National Solar

Medford, OR's KTVL News Channel 10 meteorologist adds solar to his quest to 'live green'

2011-09-02T00:55:00.000-07:00

A big Thank You to Medford, OR's KTVL News Channel 10's Kevin Lollis, host of their "Green Wednesdays" series, for reporting on National Solar's installation of his residential ground mount system! One of the best parts? Hearing first-hand how solar PV inspires homeowners to implement other energy efficiency measures to maximize their solar benefit. It's proof positive that Oregon's residential solar incentives programs really do contribute to sustainability, conservation and more jobs. House by house we all make a difference.

Watch the video and check out Lollis' previous reports on how he's been living a 'greener' lifestyle at http://www.ktvl.com/video/?videoId=1137943744001&play=now.

National Solar install featured in Newberg Graphic

2011-02-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

Read about Bob and Jan Thompson, of Newberg, OR, whose latest addition to their family farm isn't a tractor, but a 5.56 kW ground mounted solar system.

"Bob and Jan thompson's new solar panel system is causing quite the buzz on their rural Newberg road -- neighbors slow down to check the structure out as they drive past and some are planning to add solar panels of their own..." Click to read more in "Let the sun pay the bills" by Amanda Newman, Newberg Graphic (02/05/2011)

Also see the Newberg Graphic's Feb. 5 editorial: "Solar panels a good start"
"The Installation of alternative energy sources is a win-win for the environment and the economy..." click to read more.

National Solar at Solar Power International 10 - L.A.

2010-11-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

October 12 - 14, 2010, Los Angeles, CA

National Solar's President, Janelle Lancaster, and General Manager Tom Clarke, catching rays from the L.A. sun at the U.S.' largest business-to-business solar conference and expo before returning to the Pac NW. Presented by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), this year SPI 2010 had more than 20,000 attendees.

Jeff Ramp and Sandy Ramp Solar project

2010-09-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

First users of Oregon solar pilot program up and running

2010-09-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

09-02-10 See the Oregonian newspaper article, "First users of Oregon solar pilot program up and running" by Rich Read about Jeff and Sandra Ramp's project at link below

"First users of Oregon solar pilot program up and running"

Or copy and paste URL below into your browser's URL/address bar.
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/09/first_users_of_oregon_solar_pi.html

First PGE Solar Pilot Program customers interconnected

2010-09-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Sept. 1, 2010
Contact: Kim Berhorst
Email: Kimb@NationalSolarUsa.com

NATIONAL SOLAR CONNECTS FIRST PGE “SOLAR PAYMENT OPTION” CUSTOMER TO THE GRID

Oregon’s New Feed-In Tariff-Style Pilot Program Provides New Incentives for Solar

Thursday, August 26, Jeff and Sandy Ramp of Salem, OR, became the first “Solar Payment Option” customers to connect their new solar photovoltaic system, designed and installed by National Solar, Inc., to the utility grid through Portland General Electric. Oregon’s new volumetric solar incentive pilot program, established by 2009 legislation, is modeled after Feed-In Tariff programs widely used in Europe, but is not a “true FIT.” Oregon customers of Pacific Power can participate through the “Oregon Solar Incentive Program,” and Oregon customers of Idaho Power, through its “Oregon Solar Photovoltaic Pilot Program.”

Although the enrollment, application, installation, and final inspection processes were time consuming as last-minute implementation details such as meter location and wiring plus liability insurance requirements were resolved after the July 1 enrollment, for Ramp, an OSU engineering graduate and onion farmer, the reward was a long-realized dream when he finally turned his new solar system on.

Ramp wanted for many years to install a solar system for his home, which he built with multiple energy efficiency features, but prior to the new pilot program couldn’t justify the cost. Ramp built his home in 1982 and designed it for passive solar heat gain with a Trombe wall as heat storage for all south-facing windows. He designed a south-facing roof with hopes of installing a rooftop solar system, but opted against it because of the concrete tile roofing.

Instead, National Solar installed the 9.9 kW solar PV system on a nearby outbuilding with metal roofing. The array was tilt racked to maximize southern solar exposure. National Solar, Inc., a Pacific NW solar design, installation and integration contractor with offices in Seattle and Salem, sources locally whenever possible: Components include Schott 225 watt polycrystalline modules (“Buy America”-qualified solar panels), and two PVPowered inverters (made in Bend, OR).

Ramp’s system is categorized as a small-scale (less than 10 kW DC) residential system. Anticipated annual solar electric output is approximately 11,000 kWh. His annual gross payments from his electric utility, PGE, should average $600 per month. The payments are considered taxable income, and will depend upon individual system owners’ tax brackets.

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For more information on pilot program details, please contact the respective utilities.
All other inquiries, please contact Kim Berhorst at kimb@nationalsolarusa.com

23 kW Solon Ground Mount

2010-08-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Southern Oregon

Schott 2kW Solar System in Salem

2010-08-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Mr. Robert and Betty Bass celebrate with National Solar and ProStat Sevices post installation August 2, 2010

Oregon Feed-In Tariff Pilot Program to Launch July 1, 2010

2010-06-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

May 28, 2010

Friday, the Oregon Public Utilities Commission (OPUC) announced details of a pilot program that will allow Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power to get paid for generating power from their own solar systems.

Set to launch July 1, the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) Pilot Program gives eligible customers who install new solar systems the option to apply to receive a check for the power they produce at a premium rate guaranteed for 15 years. Eligible FIT participants can take a federal tax credit as an additional incentive, but they don't get a state tax credit or up-front cash rebates from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

The goal is to provide an alternative to the ongoing program providing up-front incentives plus state tax credits. Determining which program is best depends on a variety of considerations, including each individual home or business owner's finances, and the size and location of the solar system.

For an overview, see the May 28 Oregonian article "Solar program to pay Oregonians premium rates for power they generate," by Richard Read, at http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/05/solar_program_to_pay_oregonian.html

Enrollment in the FIT pilot program is limited. For more information, please email National Solar at info@nationalsolarusa.com.

(NOTE: If the link doesn't work, copy and paste the web address into your browser)

Statesman Journal Article Update

2010-04-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

On April 12, the Statesman Journal published the story "Neighborhoods Often Slow to Accept Solar Panels on homes," by Beth Casper. The story got lots of reader feedback, and it raised awareness on the important subject of Homeowner Associations and CCRs.

The Statesman Journal printed a followup article April 18, "Behind the Story: Creekside solar panels." In the article, Environmental Reporter Beth Casper shares some of her experience in researching the article.

To read the "Behind the Story" article, follow the link below.
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100418/GREEN/4180316.

To read "Neighborhoods Often slow to Accept Solar Panels" follow the next link below.
www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201004120312/GREEN/4120312.

Residential Solar in the News -- Sustainable Creekside

2010-04-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 12, 2010, the Statesman Journal newspaper published in its Environment section "Neighborhoods Often Slow to Accept Solar Panels on Homes."

Environmental reporter Beth Casper spoke with residents of Salem, OR's Creekside Estates, who have created the community group Sustainable Creekside. According to the article, the group aims to promote renewable energy and sustainable living practices in their neighborhood, "one of the strictest homeowners' associations in Salem."

The issue arose when one of the residents sought approval to have solar panels installed on his home. After nine months of work with the HOA, the solar system will go up.

This is just one more example of how education and outreach efforts by a few go a long way toward promoting sustainable living benefits for the many.

The link to this article can be found at www.statesmanjournal.com.

National Solar Visits Solon Plant - Module Frames Made in Oregon

2010-04-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

Grand entrance to the Solon factory located in Tuscon, Arizona! We love the fact that Solon has its own PV recycling program!

March 26, 2010

I visited the Solon factory today. They have a very clean and well run facility. While many manufacturing tasks are robotic, the very important wafer soldering was done by hand. What impressed me the most was the efficiency and the quality control. Most of the employees are there to check for quality. Pictures are attached. I was not allowed to take pictures inside the factory. One pic is of their parking structure. They used monocrystalline panels to spell out SOLON. It is about 60kW and has connections for electric car charging.

Another pic is of their test facility located at the local coal burning power plant. They have some cool R&D projects with concentrators and different cooling methods. They have identical testing sites in Italy and Germany to test their panels in different environments and latitudes.

Among their many projects worldwide, Solon builds megawatt solar fields for power companies for which they get paid based on performance. If their panels are not efficient or degrade faster over time, they get paid less. They are super picky with quality control. If there is the smallest defect in the glass or wafer, the panel is rejected. They test the wafers, the strings, the glass, and the panels. They calibrate the machines daily.

It was interesting to see the glass without the wafers. It was very thick, 4mm (thicker that double strenth glass), and tempered. Most manufactures use 3mm glass. The thicker the glass the longer the panels last. Thick glass is important for several reasons. If the panels flex in the wind, over time the super thin and fragile wafers will get hairline cracks that negatively affect their preformance. Thicker glass also helps with impacts and snow loads.

John Harley, Production Manager
National Solar Inc.

3290 Watt Sharp System -- Woodburn, Oregon

2010-04-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

4600 Watt Solon Ground Mount -- Hubbard, Oregon

2010-04-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

National Solar joins Solar Oregon at SolarWorld Tour

2010-03-02T07:44:00.001-08:00

On Friday, February 26, National Solar staff joined Solar Oregon, a non-profit that educates consumers about solar power throughout Oregon, on a tour of SolarWorld AG's Hillsboro plant. Transferring silicon wafer and solar cell manufacturing operations from its Vancouver, WA, plant in 2008, the Hillsboro plant celebrated its one-year anniversary Oct. 4, 2009.

Led by Kevin Keene, Northwest Account Manager, the group toured the new facility which produces solar silicon wafers and solar cells capable of generating 500 megawatts of electricity per year.

After touring the facilities to view the multiple stages from silicon crystal growing to solar cell testing, Kevin Keene displays some of the solar cells produced at the Hillsboro plant.

Post-tour, the Solar Oregon group poses in front of a model of the SolarWorld No.1, a solar race car sponsored by SolarWorld AG and developed by the University of Bochum, that runs entirely on solar power. For more information about Solar Oregon, visit their web site at www.Solaroregon.org.

For more information about the Hillsboro plant, check out the link below for an article that appeared in the Hillsboro Argus October 6, 2009.
www.blog.oregonlive.com.

National Solar Donates to Doctors Without Borders

2010-03-02T07:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the support of our Oregon Solar Customers in January, National Solar was able to provide a cash donation to the national chapter of Doctors Without Borders.

A Big "Thank You!" to all who participated in this worthy cause.

National Solar and its staff is proud to continue its outreach to those in local and global communities.

If you would like to know more about participating in National Solar's outreach efforts, please contact Justin Lancaster, President, at Justin@nationalsolarusa.com

National Solar to Donate to Doctors Without Borders

2010-01-20T11:08:00.000-08:00

January 2010

To support aid efforts in Haiti, National Solar will donate 1% of all sales through January to support local members of Doctors Without Borders who have pledged their time and skills to assist those in need of medical services. Please help us support this important mission.

For more information, contact National Solar at 1-800-808-1955.

Solar Oregon Recognizes National Solar

2010-01-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

December 2009

Recently, National Solar teamed up with Solar Oregon as a proud sponsor of the non-profit's efforts to promote education and information to Oregon about solar energy. National Solar Staff also volunteers time to aid in these education efforts. For more information about Solar Oregon and their campaign, please visit them at www.Solaroregon.org.

Molalla City Councillor Goes Solar!

2010-01-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

Photo by Bethany Monroe
December 2009

Molalla City Councillor Glen Boreth and his girlfriend, Karalie Vest, recently had National Solar install a 2.12 kW Sharp monocrystalline solar elctric system on their home in Molalla, OR. To read more about it, and the other ways they practice sustainability in their home, read the article by reporter Bethany Monroe in the Molalla Pioneer at this link:

http://www.molallapioneer.com/news/2009/December/16/Local.News/harnessing.the.sun.helping.the.planet/news.aspx

National Solar Sponsors OPB

2009-12-07T17:28:00.001-08:00

November, 2009

National Solar USA, Inc., is proud to sponsor Oregon Public Broadcasting. From sourcing to redistribution, National Solar supports local businesses and redistributes to local non-profit organizations that enrich our communities. Listen for us on OPB Radio!

2820 Watt Sharp System -- Corvallis, OR

2009-12-05T09:36:00.001-08:00

3290 Watt Sharp System -- Newberg, OR

2009-12-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

5640 Watt Sharp System -- Portland, OR

2009-12-05T09:20:00.001-08:00

3290 Watt Sharp System -- Woodburn, Oregon

2009-12-05T09:10:00.001-08:00

National Solar President Elected to Solar Oregon Board of Directors

2009-11-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

Nov. 7, 2009

Portland, OR -- Justin Lancaster, founder and president of National Solar USA, Inc., was elected to Solar Oregon's Board of Directors Saturday, Nov. 7.

Solar Oregon, part of the Solar Now! Campaign, is a state non-profit organization dedicated to promoting education, information and resources for solar power in Oregon. Saturday's election followed Solar Oregon's 30-year anniversary celebration hosted in Portland, OR.

Justin has more than eleven years' experience in the building retrofit industry and has a keen understanding of the residential market.

Justin is committed to building a sustainable solar industry, beyond the current era of incentives, by creating dialogue with key public and private participants to promote greater awareness of renewable energy.

2688 Watt Sharp System -- West Plains, Oregon

2009-11-02T15:10:00.000-08:00

3136 Watt Sharp System -- Gaston, Oregon

2009-11-02T15:07:00.000-08:00

2240 Watt Sharp System -- Portland, Oregon

2009-11-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

2688 Watt Sharp System -- West Slope, Oregon

2009-11-02T14:00:00.001-08:00

2688 Watt Sharp System -- Lebanon, Oregon

2009-10-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

3680 Watt Sharp System -- Portland, Oregon

2009-10-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Portland's Go Green Expo!

2009-10-13T01:14:00.001-07:00

National Solar's very own Janelle at the Go Green Expo 2009 in Portland, Oregon, enjoying some fall sunshine.

3136 Watt Sharp System -- Portland, Oregon

2009-10-13T01:06:00.000-07:00

Sharp system installed on two south-facing roofs

2688 Watt Sharp System -- Hillsboro, Oregon

2009-10-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

2240 Watt Sharp Solar System -- Sheridan, Oregon

2009-09-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

4480 Watt Sharp Solar System -- Sheridan, Oregon

2009-09-28T22:53:00.000-07:00

4480 Watt Sharp Solar System -- Albany, Oregon

2009-09-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

5824 Watt Sharp Solar System -- Scio, Oregon

2009-09-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

2688 Watt Sharp Solar System -- Lebanon Oregon

2009-09-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

2240 Watt Sharp System -- Salem, Oregon

2009-09-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

2240 Watt Sharp System -- Camas, Washington

2009-09-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

4,480 Watt Sharp System -- Aurora, Oregon

2009-08-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

2008 Annual Report for Energy Trust of Oregon

2009-08-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

"Since 2002, Energy Trust has helped Oregonians avoid three million tons of carbon dioxide emissions--the equivalent of removing 525,000 cars from our roads ever year"-- Margie Harris, Executive Director, Energy Trust of Oregon

2688 Watt Sharp System -- Portland, Oregon

2009-08-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

National Solar, Inc--PUD registered solar installer

2009-08-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

National Solar, Inc has joined the Solar Express program developed by the Snohomish County PUD in Washington State.

To learn more about incentives offered in Snohomish County visit www.snopud.com

2,240 Watt Sharp System -- Dallas, Oregon

2009-08-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Africa Bridge

2009-08-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Africa Bridge: "The Africa Bridge Harvest Gala is the annual event to raise funds for Africa Bridge. Based in West Linn, Oregon, Africa Bridge is dedicated to improving the lives of orphans and vulnerable children impacted by HIV/AIDS in Tanzania by empowering their communities through integrated, sustainable development programs."

National Solar is helping sponsor this fundraising event on August 29th at 5:00 pm--Come join us!

4,032 Watt System--Sharp Panels

2009-08-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Solar Panel Installation

2009-07-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Recent Projects

2009-07-07T20:46:00.000-07:00