Have questions about U Community Solar? Read on to see answers to our most frequently asked questions. You can also review frequently asked questions about solar technology. Don't see the answer to your question? Contact us!
About U Community Solar
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A substantial discount for residential solar installations, made possible by the University facilitation of a supplier discount for members of the U campus community.
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Simplified and streamlined solar installation process: Installing solar through U Community Solar is streamlined and simple. U Community Solar does the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to. As a participant, you will have access to information and a community network to guide you through the solar process without hassle.
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Pre-screened installer: The University selected a solar installer for participation in the discount program based on quality and price and locked in discounts for members of the campus community in Salt Lake, Summit, and Davis Counties.
- The Associated Students of the University of Utah supports U Community Solar because it is an investment in new, local sources of renewable energy that will generate Renewable Energy Certificates for the University.
- The University of Utah Sustainability Office Office is supporting U Community Solar.
- Utah Clean Energy is a local non-profit, non-partisan public interest organization partnering to build the new clean energy economy. Utah Clean Energy has helped hundreds of homeowners install solar through Community Solar programs and offers technical expertise to guide you through the solar installation process.
Option |
Module |
Inverter |
Price
(per watt)*
|
Monitoring
|
Price
(one-time, flat fee)
|
|
A |
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Suniva Optimus 295 Watt, Black on Black | Enphase S280 |
$2.76 |
$485 | |
B |
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LG NeON2 300 Watt, Black on Black | Enphase S280 |
$2.92 |
$485 | |
C |
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LG NeON2 315 Watt, Black on White | Enphase S280 |
$2.92 |
$485 |
Solar and Your Home
Once you have put solar panels on your roof, you will have to remove them in the event that you need to replace the roof. Panels can be temporarily removed, and re-installing the panels is less time intensive than the original installation, but there will be a cost to have a solar installer come to remove and replace the panels. If your roof is in need of replacement in the near future, it is often worth it to have the roof replaced before installing solar. Most solar panels are warrantied for 20 – 25 years, at least, and continue producing electricity long after their warrantied lifetimes, so by replacing your roof first you can avoid unnecessary costs down the road.
More Resources:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories: An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California
- Sandia National Laboratories: PV Value
Pricing & Financial Information
A state tax credit and a federal tax credit are available for solar PV.
- U.S. Federal Tax Credit:
Tax Credit: 30% of equipment and installation cost with no upper limit
Expires: Declines to 26% on 1/1/2020; Declines to 22% on 1/1/2021; Expires 1/1/2022
Details: Existing homes & new construction qualify. Both principal residences and second homes qualify. Rentals do not qualify. Learn more >
- Utah State Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit:
Tax Credit: 25% of equipment and installation cost up to a maximum of $2,000
Expires: No set expiration.
Details: Available for any house, condominium, apartment, or similar dwelling for a person or persons, but it does not include any vehicles such as motor homes, recreational vehicles, or house boats. Learn more >
Consult with a tax attorney regarding your eligibility for the aforementioned incentives. U Community Solar makes no guarantees about the availability of incentives or participant ability to take advantage of the incentives.