Recent Posts in Blog Category

In A Battery Operated Future - Recycling Is Required

The electric revolution is among us! With 145 million electric vehicles (EVs) expected to hit the road worldwide by 2030, we are quickly transitioning from relying on gas to batteries to help us get from point A to point B. While leaving the gas pump and dirty fossil fuels behind is exciting, it is important to plan ahead and start considering what we will do with the electronic waste on the ...

Can Solar Panels Be Recycled?

Solar energy is the fastest growing and most affordable energy source available. Over 3 million solar energy systems have been installed throughout the country in the past two decades with a third of those installations taking place in the past two years alone. Currently, there is enough solar energy capacity in the U.S. to power 7.7 million homes. So what do we do with those panels after their ...

Where the Climate Crisis Stands and Humanity’s Urgent Role

There is one thing that every human being in this world has in common; regardless of race, gender identity, religion, economic class, or geographic location: We all share planet Earth and we are all experiencing the jarring effects of climate change. There is not a single part of this planet that has not been touched by it. Upon the release of the climate report by the Intergovernmental Panel on ...

Your Solar Supply Chain Matters - Consider the Source

When it comes to outsourcing the production of solar panels and equipment, a company must know its supply chain. Roughly 25 million people worldwide are victims of forced labor. Without consciously putting forth policies and practices to vet one’s supply chain, a business can unknowingly be complicit in labor abuse. The human rights abuses of hundreds of thousands of Uyghur Muslims in the Peoples ...

Solar Carports - Infrastructure for the EV Future

With nearly 280 million cars on the road throughout the United States and as many as two billion parking spots across the nation, you could say the potential in the solar carport market is more than plentiful. According to the International Energy Agency, we can expect to have at least 145 million electric vehicles (EV) on the road by 2030. While that’s exciting, you may be wondering how are we ...

Juneteenth - A Day of Freedom and Reflection

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers reached Galveston, TX to announce that Black people were officially free from enslavement and the Civil War was over. The announcement came almost two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and this is the day that we now recognize as Juneteenth, the end of slavery in the United States. Slavery would not be legally abolished until December 1865 and ...

Minimizing Soft Costs Associated with Solar while Keeping Consumers Safe

As the solar energy industry continues to expand globally, there will continue to be ways to streamline the process for customers who wish to make the switch to clean energy. As it stands, processes like permitting, inspections, and grid interconnection varies widely based on where you live. For example, in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho solar permitting is currently automated through email and can ...

Can Solar Energy Mitigate Drought?

The Southwest portion of the United States is currently facing the worst drought it has seen in at least 400 years . When we hear the word drought immediately our minds might go to needing more rain, but precipitation trends in the Southwest portion of the country really haven’t changed all that much over the years. What has changed is our climate. As we see hotter temperatures remaining steady ...

This Earth Day, let’s discuss Environmental Racism.

In 1982, civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr. originated the term “ environmental racism ” in response to a decision made in North Carolina to empty over 400 tons of toxic, cancer-causing, hazardous waste into a state-established landfill in the middle of a Black farming community. Dr. Chavis Jr. described environmental racism as, “racial discrimination in the deliberate targeting ...

Will Investing In Solar Result in a Lien on My Home?

So you're interested in switching to solar energy, but you aren't sure whether you should own or lease a solar energy system and whether it will place a lien on your home. In this blog, we'll look at the differences between owning and leasing your solar panels, and which options could result in a lien. Solar Financing and UCC-1 When financing a solar energy system for your home, some lenders ...

The Difference in Working With a Solar EPC vs. a Non-EPC

There’s no denying solar energy is booming these days and companies are popping up everywhere. Chances are you’ve come into contact with some form of solar company; whether you’ve been actively researching solar energy benefits, had someone knock on your door to talk to you about solar, or spent any amount of time on social media only to be inundated with solar advertisements ( some with vague or ...

Micro-Inverters vs. String Inverters - What's the Difference?

When researching all-things solar in your preparation to invest in clean energy, it is likely that you will see and hear terminology that you’ve never heard before like inverter and power optimizer. Then you might feel a tad bit overwhelmed once you find out that there are different types of inverters and that you will not always need to buy a power optimizer. Luckily, we’re here to walk you ...

The Solution to Our Antiquated Grid Isn’t as Complex as You Think

Here’s a jarring fact: The U.S. power grid loses power 285% more often than it did almost 40 years ago. That’s more than any other industrialized nation in the world. For comparison: Japan loses power 4 minutes per year while the U.S. loses power 214 minutes every year and that amount is only getting worse because of our changing climate. As we use the same basic grid model that Thomas Edison ...

Expanding Solar Energy to Low Income Communities

Low-income households, primarily occupied by Black, Hispanic, and Native American families, have faced the burden of high energy costs long before the COVID-19 global pandemic. On average low-income households spend 7.2% of their income on utilities. That’s more than three times the 2.3 percent that upper-middle-class and higher-income households pay. These families are also more likely to be at ...

Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Can Potentially Save Us From Tragedy

Record-breaking winter storms threw the United States into a crippling energy resource crisis this past week, an obvious result of erratic weather brought on by climate change. All eyes are currently on Texas as hundreds of thousands of residents are still without power and water systems remain in peril. Numbers are down from around 4 million Texans suffering from power outages and 12 million ...

What's the 411 on Homeowners Insurance & Solar Panels?

Solar panels are undoubtedly a big investment which leaves many wondering how to insure them. The Quezada Jacobs Family Agency, LLC answered a few of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to solar panels and insurance. 1.) Will adding rooftop solar panels to my home increase my insurance premium? Insurance coverage for roof-mounted solar panels is usually included in homeowner ...

How do I go Solar? A Step-by-Step Guide

Before diving into the how of going solar, your first question is likely should I go solar? Fortunately, our solar advisers can help guide you through this decision to ensure that you are informed and comfortable with making the switch to solar energy. Whether you have a flat roof, a pitched roof, metal, shingles, or tile, we are here to help you in the decision making process. There’s no ...

Federal Solar Incentives Renewed Through 2023

Homeowners rejoice! The looming deadline to receive solar incentives on your solar installation has been extended - through 2023. The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) had been in a gradual step-down process over the last few years, and was set to expire in 2022 for residential solar installations. That changed, however, when Congress recently passed a $1.4 trillion federal spending and tax ...

Frequently Asked Questions About New Mexico's Solar Tax Credits

All the Answers You Need in One Place There are a lot of great tax credits and benefits available for solar customers but finding out what you qualify for and how to get it can be a real hassle. With state policies and available rebates changing every year, there’s a lot of information out there about solar tax credits, and not all of it’s accurate. That’s why we’ve broken down the most frequently ...

Printable Valentine's Cards (FREE) - Sustainability Themed

This year for Valentine's Day, why not show off your love with these FREE printable Valentine's Day Cards from Positive Energy Solar! They're perfect for the sustainable and eco-friendly minded loved ones in your life - sure to make their faces "light up" with joy! s Click on one of the free valentine's day cards above and download them today! If you love solar and want to learn more or schedule a ...

GET INVOLVED: New Mexico Solar Tax Credit SB29

Friends, SB29, The Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit, is being heard in the Senate Corporations Committee. It is sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart and Rep. Matthew McQueen, and supported by the Governor as one of her top priorities. We urge you to call the Senate Corporations members (listed below) to demonstrate your support for the legislation. Please call and write with a personalized ...

How to Finance Your Solar Panels in New Mexico

How to Finance Your Solar Panels in New Mexico Installing a rooftop solar system on your home may be one of the best decisions you can make to secure the long-term financial future of your family. However, there is often a disconnect between the long-term benefits and the short-term cost of installing the panels. Most families will need to finance all or part of their system . Luckily, there are ...

Meet Your Most Trusted New Mexico Solar Installers

Chances are, you know someone who has made the switch to solar or, at the very least, you’ve noticed solar panels being installed throughout Albuquerque , Rio Rancho , and the Santa Fe area. There’s also a good chance you’ve seen some of Positive Energy Solar’s work – we’ve been installing solar on homes and businesses in New Mexico for over 21 years including notable projects for Santa Fe Public ...

Positive Energy Solar - Serving New Mexico's solar energy needs since 1997

Allow us to reintroduce ourselves, we're Positive Energy Solar! What's in a name? You may have noticed our logo and name has "changed" recently, here's why: Back in 2015, we tried a marketing experiment with SunPower and co-branded our name to "SunPower by Positive Energy Solar". This ended up causing brand confusion as people didn't know what to call us anymore or whether we were still the same ...

New Mexico Solar Tax Credit - Legislative Update

New Mexico Solar Tax Credits While the 30% Federal Tax Credit for solar is set to begin ramping down at the end of 2019, a new bill (SB29) introduced into the 2019 legislative session would reintroduce the New Mexico Solar Tax Credit. New Mexico's previous solar tax credit system expired in 2016. The current 30% solar tax credit will apply to any solar installation completed by December 31, 2019. ...