  We are also offering a discount on solar energy (photovoltaic or PV) systems, which continues to be popular with those who want to invest in their own utility company. With all the incentives available to encourage Americans to take advantage of free solar energy, more and more people are making the decision to take advantage of the sun.

And, if you have a cabin or an RV, check out the new solar energy systems available on our website at SunCityEnergy.com.  Whatever your needs, Sun City Solar professionals are capable of tailoring a system that will fit your budget and energy requirements.

If you would like to learn more about these specials, call 866-407-0527 and a solar consultant will help customize a solar system for you.  And remember, Sun City Solar honors those that have served our country in the military with a $200 discount.

1. Americans have the right to put solar on their homes or businesses Restrictive covenants, onerous connection rules, and excessive permitting and inspections fees prevent many American homes and businesses from going solar.

2. Americans have the right to connect their solar energy system to the grid with uniform national standards. This should be as simple as connecting a telephone or appliance. No matter where they live, consumers should expect a single standard for connecting their system to the electric grid.

3. Americans have the right to Net Meter and be compensated at the very least with full retail electricity rates. When customers generate excess solar power utilities should pay them consumer at least the retail value of that power.

4. The solar industry has the right to a fair competitive environment. The highly profitable fossil fuel industries have received tens of billions of dollars for decades. The solar energy expects a fair playing field, especially since the American public overwhelmingly supports the development and use of solar.

5. The solar industry has the right to equal access to public lands. America has the best solar resources in the world, yet solar companies have zero access to public lands compared to the 45 million acres used by oil and natural gas companies.

6. The solar industry has the right to interconnect and build new transmission lines. When America updates its electric grid, it must connect the vast solar resources in the Southwest to population centers across the nation.

7. Americans have the right to buy solar electricity from their utility. Consumers have no choice to buy clean, reliable solar energy from their utilities instead of the dirty fossil fuels of the past.

8. Americans have the right, and should expect, the highest ethical treatment from the solar industry. Consumers should expect the solar energy industry to minimize its environmental impact, provide systems that work better than advertised, and communicate incentives clearly and accurately.

Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA)

ROBERT EVATT Tulsa World Staff Writer
Published: 10/2/2009

Fred and Rita Hansen get plenty of power from the sun — their Sand Springs home is wired for solar electricity and sports two solar water heaters.

Though it’s a hefty amount of solar equipment, it’s still not enough for the family.

“Wish I had room to put more,” Fred Hansen said.

Their home will be part of Saturday’s 2009 National Solar Tour, which invites people to see first-hand how local homes and businesses incorporate solar energy.

The tour, organized nationally by the American Solar Energy Society and locally by Sun City Solar Energy, is geared toward educating people about the options that are available and how they work, said Pamela Speraw, co-owner of Sun City.

“We want to get all of the United States, particularly the children, to get educated about solar,” she said.

Speraw said a lot of people still have misconceptions about solar power, especially its potential uses.

Fred Hansen said rising energy costs encouraged his family to investigate alternative energy sources three years ago.

“It was the direction the cost of electricity was heading, and the efficiency of solar cells has been improving,” he said.

Hansen said he was also motivated by tax credits for incorporating solar energy, which are still available.

While the efficiency of the solar equipment can vary depending on the weather, Hansen estimates that solar power cuts his energy bill in half when he’s not running the air conditioner or furnace, and by a third when he does.

His solar water heaters, which heat the water by running liquid through solar panels on his roof, gets the water up to scalding temperatures and provides more hot water than his old system.

“I can turn on the washing machine, turn on the dishwasher, fill up the tub and still take a shower without running out now,” Hansen said.

Speraw said the Tulsa event will begin with a 30-minute seminar on various forms of solar power, followed by two separate tours focusing on either commercial or residential solar power.

2009 National Solar Tour

When: 10 a.m. Saturday

Where: Sun City Solar energy Showroom, 6709 e. 81st St., Suite G

What: Brief seminar followed by tours

Solar has come in and out of “fashion” over the past four decades, but 2009 will mark the year that solar became an accepted component of the United States mainstream energy use.  This is due to several issues:

• Tiered rate pricing including high electric taxes and fees
• High electric rate inflation
• Overall high solar gain in the US
• Federal (and some state and local) tax incentives
• Technological advances for increased efficiency
• The widespread use of fossil fuels resulting in global warming

On-going investments in solar energy and the support by local, state and federal government, as well as incentives of some utility providers, will continue to lower the cost and make solar a viable investment for many Americans.

Now is the time to take advantage of solar energy systems.  To find out more, visit our website at SunCitySolar.com, or call one of our solar consultants at 918-494-0886.

The measures enacted by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress on February 11, 2009, are nominally worth $787 billion of which $6 billion are allocated for renewable energy and electric transmission technologies.  Additionally, $4.5 billion was allocated to make federal office buildings more energy efficient and $6.3 billion was reserved for increasing energy efficiency in federally supported housing projects.

There are numerous grants available for renewable energy and renewable energy loan guarantees.  If you are one of the newly unemployed looking to diversify for the economic downturn, the government has appropriated $500 million to fund “green Collar” jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency.  Many local community colleges and technology centers are recruiting professionals to educate the trades about solar and related renewable energy technologies.

Besides provisions for individuals and businesses to encourage investment in solar energy, the Act made the Business Energy Tax Credit a permanent part of the Tax Code.  These industry tax credits should not be confused with the 30% tax rebate available to individuals and businesses for solar hot water, solar electric and related applications.  For a better understanding of the various credits available to individuals and businesses offered by your state, you can log onto www.dsireusa.org/.

Solar energy is a fairly new technology, and the requirements to qualify for the numerous tax credits offered by the federal government can be complicated. If you have specific questions about how you benefit from the solar tax credits, you should consult a certified public accountant or tax attorney.  For more information, you can also contact one of the expert solar consultants at Sun City Energy at 918-494-0886.  SunCityEnergy.com – Energy at the Speed of Light.