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After the first six years of the solar system’s lifetime, the Project Investors have recouped their investment – likely with a return – thanks to the tax benefits offered for this type of local economic development and the sale of electricity & RECs.The investor’s now have a choice:
- sell the system to a community group for a fraction of its original cost
- (if structured with AIRE’s model), donate/bargain sale the system to the non-profit “hosting” the system, realizing a final charitable deduction.
Either way, the non-profit community group:
- owns a solar electricity or hot water heating system at a deep discount
- pays a “flat” deeply-discounted rate for the future energy created by the solar system – gaining protection from the rising cost of energy
- creates a direct means of growing and supporting the green tech, clean energy economy in their community
- consumes energy that does not require fossil fuel, whose creation and use degrades the air, water, flora and fauna of their community or region
- encourages entrepreneurial “solar farmers’ markets” emphasizing localized production, increased competition/consumer choice, and unobstructed access to the “clean” energy industry
- provides a “billboard” testimonial of the many benefits offered by renewable energy development for neighborhoods, communities and municipalities
- focuses financial support for the organization’s beliefs and values through a “good news”, “solutions-based” campaign