Solar Industry News

ReVision co-founder Fortunat Mueller and Insource Renewables CEO Vaughan Woodruff stood with Gov. Janet Mills as she signed the policy overturning “Gross Metering” rules in Maine.

Union of two employee-owned companies accelerates solar transition

With a goal of combining our strength to accelerate the regional transition to renewable energy combined with storage, ReVision Energy is excited to announce that we’re joining forces with Pittsfield, Maine-based Insource Renewables.

The employee owners of Insource Renewables have entered into an agreement that will allow its staff to become the newest employee owners of ReVision Energy and will bring Insource under the ReVision Energy brand.

ReVision and Insource have long been values and mission-aligned companies. While competing in the open market, we’ve fought side-by-side in the state house to drive forward solar policy in Maine, which culminated in the passage of the transformational LD1711 policy that opened up the solar farm, mid- and large-scale solar, and utility solar markets in Maine.

By joining forces under the ReVision banner, the stronger unified company will be better able to tackle the regulatory challenges in Maine’s rapidly expanding solar market, offer the legendary customer service both companies are known for, and grow our workforce to meet the surging demand for zero-emission solutions.

An employee-owner working on a solar electrical system. A major goal with uniting Insource Renewables and ReVision Energy is to grow a skilled, local workforce to perform the technical work needed in the rapid transition to clean energy.

Insource CEO Vaughan Woodruff, a former instructor and technical consultant for several prominent national solar workforce initiatives, will be charged with leading and expanding the ReVision Energy Training Center (RETC). RETC was created in 2018, when ReVision became the first solar company in the nation to launch a state-certified training program that streamlines the lengthy process of helping individuals move through the stages of becoming an apprentice, journeyman and licensed master electrician. This effort was launched in response to the long-standing industry shortage of electricians. Under Woodruff’s leadership, RETC will be expanded to incorporate training in other technical aspects of the industry, leadership development, and business development.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to welcome Vaughan Woodruff and the Insource Renewables team into the ReVision Energy family. Workforce development is one of our industry’s most pressing challenges and we have high expectations that Vaughan will be able to help us address that issue by taking the helm of our homegrown ReVision Energy Training Center,” says ReVision co-founder Fortunat Mueller, “Vaughan’s deep background in leadership, technical training, education, employee ownership, and renewable energy policy make him an ideal candidate to be the director of RETC. In this role he will guide more of our present and future co-owners to higher levels of certification, licensure, and subject matter expertise across all of the clean technologies we are bringing to bear on our region’s fossil fuel consumption and emissions.”

We’re excited for you, our solar champion community, to benefit from a stronger, larger, group of employee-owners with solar technical expertise unrivaled by any in the Northeast.

Tucked into the massive Covid relief package passed by Congress at the end of 2020 is a provision that extends the solar investment tax credit (ITC) at a rate of 26% for two more years! Prior to the passing of the bill, the ITC was scheduled to drop from 26% to 22% at the start of 2021. Now, both homeowners and businesses can enjoy a 26% tax credit on solar installations (as well as batteries when connected to solar projects) through the end of 2022.

With the extension of the solar tax credit at 26%, solar power continues to be the best clean energy choice for homeowners, businesses, communities, and our planet.

Solar projects that begin construction in the next 2 years in all markets will be eligible for the 26% tax credit, with an expected drop to 22% scheduled to start in 2023. Small scale solar will fall to 0% in 2024, and large-scale commercial and utility solar projects will sit permanently at 10%. For a residential solar installation in the 7kw range, the 26% tax credit can result in savings of over $7,000.

This is good news for homeowners and the planet – securing the ability to go solar at a competitive financial price and supporting the overdue transition to zero carbon energy. Going solar as fast as possible benefits everyone , including those who don’t even install solar panels, who benefit from lower grid costs and a cleaner environment.

The bill, which also allocates billions of dollars towards clean energy research and development, bodes well for future bipartisan commitment to fighting climate change. To achieve meaningful greenhouse gas emission reduction, we will need to expand the accessibility of clean energy technologies, and that will require support from the new administration, Congress, and the American people.

“At a time when so many Americans need good jobs, and the need to reduce carbon pollution is more urgent than ever, this two-year extension of the 26% solar investment tax credit will create thousands of new clean energy jobs while accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels,” said Phil Coupe, co-founder of ReVision Energy.

For full details on how the extended tax credit benefits homeowners and businesses ready to go solar in 2021, read our full guide to tax credits and other incentives .

More people take advantage of the financial and communal benefits of solar, especially here in the sunny Northeast. With the extended tax credits available to homeowners and businesses, we’re gearing up for a busy 2021 and a brighter future. If you’re ready to join the solar movement, fill out the widget below and get in touch with our team!

A report conducted by Synapse Energy Economics on the economic, environmental, and societal impacts of small-scale solar in New England joins a wide body of evidence demonstrating that solar has tangible benefits for all electricity ratepayers, and not just those who use solar power.

Looking at 2014 – 2019 data released by the grid operator ISO New England, this report calculates the region’s total wholesale energy savings due to local solar to be over $1.1 billion. It also shows the monetary value of additional widespread benefits, such as the reduction of carbon emissions, avoided pollution and health costs, and job creation.

In short, solar is a win for the earth, for our communities, and for anyone who receives an electric bill.

How does solar save everyone money?

With grid tied solar, everyone pays less for electricity because it reduces the amount and the cost of electricity purchased by utility companies:

1. During the hours of peak grid usage, solar lowers the demand for additional electricity
2. This in turn reduces the need for utility companies to buy expensive energy from highly polluting standby power plants
3. With lower demand for this costly energy, the wholesale price of electricity decreases

Let’s dive in. For utility companies, the most expensive time to operate the grid is during the middle of the day, when demand for electricity is at its highest. During the height of summer, when the endless running of air conditioners causes the grid to hit “peak-load,” utility companies are forced to tap into their backup systems, which tend to be less-efficient, more expensive oil burning power plants.

On a hot July day, energy demand is highest during the middle of the day – right when solar panels are generating their most energy for the grid. The more solar generated during these peak times, the less utility companies will have to rely on pricey electricity from standby peaker plants.

Solar panels generate power during these sunny, peak-demand times, which reduces the need for utilities to turn to back up power plants. These “peaker” plants require copious amounts of money to stay operational, despite only being utilized a couple days a year. Reducing the need for them keeps the price of wholesale energy from skyrocketing during peak demand days, and eliminates the burning of an enormous amount of oil.

Additionally, most small-scale solar is generated locally and used close to the source, which lowers the need for expensive lines, poles, and the maintenance of the grid’s general wear and tear. The more solar power there is in the grid, the more utility companies save, and those savings are passed on to all customers, solar and non-solar alike.

Solar lowers electricity prices, carbon emissions, and associated health risks

Synapse reports that between 2014 and 2019, the total 8,600 gigawatt-hours of solar electricity generated in New England reduced wholesale energy market costs by a whopping $1.1 billion. The total energy savings in Maine alone were $68 million, and the benefits of these savings were felt by all residents who rely on the utility grid for energy, solar users, and non-solar users alike.

In addition to the economic impacts, the report highlights the environmental and societal benefits of small-scale solar. From 2014 – 2019, New England solar alone prevented “4.6 million metric tons of climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions” and the release of hundreds of thousands of pounds of pollutants, which contributed to “$87 million in public health benefits.”

The report also details additional societal benefits of solar, such as the creation of jobs and the boosting of local economies, thanks to the local energy savings felt by individuals and states that can be reinvested into their local economies.

Fight for solar if it benefits you (spoiler, it does!)

Synapse’s findings affirm the value of solar previously found in other independent reports, and puts new, staggering numbers to what we at ReVision have championed for decades: the more solar power we build in our communities, the greater the benefits for all (including the utility companies who fight solar!).

With the cost of solar continuing to decrease, and the economic and societal benefits far surpassing those of fossil fuels, we look forward to the day when all New England residents, solar and non-solar users alike, become champions of solar.

If you’re looking for more details on how solar saves everyone money, we encourage you to download and explore the full Synapse Report !

Above: Solar homeowners (left) and large-scale solar farms (right) alike benefit from volume solar panel purchasing.

In our journey as a B-Corp, we’ve learned that doing the right thing for people and the planet often ends up being a good financial decision, too. For our customers and champions, this means lower solar panel cost.

We have fostered a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with solar manufacturer, REC , and are excited to say that this creates some of the best pricing for home solar panels we’ve ever seen. Thanks to the growth of our commercial division, our purchasing power has also grown, and we are able to pass these volume savings on to our residential customers.

We’ve also received special training to be a ProTrust installer with REC. This enables us to offer one of the strongest equipment warranties in the business – a 25-year product, labor, and performance warranty. While much has gone sideways due to Covid-19, solar continues to show strong growth in 2020. In tandem, the cost of solar panels continues to decrease. Remarkably, the only forms of new energy added to the power grid this past summer came from wind , solar , and hydro energy .

With so many good choices out there, our partnership with REC promises the very best.

Solar is a long-lived, reliable, and mature technology, and solar panel cost continues to decrease even as prices for conventional power increase. We are incredibly diligent and intentional when finding new products to offer our customers.

Our seasoned purchasing and engineering team prioritizes relationships with vendors who, like us, seek a mutually beneficial long-term relationship and not a strictly transactional one.

REC’s combination of competitive pricing, a strong warranty, and a product with performance to match anything else out there, make them our go-to manufacturer for many of our projects in the past years. We’ve also been impressed by their sustainability measures including reducing waste, energy consumption, and environmental impact in the supply chain. They also support a wide range of social impact causes.

It’s rare that you get both the best price and the best quality , but that’s what we’ve arranged. Our strong relationship with REC grants us financial and customer service benefits. In turn, we are able to pass on those savings as low solar panel cost to you.

“The partnership between ReVision and REC Group began with a 500kW project back in mid-2017 and has since grown exponentially,” says Andrew King, Senior Account Manager, REC Americas. “The ReVision team is full of honest, committed people who are passionate about what they do, and approach each and every interaction with professionalism, respect, and fairness. REC Group is proud of the relationship we have built with ReVision, and we look forward to being a part of their continued growth and success for years to come.”

For solar nerds who want to learn more about the product line we’re offering with REC Solar, visit their product website . Of course, our solar designers are familiar with the entire product line, and we encourage anyone with questions to reach out. We love working with homeowners to highlight the best products for them to achieve their solar energy goals.

Hillside Center for Sustainable Living in Newburyport, MA is taking an incredible new approach to sustainable design. Generating more solar electricity than 48 living units can use is a feat in and of itself, but Hillside Center has gone beyond just that by providing a shared electric vehicle fleet, creating central composting, salvaging building materials, harvesting rainwater, and planting a diverse (and edible) array of native plants.

ReVision installed over 1,000 solar panels across rooftops and parking canopies at Hillside Center as part of their strategy to create a net-positive community. Together these solar arrays will eliminate more than 200,000 pounds of carbon pollution from the atmosphere every year.

Because we think its critically important to make the same change within that we strive for in our communities, ReVision Energy is committed to eliminating its carbon footprint by 2025. To date we have installed solar on our facilities, along with electric vehicle charging stations, heat pumps and battery storage. Our employee-owners drive a mix of electric cars, Priuses and trucks that run on biodiesel.

In recognition of our efforts thus far to eliminate fossil fuels from our business operations, and our environmentally-friendly approach to as many aspects of our work as possible, ReVision Energy is grateful to be named the 2020 Greenest Contractor by Solar Power World magazine !

Co-founder Phil Coupe shared:

After 250 years of fossil fuel wealth accumulation in the trillions of dollars, the renewable energy industry finds itself fighting an unrelenting campaign of disinformation and policy attacks as the dominant status quo uses its colossal financial and political resources to try and stop the clean energy transition.

This is why it is such an honor, and so important, for ReVision Energy to be recognized by Solar Power World as one of the Greenest Contractors in our industry. Solar Power World’s accolades and support provide our company with the type of professional validation that we need to fight back against shadowy anti-renewable energy groups like the New England Ratepayers Association and their scurrilous attempts to dismantle solar net metering – the single most important financial incentive driving solar investments during the past 20 years. Thank you, Solar Power World, for helping all of us fight the good fight in the renewable energy industry.

We are incredibly proud of our hard-working, mission-driven team, and, of course, YOU, our friends, customers, and supporters in our mission to move the Northeast away from fossil fuel energy sources and onto the clean energy economy of the future.

More than 13,000 Megawatts of solar power were installed last year in the United States, and ReVision Energy has been recognized by Solar Power World magazine for its contributions to the industry, as well.

We have moved steadily up the national rankings since first appearing in 2011, this year achieving the rank of #15 among all residential solar installers, #14 among rooftop solar installers, and emerged as #1 among rooftop solar installers serving Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont .

In Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, ReVision ranks as the #1 residential solar + battery storage installer , as well as one of the top solar + storage installers in the nation.

The Top Solar Contractors list is developed by Solar Power World to recognize the work completed by solar contractors across the United States. Produced annually, the Top Solar Contractors list celebrates the achievements of U.S. solar developers, subcontractors and installers within the utility, commercial and residential markets, and ranks contractors by kilowatts installed in the previous year. The 2020 list was released on July 21st.

“The Solar Power World team is so pleased to highlight more than 400 companies on the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, especially during this unprecedented time,” said Kelsey Misbrener, senior editor of Solar Power World. “All contractors featured on the 2020 list reported strong 2019 installation numbers and are continuing to stand tall this year.”

This year’s Top Solar Contractors class is facing obstacles unseen in this industry before. The first quarter of 2020 was the country’s largest ever, with 3.6 GW of new solar capacity added. But COVID-19 will show its impact before the year’s end. Wood Mackenzie is forecasting the residential and non-residential markets will decrease 25% and 38%, respectively, in year-over-year installation volumes this year.

“Throughout the data gathering process for the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, we talked to many companies reporting busier schedules than before the coronavirus epidemic,” Misbrener said. “Coupled with an increased customer desire to add storage, we believe the installation market will continue to stay busy all year. Companies may be working remotely and a bit leaner, but the solar industry will push through.”

ReVision Energy installed 22.7 megawatts of solar power in 2019, and has installed over 76.5 megawatts of solar since our founding. ReVision started as two guys in a garage, and now has over 250 employee-owners working out of 5 locations across Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Because we think its critically important to make the same change within that we strive for in our communities, ReVision Energy is committed to eliminating its carbon footprint by 2025. To date we have installed solar on our facilities, along with electric vehicle charging stations, heat pumps and battery storage. Our employee-owners drive a mix of electric cars, Priuses and trucks that run on biodiesel.

In recognition of our efforts thus far to eliminate fossil fuels from our business operations, and our environmentally-friendly approach to as many aspects of our work as possible, ReVision Energy is grateful to be named the 2020 Greenest Contractor by Solar Power World magazine !

Co-founder Phil Coupe shared:

After 250 years of fossil fuel wealth accumulation in the trillions of dollars, the renewable energy industry finds itself fighting an unrelenting campaign of disinformation and policy attacks as the dominant status quo uses its colossal financial and political resources to try and stop the clean energy transition.

This is why it is such an honor, and so important, for ReVision Energy to be recognized by Solar Power World as one of the Greenest Contractors in our industry. Solar Power World’s accolades and support provide our company with the type of professional validation that we need to fight back against shadowy anti-renewable energy groups like the New England Ratepayers Association and their scurrilous attempts to dismantle solar net metering – the single most important financial incentive driving solar investments during the past 20 years. Thank you, Solar Power World, for helping all of us fight the good fight in the renewable energy industry.

We are incredibly proud of our hard-working, mission-driven team, and, of course, YOU, our friends, customers, and supporters in our mission to move the Northeast away from fossil fuel energy sources and onto the clean energy economy of the future.

More than 13,000 Megawatts of solar power were installed last year in the United States, and ReVision Energy has been recognized by Solar Power World magazine for its contributions to the industry, as well.

We have moved steadily up the national rankings since first appearing in 2011, this year achieving the rank of #15 among all residential solar installers, #14 among rooftop solar installers, and emerged as #1 among rooftop solar installers serving Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont .

In Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, ReVision ranks as the #1 residential solar + battery storage installer , as well as one of the top solar + storage installers in the nation.

The Top Solar Contractors list is developed by Solar Power World to recognize the work completed by solar contractors across the United States. Produced annually, the Top Solar Contractors list celebrates the achievements of U.S. solar developers, subcontractors and installers within the utility, commercial and residential markets, and ranks contractors by kilowatts installed in the previous year. The 2020 list was released on July 21st.

“The Solar Power World team is so pleased to highlight more than 400 companies on the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, especially during this unprecedented time,” said Kelsey Misbrener, senior editor of Solar Power World. “All contractors featured on the 2020 list reported strong 2019 installation numbers and are continuing to stand tall this year.”

This year’s Top Solar Contractors class is facing obstacles unseen in this industry before. The first quarter of 2020 was the country’s largest ever, with 3.6 GW of new solar capacity added. But COVID-19 will show its impact before the year’s end. Wood Mackenzie is forecasting the residential and non-residential markets will decrease 25% and 38%, respectively, in year-over-year installation volumes this year.

“Throughout the data gathering process for the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, we talked to many companies reporting busier schedules than before the coronavirus epidemic,” Misbrener said. “Coupled with an increased customer desire to add storage, we believe the installation market will continue to stay busy all year. Companies may be working remotely and a bit leaner, but the solar industry will push through.”

ReVision Energy installed 22.7 megawatts of solar power in 2019, and has installed over 76.5 megawatts of solar since our founding. ReVision started as two guys in a garage, and now has over 250 employee-owners working out of 5 locations across Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

As a major step towards accomplishing its sustainability goals, the City of Lebanon contracted ReVision to install eight solar arrays for the city. The Landfill Maintenance Building solar array pictured above was completed last fall, along with 6 others by the end of 2019. The City Hall array will be installed in 2020 when renovations are completed.

Across their lifespan the eight arrays will eliminate well over 27 million pounds of carbon pollution, and they’ll save the city’s taxpayers well over $700,000. The 818 kW project will produce over 900,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year, or about 23% of the city’s total electricity usage.

Zero upfront cost is one of the strongest drivers of solar adoption by towns and cities, enabled by the common financial approach known as a ‘Power Purchase Agreement’, or PPA. Instead of directly purchasing a solar array, municipalities are partnering with local impact investors who finance the construction of the solar project, after which the city or town simply agrees to purchase the solar electricity at a rate below what the utility charges for brown power from the grid.