Solar Carports Grow in Popularity

In the 2011 State of the Union, President Barack Obama said he envisioned the United States as the first nation to have one million electric cars on the road by 2015.  With two electric cars introduced to the market late last year in limited supply, the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt, statisticians are skeptical that it will happen.  In order to meet the goal, we must have the infrastructure in place to support the technology shift, including access to electric charging stations.

The President hopes to support his target by cutting subsidies to fossil fuels.  The public can infer this will make the price of gasoline higher, which, in turn, will make electric vehicles more attractive.  Most pumps around the nation have already risen to more than $3 per gallon, while Europeans have been paying close to $7 a gallon in recent years.  The initial investment in an electric vehicle is more than a gas-powered car, but buyers should look at the total cost of ownership.  Experts say charging an electric vehicle can cost $3 per 100 miles while filling a gas tank will cost $9 per 100 miles.

We are seeing significant support from the government in promoting EV adoption.  Buyers of electric cars will qualify for $7500 in federal tax credits and states can offer additional incentives toward the purchase price.  The federal government has also allotted $2.4B in R&D funding for electric vehicle batteries.  Finally, the Vice President is rekindling a $200M grant opportunity for 30 chosen communities as pilot programs for electric vehicle adoption.

As the number of electric cars on the road grows, charging stations will be needed to provide energy for this new fleet.  Carports, utilizing solar panels, seem to be an obvious choice for supplementing electricity demand by supplying clean, green energy.  Vehicles can easily pull up and plug in to the electric charging station and any excess solar energy can be sent to be used in a nearby home or business.  Solar carports have a double benefit, by decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels and locking in a reasonable price for electricity.

Brightstar Solar is a licensed solar installer in Massachusetts and Connecticut that can help you construct a solar carport for your home or business.  We enable our customers to make their own sustainable energy safely, dependably, and with an attractive return on investment.  Please contact us if you’re interested in a free solar evaluation in Massachusetts or Connecticut to determine your site’s viability to generate solar power.