RESOURCES

Learn what community solar and solar land leases are and the benefits they bring to both the landowners and their communities.

Commercial Solar partners can integrate solar solutions into their existing services, offering comprehensive packages for all energy needs.

By embracing commercial solar, businesses claim authority over their energy costs, insulated from the unpredictable utility rate changes.

Some states are struggling with limited grid capacity for commercial solar projects. See what business owners can do about it.

The journey from interconnection application to final approval can be a lengthy one, and it’s time to shed light on why this process takes as long as it does.

Phantom energy drain refers to the energy consumed by appliances and equipment even when ostensibly turned off. But how can you reduce it? Let’s find out.

Commercial solar is transforming the landscape of American agriculture and fostering sustainability and bolstering profitability for farmers.

By harnessing the power of commercial solar energy, dealerships can not only embrace environmental responsibility but also significantly boost their bottom line.

While commercial solar can benefit various industries, certain business types stand out as particularly well-suited to reap the advantages. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top 11 business categories poised to maximize the potential of commercial solar.

Switching to commercial solar energy isn’t just about reducing your environmental footprint; it’s a strategic move that can unlock a world of opportunities.

A retirement community in New Jersey, achieved a significant milestone in their journey towards sustainable energy by partnering with Genie Solar Energy and securing $1 million in REAP grant funding.

With their expansive roofs and energy-intensive operations, cold storage facilities are a perfect fit for commercial solar systems.

Take a closer look into the financial benefits of incorporating commercial EV chargers at your business. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Genie Solar Energy is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionize the energy landscape. We have achieved the notice to proceed (NTP) for a 6.25-megawatt (DC) community solar farm in Upstate New York, marking a major step towards a brighter and more sustainable future.

The installation of the solar array on the roof of storage facility is leveraging a limited regulation called “Group Hosting”. Group hosting is a method where a group of businesses or individuals share the installation and use of a larger solar array on a single property.

Let’s address 8 common objections about commercial solar and provide our responses to help you make the best decision for your business.

As a commercial business owner, you might be wondering “how much does a commercial solar system cost?” This is a common question, and the answer depends on several factors.

As the demand for solar projects continues to rise, landowners have a unique opportunity to generate long-term revenue through solar land leases. In this blog post, we will explore strategies for landowners to maximize their profits by capitalizing on solar land leases.

In March of 2023, the USDA announced some significant changes to the REAP grant program. Here is what you need to know.

The 4-megawatt solar array, which will be located on a 5-acre site, is expected to generate enough clean energy to power over 440 homes while offsetting over 3,500 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

As businesses increasingly look for ways to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint, commercial solar net-metering has become an increasingly popular solution.

What makes for a good commercial solar investment? Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors that can help ensure a strong return on investment for businesses considering solar energy.

The REAP Grant is offered for renewable energy systems, including commercial solar, to agricultural producers and rural small businesses. Learn how to apply.

Make an informed decision when choosing your commercial solar installer.

Rural Electric Co-ops need to rethink their energy strategies if they want to reduce costs for their members. Solar for these groups may be the answer.

When considering the option for a solar land lease, it’s important to know that not all land is suitable for solar development. Check out this blog to help understand if your land is a good fit.

Interconnection of commercial solar systems is a vital component in completing successful projects. It requires careful management to ensure the project remains on schedule and within budget, but luckily, your commercial solar partner, like Genie Solar, will provide guidance during the process.

Bake Crafters’ commercial solar array is a remarkable example of sustainability in action. With an output capacity of 800 kW and predictions of offsetting 770 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

It is projected that renewable energy will reach up to 44 percent of the US energy mix by 2050, according to the Energy Information Administration. With electric vehicles and other green initiatives gaining popularity in recent years, this forecasted number is an extremely promising sign for the environment. As demand for clean energy increases, many […]

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) is a government initiative that is providing funding for the installation of a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the United States. The program was created in response to the growing demand for electric vehicles and chargers and aims to make it easier for EV drivers to charge […]

If you’re a business owner interested in providing EV charging for your customers or employees, you may be wondering which type of charger to get. There are three main levels of EV chargers, and each has its own benefits. In this blog post, we’ll compare Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 EV Chargers to […]

The REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) grant is a great way for businesses in rural and agricultural communities to reduce their energy bills and help the environment by leveraging renewable energy sources. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced some exciting changes coming to the program. These changes will take effect in March […]

As the world moves towards a greener future, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular. To keep up with this trend, many businesses are now installing EV chargers and charging stations at their premises. Installing such a station can not only help you stay ahead of the curve but also provide your business with numerous […]

PRESS RELEASE – GENIE ENERGY Genie Solar Achieves Notice to Proceed with Construction of Its First Company-Owned, Community Solar Generation Project.  Notice to proceed expected for a second project in early 2023 NEWARK, NJ – December 6, 2022:  Genie Energy Ltd., (NYSE: GNE, GNEPRA), a leading retail energy and renewable energy solutions provider, provided an update […]

Integra Biosciences’ Commercial Solar project achieves 22% IRR and aligns with the company’s global sustainability goals and commitments. The two installations total 572-kW and generate enough power to offset 844,000 kWh.

We all know Solar is a great option for businesses because it can save money on energy bills and help reduce carbon emissions, but sometimes upfront installation and system costs can be prohibitive. Thankfully, there are a few different opportunities to finance your commercial solar project. One popular method is an operating lease. In this […]

Are you asking “How will the new IRA bill affect my solar project?”? Well, there is a lot to unpack to answer that question. We’ve compiled some frequently asked questions regarding the new IRA bill that will help you navigate the changes. Right now the passage of the IRA will allow commercial business to take a […]

How to Use the REAP Grant to Offset the Cost of Going Solar Commercial solar is becoming more and more popular as business owners look for ways to reduce their energy costs and maintain energy price stability. But what many people don’t know is that there are government grants, tax credits, and other incentives available […]

Kraft Power utilized American made solar panels to install a 57.5 kW system on their roof. The new rooftop solar system, will help Kraft Power offset 100% of the electricity usage every year.

The flooring company has built a commercial solar system to offset 100% of their electricity at their showroom and distribution center in NH.

Electricity rates have been on the rise across the globe for the past several years – China has experienced power outages to a point they couldn’t harvest their primary crops like soybeans; Europe has never-before-seen energy rates and rolling brown outs – all before the pandemic began. Then the pandemic hit, and the issues with […]

The ITC has helped commercial entities transition to solar and pushed growth across the country since 2005. The tax credit incentivizes going solar by allowing businesses to deduct 26% of the installation cost from their income taxes. However, this number will only sit at 26% for the remainder of 2022. It is expected that following […]

New York has put into place a new framework to achieve 10 GW of solar for the state by 2030. This framework comes with an investment of nearly $5.9 billion which is poised to be used to extend the NY-Sun Program and continue to battle the reduction of solar project costs seen over the previous […]

The United States solar industry, including module suppliers, manufacturers, renewable energy developers and other utilities, have been under great fire. Supply chain issues which impact the immediate future of the market. These supply chain issues have led to an increase in shipping and equipment costs for solar cells and panels. There have been a few […]

Build Back Better held promise for the past year that could propel the growth of the solar industry. If instituted, this framework could aid the United States to tracking to meet its climate goals, create millions of jobs, enable a more sustainable labor force and grow the economy from the bottom. However, the plan was […]

Many businesses use MARCS depreciation, or the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System, to model how an asset will depreciate. Solar has a 5-year cost recovery period. Bonus depreciation allows an investor to recognize 100% of the depreciation in the same tax year the system is placed in service. Currently, in 2022, the basis of depreciation […]

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is the largest investment in US infrastructure and includes major provisions for energy. With wide ranging initiatives from nuclear, hydrogen, and EV charging, the $550 billion investment will bring much needed change as we move to a more sustainable future. The investments in clean energy will boost the […]

With an open mind and yearning to become a both a leader and innovator, Kristin didn’t follow a rigid path to find her career in solar. She attended Rutgers University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Public Health. While in college, she worked evenings and weekends for a residential solar […]

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced this past week that they intend to provide $2.91 billion in funding to support battery manufacturing here in the United States. This is critical to support the rising need of energy infrastructure to support clean energy initiatives including electric vehicles and energy storage. It is expected that the […]

Mark Kessler recently joined the Genie Solar Energy team to assist clients in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia. His background and experience in the energy industry is an excellent fit to help clients in all regions further their energy and sustainability goals. Mark is a lifelong resident of Maryland and former local utility (BGE) substation […]

New Jersey enacted legislation the requires all newly constructed warehouses to be solar-ready. Who: New Jersey New Construction Warehouses When: Applications for a construction permit that has not been declared complete by the enforcing agency before July 1, 2022 What Does Solar Ready Mean: According to the Department of Community Affairs buildings must leave the […]

Business owners continue to see the cost of energy increase above inflation rates ahead of a cold winter. Pennsylvania clients electricity supply rates are increasing up to 34% this winter. For high energy consumers, this means a significant increase to their operating budget in an economy already facing multiple challenges. There are a few things […]

Seth Mansur is a renewable energy strategist and joined Genie Solar Energy to improve the bottom line of commercial & industrial clients. After spending nearly a decade working in the energy industry serving multimillion-dollar companies to startups, Seth excels at evaluating market opportunities to determine an optimal path to achieve their goals. With the energy […]

Bloomberg recently reported that ESS Inc’s iron-flow storage technologies could be the long-duration storage technology that we have been looking for.  The company claims that the technology can not only store renewable energy longer, but help overcome some the reliability issues causing blackouts in California and the record-high energy prices currently seen in Europe.   […]

Bill Schmitz worked with Genie Energy (NYSE:GNE) to establish and develop Genie Solar in 2016. As the General Manager, Bill leads the team in engineering, project management, supply chain reliance, vendor management, and product development. Strategically guiding and assisting our staff to create and design energy systems that support our commercial solar clients’ needs. Prior […]

New Jersey commercial solar incentive are some the country’s top incentives. The state incentives plus the federal tax benefits can provide your company an ROI in year 3. Plus, solar provides long-term stability against rising electricity rates. Maximizing the benefits available are key to making a smart, long-term investment.  The NJ BPU recently voted to […]

Electricity futures prices are soaring. In the New England power market alone, the forward pricing for January-February 2022 have already increased from $40-$50 / MWh in recent years to $150 / MWh. Considering the inflation, the country is seeing as a whole, rising electricity prices will not come to a surprise to most. Natural gas […]

A Renewable Energy Credit (REC) is created for every megawatt hour (or 1,000 kilowatt hours) produced by a renewable energy source – like solar. How are RECs monetized? RECs are sold to the utility and third-party electricity suppliers whom are required to purchase renewable energy – either through generation or RECs. The required amount is […]

Pro-business regulatory policy and state specific financial incentive programs have helped Connecticut become one of the most financially favorable states in the nation for commercial solar investment. In addition to incentives afforded at the federal level, such as the Investment Tax Credit and the option to accelerate the depreciation to maximize solar’s tax advantage, business’s who […]

Genie Solar Energy is proud to be featured in North American Outlook by Outlook Publishing’s most recent publication for our impact on #PoweringAmerica. Highlighted along with Genie Energy subsidiaries, Prism Solar Technologies, Inc. and Diversegy, LLC, our Managing Director, Sara Schwandt talks about solar solutions and how we are working to drive the #CleanEnergyRevolution forward for our commercial and industrial customers by #PoweringAmerica. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/e6hjNP4

Genie Solar Energy partnered with Kraft Power Corporation to build a 57.5 kW rooftop solar system. Installed at its distribution center in Pompton Plains, NJ, it will supply Kraft with enough clean electricity to offset the equivalent CO2 emissions generated by burning over 447,960 pounds of coal, 1,008,804 miles driven by combustion powered cars or 46 […]

Demand charges account for as much as 40-70% of your business’s monthly utility bill. But these charges may be the easiest cost component of your utility bill to control. What are demand changes? Demand charges on a commercial or industrial electricity bill are applied based on the highest interval of electricity usage during any billing […]

How do you calculate the utility rate to compare for solar?   A customer’s ROI calculation can vary significantly based on two key items: the local incentives and the local utility rates. Take the same size roof in Tennessee and New Jersey and you will have an ROI that can vary by 7+ years. Why […]

The recent inauguration is expected to bring about many changes in the nation’s energy policy. With many thinking that a new era of support for clean energy will usher in a Green Wave.  Our nation’s growing energy needs will be met by more and more clean energy. However, it does pose a short term dilemma […]

NJ TREC: Time Is Running Out For Best State Incentive Business owners have many financial incentives available to make going solar financially enticing. On a federal level there are two incentives: the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and accelerated depreciation through MARCS. In addition, there are often incentives within various states. Currently, the State of New […]

The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a federal tax credit to incentivize solar projects for commercial businesses. Since the ITC began in 2006, the solar industry has grown by 10,000%. Even with the extensive growth, solar only represents 2.5% of the energy production across the country. The ITC was at 30% through 2019 and […]

The big question many of our customers are asking: Should I wait to go solar until President-Elect Biden takes office and potential new incentives are announced?   Simply put: why wait? There are many unknowns within the green plan and questions around how much policy will get pushed through without a bipartisan Congress. Additionally, the […]

The NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) announced the approval of the Transition Incentive Program which will provide some certainty to solar projects until a successor program is announced. The current SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) program will expire once 5.1% of the NJ megawatt hours are supplied by qualified solar generation. Once the capacity […]

Yesterday US lawmakers announced that the Investment Tax Credit (a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the income taxes that a person or company would otherwise pay the federal government) of 30% was not extended and will step down to 26% in 2020. In 2021 the ITC will further step down to 22%, and in the following year […]

The cost of solar has dropped 47% in the last 5 years. And yet, only 0.61% of New Hampshire’s electricity is generated from solar. Likely one of the reasons New Hampshire’s electricity rates are ranked 6th highest in the country. With rates over 16¢/kWh for residential and over 13¢ for commercial, consumers often find a quick […]

The Solar Investment Tax Credit, of ITC, is set to phase out over the next couple of years. The ITC is a federal incentive, available in all states for both homeowners and businesses. After 2019 the tax credit will drop from 30% to 26%. In 2021, the tax credit will drop further to 22% and […]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the launch of a new initiative called “Green New Deal” Tuesday. The plan outlines for New York to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. If approved by the state legislature, New York would have the most aggressive, legally binding, clean energy target in the country.  The goal for distributed […]

Solar Manufacturing in the USA The solar market in the USA is booming. Tax and utility incentives, increased acceleration of depreciation, and sustainability goals set forth by the public and private sectors are the main driving factors. Increased availability to financing, community solar friendly states, and technology improvements all are apart of the growth. In […]

Source: TUV Rheinland “It’s good to be two-faced!” said no business person. Yet with solar energy, being two faced could be a huge benefit. Bifacial solar panels have solar cells on both the top and bottom of the panel. This allows them to capture energy from both sides by using the reflection of light on the […]

The Oil-Rich Middle East Is Also Sun Rich, And Now It’s Pushing Solar Hard As oil revenues dry up, can Arab countries replace one abundant energy source with another? Is it possible that Saudi Arabia is more forward-thinking than the U.S. when it comes to the end of oil, and sustainable alternatives? The answer is, […]

Corporate America Loves Solar Energy Household companies like Target, Apple, and Walmart are some of the biggest solar customers in the U.S. today. The decision to install solar panels can be driven by factors like a desire to use clean energy or an interest in becoming more self-sufficient when it comes to electricity. But when […]

Which cities are the greatest users of solar power? The people getting rooftop solar are not who you think they are.  Sunny California continues to lead the nation in rooftop solar installations, but that’s not what’s most surprising about the new numbers from state utility regulators.Solar’s greatest appeal is not in any tony enclave of […]

Utilities Are Losing the Battle Against Solar Energy Fighting solar energy won’t be a path to success for utilities across the country. Rooftop solar energy is becoming a financially viable way for millions of U.S. consumers to generate their own electricity — and utilities are doing everything to kill the solar boom before it gains […]

Las Vegas’ Is Now Powered Entirely by Renewable Energy Las Vegas is now the largest city in the country to run entirely on renewable energy. Just last week, Las Vegas announced it has reached its goal of powering the city government entirely with renewable energy, meeting a goal the city has been working toward for […]

An ancient cathedral in England is getting solar panels For more than 1,300 years the site of Gloucester Cathedral, in the south west of England, has been a place of continuous worship. Rich in history, it is home to the tomb of King Edward II, who died in 1327. Now, it has become one of […]