Who Did I Just Meet? Mina Cox stopped by my booth at a festival catering to homeowners in 2021 and asked several questions about solar power. After listening intently, she took my card and disappeared into the crowd. I did not expect what happened next.

One of Mina’s business partners, Vaughn, called me soon after to explain that they own Specialty Products, including an industrial building just outside of Longmont, Colorado. Specialty Products is the pioneer in automotive alignment parts, and the preferred brand of professional installers. Mina liked my thoughtful responses to her questions, and had suggested to Vaughn that they consider solar as part of their upcoming building expansion. Solar power would reduce ongoing costs of their operation, reduce their carbon footprint and put them in a good position for changes in state law that require reduced net energy consumption. It would be a triple win!

As we discussed details of their 18,000 square foot expansion, their past usage and anticipated changes from the added systems and a set of new Electric Vehicle chargers, the necessary system size for net zero energy took shape. We conducted a Feasibility Study while their construction financing was being underwritten, and then started the project with a 237 kW system in May of 2022 with one of my installation partners.

How it Failed: Unfortunately, 2022 was a year of massive supply chain disruptions, as people in many industries experienced, and it became impossible for that installer to deliver the system as contracted. By the end of that year we were forced to cancel that contract. Our constant communication throughout this process had built a strong enough relationship, though, that Specialty Products was still interested in working with Solar 4 Planet A as their solar consultant. For me personally, this was one of the most rewarding moments in the story of this project.

Revised design for most cost-effective system including interconnection costs

. . . and then Succeeded: I was able to revise the design with a different installation partner. Discussions with the utility, United Power, had shown that the sweet spot for system size would be the maximum that would not require them to upgrade their utility transformer. We settled on 187 kW DC, 150 kW AC of solar power. While this would be a bit smaller, it was the most cost-effective size.

Mina asked what I knew about the USDA Grant program, and I confessed that this was the first I’d heard of it, but we could take a look together. From what we could see, this project was eligible, so Mina, my partner Solar Power Pros, and I worked on a grant submittal together during February 2023 as part of the preparation for this second contract. In the summer of 2023 Specialty Products won their grant!

United Power technicians on site to turn on net metering

My installation partner, Solar Power Pros (dba Green Cardinal Energy) did a fabulous job of installing and managing all the rest of the installation and utility interconnection details. The resulting 187 kW of solar power provides Specialty Products these benefits:

USDA Grant for 40% of the total system cost
Federal Tax Credit of 30%, Accelerated Depreciation Expense cash value of about 18% of the total system cost.
Commissioned in 2024, the vast majority of their electricity will come from their solar panels.
Saving them approximately $31,643 / year on their electric bills this year, total of $1.18M over 25 years
System will produce 287,200 kWh / year of clean power.
Reduces pollution by: 201 metric tons of CO 2 per year

In speaking with veteran employees at United Power, it’s clear that they were also excited to see this project completed, as it is one of the largest rooftop solar installations in their district so far. They expect many more to follow. As a utility partner they were very timely and cooperative, which helped make this project a success.

Here is a video of their Permission to Operate day.

Do you have a project you’d like to discuss with me?

Solar 4 Planet A, saving the planet, one roof at a time!

Andrew Ehrnstein

Owner – Energy Consultant

Solar 4 Planet A