PV Solar Installation…made safe

a man on a scaffolding next to a house

[metaslider id=”2896″]   As the winter is in full swing, solar installations must go on!!! Its important to recognize safety, more now so than ever. Fingers are cold, black ice exists and lets face it…who doesn’t want to jump from a roof into a snow drift… Ok Ok Ok…ha ha ha, not so much. Take […]

Minnesota Solar Tax Exemptions

a solar panel in a field

In addition to the current Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that gives you 30% off the cost of your solar system, there are several other solar tax exemptions that the state of Minnesota has in place. Act now to use the Solar Investment Tax Credit! Call us at 612-888-9599, or contact us on the website to get […]

TruNorth Solar Sponsors 2017 Southwest MPLS High School Robotics Team

a group of people posing for a photo

The spotlight will shine on the 2017 Southwest High School Robotics – FRC Team 2129 – Ultraviolet in the Minneapolis FIRST Robotics Regionals Competition taking place April 7th – April 8th, 2017 at Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena in the heart of the University of MN campus. The Competition has free admission and is open […]

Minnesota’s Solar Potential

a lake with a bench and trees

The state of Minnesota has no fossil fuel reserves at all – no natural gas, no coal, and no oil. However, it does have resources of another kind. Solar energy is Minnesota’s largest energy resource. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that Minnesota has enough solar “technical potential” to produce more than 150 times […]

A Brief Introduction to Micro-Inverters, String Inverters, and Optimizers

a solar panels on a field

Like any electrical system, a solar array needs a way to manage the flow of electrical energy. In order to avoid damaging your household electronics, the electrical grid, and your solar panels themselves, a system of electrical inverters and optimizers need to be in place. Inverters change the DC current produced in solar panels to […]

Extend the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

a group of workers in a solar farm

Update!!! The Tax Credit has been extended.  Read:  https://trunorthsolar.com/5-year-solar-investment-tax-credit-extension/   We at TruNorth Solar fully support the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) in working to extend the Solar ITC past December of 2016, to help people  continue to afford clean power from the sun!

How Does Solar*Rewards Work?

a logo of a company

Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards incentive pays annually at 8 cents per kWh produced by your solar photovoltaic system for 10 years. In addition to the annual incentive payments, you lower your electricity bill as your array produces power. If you produce more than you consume in any given month, excess kilo-watt hours are credited on your bill. […]

How Do I Pay For Solar?

a house with solar panels on the roof

Solar gives you energy independence, greatly reduces your carbon footprint, and saves you money over the long term. Even though the cost of solar power has come down a lot in the last few years, it is a significant upfront investment. Luckily, in Minnesota there are several incentives in place to reduce this cost. The […]

Solar Shingles – An Installer Perspective

a house with a lawn and a flag

The idea is a good one: instead of installing solar panels onto a roof, why not integrate solar power into the roof shingles themselves? This way, the roof can function normally, look normal except for a photovoltaic sheen, and deal with less weight than the traditional panels. However, implementing this idea isn’t as easy or […]

Now is the Time for Solar – Federal Investment Tax Credit Dropping by end of 2016

solar panels on a roof

In the next 18 months, the U.S. will see more solar installations than ever before. The federal investment tax credit (ITC) is a 30 percent tax credit for residential, commercial and utility scale systems. Tax credits work by reducing dollar-by-dollar the taxes that would be paid by the owner to the federal government. Please note […]