Company builds largest solar installation in Salem
08 Feb 2010
by: Michael Rose, Salem Statesman Journal
An industrial warehouse in northeast Salem now has bragging rights for having the city's largest photovoltaic power system, stealing the title away from potato chip maker Kettle Foods Inc.
Solar modules cover the roof of the 40,000-square-foot warehouse at 1337 Madison St. NE. The warehouse, which is at least 95 years old, has essentially been re-constructed by its owner, Nathan Levin Co.
A package of state and federal incentives for renewable energy projects helped convince company owner Nate Levin to make the investment in solar panels.
"Not only is it good economic sense, but it's a great upgrade to the building," Levin said.
Cost of the 650 solar modules, system design and installation work: about $820,000.
But Oregon's Business Energy Tax Credit and other incentives will offset a large share of the expense. The state's business energy tax credit, known as BETC for short, is taken over five years and can cover up to half of a renewable energy project's cost. Commercial real estate owners and businesses seeking tax breaks, as well as the chance to go green, have quickly taken to the idea of putting solar panels on their buildings.
"The energy that you're generating and the savings you're producing is icing on the cake," said Mathew Lind, who is with Advanced Energy Systems, a solar energy consultant. Tax breaks are one of the primary reasons building owners are spending money on solar modules, he said.
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