Owners of North Carolina Solar House Sell Power to Grid

A Taberna couple became the first local solar generators of electric power for the New Bern grid this past week. Last Tuesday, Tim and Karen McLear connected the solar electric generator attached to panels installed on the roof of their 207 Mellen Road home. "In the first 24 hours, the system generated 31 kilowatt hours of electricity -- right on design for a sunny day," said Tim McLear, an advocate for a greener city who served on a New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce environmental committee last year. "I am very pleased with the project," he said.
McLear got caught up in the chamber "Vision Committee" planning group mission to see the area 30 years from now receiving national recognition "for its livability, conservation, renewable resources and protection of the environment."

New Bern passed an "Interconnection Standard" in November 2008 that allows the sale of electricity to the local grid, and that made the solar project even more attractive. The solar photovoltaic system was designed and installed by Alternative Energy Concepts of Fayetteville. It cost about $40,000, McLear said, but is an investment that starts paying off immediately.

"It has the capacity to produce 4.75 kilowatt hours of electricity," he said. "Annually, we estimate it will produce about 8,000 kilowatt hours, which is about 40 percent of our electrical usage." Tim also said it made financial sense. "I believe it is a very good investment -- a return on net capital of 10 percent after tax credit." "The federal government removed the cap on tax credits for renewable energy projects as of Dec. 31, 2008, thus making such projects financially attractive," he said. "We will receive federal and state tax credits for about 60 percent of our capital investment" or about $22,000 in direct tax credit that rolls over until it is used as actual tax savings.

The remaining cost of the project will take nine to 10 years to recoup, McLear said, "but in the long term, it's like getting 10 percent dividends every year." Karen McLear said the family is committed to promoting renewable energy. "Our youngest son in Colorado is very forward thinking about renewable resources, interested in geothermal, solar, water conservation, reclamation and recycling, finding what is old and making it new again," she said. But the McLears feel lucky that the house they bought was accommodating for the modifications, she said. "We didn't want it to look like a project from NASA. "We wanted it attractive to our neighbors and it turned out that no major adjustments in the structure were required. That made it architecturally pleasing. It was like the house was built for this." One neighbor noticed the panels, which took about three weeks to install, and called with interest. The McLears invited him to be there when the switch was flipped. "The project went extremely well," Tim McLear said. "It was a thoroughly positive experience. In addition to the design and installation of the system, there were a number of interfaces and approvals necessary, any of which could have caused delays or extra costs. There were none!"

The Taberna Home Owners Association, New Bern City Electric Department, and New Bern City Planning and Inspection Department were all accommodating, from early approvals and planning to the final connection to the grid, McLear said. "I cannot say enough about the support and involvement of John Rynne and the whole department team," he said of New Bern City Electric. That involvement included information and assistance with electrical code requirements and inspections, liability insurance, and state and federal permitting approvals. McLear said that when it came time for the final inspection, Johnny Clark, of the New Bern City Planning and Inspection Department, "brought his whole team to make the inspection and learn about these roof-installed solar systems. In some places, I could still be awaiting grid connection because of bureaucracy and, being the first one, could have understood the delays. But they didn't happen. They worked with me all the way."

The McLears found New Bern warm and welcoming from their first visit from their Allentown, Pa., home in September 2006. "From that first trolley ride we were home already," Karen said.
Tim said he thinks "it is important to communicate the success and acknowledge the city for their support of alternative energy."