One of the greatest parts of working at SunPower is hearing from SunPower customers and seeing how enthusiastic they are about solar energy and SunPower products in particular. So we were thrilled when customers Bob and Sarah Cutler of Las Cruces, New Mexico sent us a 20-minute homemade documentary detailing “the planting of a Kilowatt Farm” on the rooftop of their house. The Cutler’s system was installed over two days in November 2009 by SunPower Elite Dealer Positive Energy, which operates throughout New Mexico.
 
We’ve spliced the video to show some of our favorite parts, including Bob’s overview of his system, Positive Energy’s ‘solar oven’ (which they use to cook the installation team’s lunch), the dealer’s explanation of the system’s various components and the solar installation across various stages of completion. The Cutler family documentary provides a great overview of the solar power installation process.
 

For all our SunPower customers, we’re always interested to learn about your solar experience. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and share the details of your own solar installation. If you’re interested in more customer success stories, check out the residential section of our website.

For 41 years, Earth Day (April 22) inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. We strive to celebrate Earth Day, Every Day and this month we’re honoring the work we all do to change the way the world is powered by partnering with SunPower dealers to support the Earth Day events around the Bay Area.

Want to celebrate Earth Day with SunPower? If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by at one of our events and help us celebrate our favorite month of the year! You will meet with SunPower representatives, learn about solar energy, get special offers and rebates, and have fun.

Here is the list of some events we will be participating:

Earth Day SF Celebration
Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 10am – 6pm
Civic Center Plaza, Downtown San Francisco
This year, a new Earth Day Festival arrives in San Francisco. On April 23, the Bay Area will come together to celebrate Earth Day SF in Civic Center Plaza with a multi-cultural music festival and sustainable living road show featuring international keynote speakers on multiple stages and eco-zones filled with prominent sustainability activists and workshop leaders, nonprofit organizations, green businesses, indigenous community leaders, civic agencies and youth empowerment groups. Click here for more information.  

City of San Jose
Friday, April 29, 2011 from 11am – 7pm
San Jose City Hall
Bright Green Day is a one-day event held on April 29.The event includes live music, local food, clean energy showcase, tours and workshops, earth balloon and community art canvas. SunPower’s dealer Real Good Solar will be presenting a workshop on the Basics of Going Solar. Click here for more information. 

City of San Jose Energy Efficiency & Solar Fair
Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 10am – 3pm
East Santa Clara Street between 4th and 5th
San Jose, CA
The time for clean energy is now! With money-saving rebates from the State, making home energy improvements has never been easier or more affordable. Come to the Solar & Energy Efficiency Fair at the Clean Energy Showcase, the nation’s first outdoor demonstration of large-scale solar, wind, electric vehicle and energy effi ciency installations. The fair include energy workshops all day. You can learn how the sun can save you money by attending "Go Solar and Save" workshop presented by Real Goods Solar and SunPower. Click here for more information. 

Is this all? Of course not! In celebration of the Earth Day 2011, we just launched a Solar Rebate Program. In addition to Federal, State and local solar rebate incentives, this program provides an ADDITIONAL rebate of up to $1,750 on the purchase of a SunPower solar system. Sign up from 4/1/2011 thru 7/4/2011 by clicking here. Happy Earth Day!

 

Today, we would like to share a recent project where SunPower helped make an impact to the local community in Manila, Philippines. In early March, more than 150 SunPower employees including the management team joined Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM), a nonprofit organization providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations, to assemble and distribute wheelchairs to beneficiaries. We assembled 1,100 wheelchairs and distributed them through health clinics, schools and disability centers locally. It was an extremely rewarding project as SunPower deeply cares about the people who live in the regions where we work, all around the world.


Shool kids in need receiving their wheelchairs

During this project, we learned that there are about 100 million people living in the developing countries suffer with walking disabilities, yet cannot afford a wheelchair. This is a lot of people… To date, FWM has provided more than 550,000 wheelchairs in 78 countries. Don Schoendorfer founded the nonprofit humanitarian organization in 2001. Don developed the original FWM wheelchair model to navigate both the uneven rural terrain and inaccessible urban areas common to underserved regions of the world. SunPower is proud to partner with FWM to expand its ability to provide additional wheelchairs in Philippines.  


SunPower's CEO, Tom Werner on behalf of the management team expressing gratitudes


SunPower is helping distribute wheelchairs and making an impact on people’s lives

At the end of the project, we invited everyone including some beneficiaries to our fabrication facility in Manila for a special event. We also had a friendly competition with employees to build wheelchairs as a team.

It was incredible to be a part of an activity that so dramatically changed the life lives of so many individuals in such a personal way – mobility is a right that so many of us so often take for granted. Imagine if you were isolated to a bed and room indoors and unable to enjoy the outdoors safely? Imagine if your family and friends had to carry you to make sure that you were safe from disease and danger – on a daily basis? To be able to share our community members’ joy as many sat in a wheelchair for the first time, and to connect our employees to such an important cause, was an incredible gift and opportunity.


A young child with his new wheelchair

You can learn more about Free Wheelchair Mission by clicking here.

On April 12, 2011, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and California Governor Jerry Brown joined SunPower and partner Flextronics to dedicate a new solar panel manufacturing facility in Milpitas, California. The new plant has created 100 jobs and will manufacture 75 megawatts solar panels per year.

For those of you did not get a chance to join us, here is a photo album from this event:

 

 With Tax Day looming, let’s talk about one of the key benefits of owning a residential solar system: the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC).  The Federal ITC for residential solar systems is an integral way for owners to lower the overall cost of the system and increase return on investment. In exchange for purchasing a qualifying residential solar system and making a commitment to renewable energy, homeowners can receive a tax credit against their federal tax liability.

When considering solar purchase options, it’s important to realize the Federal ITC can only be claimed by the owner of the solar system. Homeowners who engage in solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) cannot claim the federal tax credit. In these instances, the credit goes to the leasing company, who may or may not pass it along to the owner via lower prices or additional services.

The Federal Solar ITC is calculated as 30% of qualifying costs, and SunPower has certified that our solar panels meet the criteria for qualifying solar property eligible for the Solar ITC.  In addition, many US states offer incentives that further reduce the cost of ownership of residential solar systems. The Federal credit was extended through 2016, whereas state benefits can and will expire at different times.

While SunPower certifies that our solar panels meet the definition of qualifying solar property, we cannot warranty a specific individual tax result or outcome.  The information provided above is for informational purposes only, and you should consult your individual tax advisor to determine how the Federal Solar ITC might benefit you given your individual facts and circumstances.

Want more information?
These qualified sources can provide more information about the ITC and other financial benefits (federal, state or municipal) associated with a solar purchase:

• Solar Energy Industry Association. As the national trade association for the solar energy industry, SEIA strives to educate the public on solar benefits and issues. Here’s a link to the SEIA page on the Federal ITC: http://www.seia.org/cs/federal_issues/solar_investment_tax_credit
• The Internal Revenue Service. The IRS website contains several resources about residential solar investment tax credits and other benefits associated with energy efficiency investments. Start with this ‘Tax Tip’: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=237190,00.html
•  Local tax professionals. Tax professionals can provide in-depth guidance on residential solar purchases and Federal ITC eligibility. They are a great resource for any customer planning to purchase solar or other energy efficiency products.

SunPower has been working closely with community members and local organizations in San Luis Obispo County, Calif. to raise awareness about solar power and gain support for SunPower’s proposed 250-megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) project. CVSR will likely begin construction later this year and, upon completion, will generate enough energy to power 100,000 homes, equivalent to almost every home in San Luis Obispo County.

To learn more about the California Valley Solar Ranch, check out the project’s website: http://www.californiavalleysolarranch.com/.

Our local efforts include working with community groups that embrace the adoption of renewable energy sources.  These groups are excited by the benefits of the CVSR, including decreased reliance on fossil fuels, reliable and renewable peak power supply, local job creation and added economic stimulus. They’ve also collaborated with SunPower to ensure the project minimizes impact to the local species and habitat. We’re very pleased to have support from local citizens, elected officials, SLO Green Build, local Chambers of Commerce, the Economic Vitality Corporation of SLO, the Union of Concerned Scientists and several local labor unions. These groups will play a vital role in making the California Valley Solar Ranch a reality.

Perhaps our most endearing allies in this effort are the students at Oceano Elementary School in Oceano, Calif. The students in Jim DeCecco’s 5th grade class have learned about solar technology, the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and the value of switching to local, renewable sources of power. Several students expressed their enthusiasm for the California Valley Solar Ranch by writing letters of support. We’re very thankful for their support for this project, and more importantly, we’re thrilled by their interest in the energy future of their local community. As a sign of appreciation for all their support, SunPower presented the class with a solar-powered charger to power the electronics in their classroom. Below is a picture of this great group of young solar enthusiasts and a copy of one of their letters of support.


Oceano Elementary's 5th grade class gives solar a big thumbs up. 


Oceano Elementary students built solar home dioramas.


 A letter of support from an Oceano Elementary student.

 

In late January, SunPower CEO Tom Werner spoke on the ‘Economic Forecast 2011’ panel, an event organized by the San Jose Business Journal. Tom and fellow panelists, including San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Sobrato Organization Chairman John Sobrato and PriceWaterhouseCoopers Managing Director Rob Gittings, talked about the current state of their industries and provided their economic outlooks for 2011.

Among the morning’s comments, Tom described how 2010 is the first year of the Solar Decade. Solar is appearing everywhere, on commercial buildings and residential rooftops.

Tom talked about how SunPower is committed to halving the cost of solar over the next five years, making it a viable option for even more households and businesses. This cost reduction will make solar less dependent on incentives and will also allow owners to save more money on their monthly electricity bill.

See below for video of Tom’s comments. Also, check out Tom’s companion article from the San Jose Business Journal which describes the ‘Decade of Solar’ and SunPower’s growing investment in the Silicon Valley economy.

If you have any further questions or comments, please post them to our Facebook page.