News: Subdivision Goes Solar, Solar Tour on Oct. 28, plus Solar Petition

October 2017 Newsletter

Solar Subdivision: Wolf River Bluffs in Memphis, TN


	2kW on home in Wolf River Bluffs

LightWave Solar is proud to work for United Housing, Inc., a Memphis nonprofit dedicated to helping people with homeownership. Founded in 1994, United Housing's efforts include down payment assistance, homebuyer education, home repair loans for low income homeowners, and the renovation and sales of single family homes. One of their projects is the new Wolf River Bluffs subdivision, a mixed income community of 34 homes in the Memphis neighborhood of Frayser. So far 17 homes have been built, and 11 of these have, or will soon have, solar panels on the roof.

Each solar system is 2 kilowatts, consisting of 8 solar panels that will generate about $300 per year as participants in TVA's Green Power Providers program. As electric rates increase over the next 20 years, so will the solar revenue.


One of 11 homes that has, or will have, solar panels.

"We are trying to make these houses affordable for people who might be low to moderate income," says United Housing Administrator Anne Meadors. "The solar panels further reduce the cost of living in them," she says.

In addition to generating solar electricity, the approx. 1,500 sq. ft. homes are built to MLGW's EcoBuild specifications, which include requirements for insulation, windows, ducts, caulking and more, and allow the homes to be about 30% more energy efficient than typical residential construction in Shelby County. The average sale price for the homes is $135,000.

Funding for the solar projects came from grants through the Plough Foundation and the Assisi Foundation, Memphis organizations that help support the work of local nonprofits. United Housing started construction on the subdivision in 2013, and LightWave has been working on the projects since 2014.

"We chose to work with LightWave Solar because of their expertise and because they handle all of the required paperwork," says Meadors. "It's a big help when all we have to do is review the applications and sign," she says.

United Housing, and in some cases, new homeowners, will flip the switch on 7 solar systems this fall and winter - just in time to help offset higher heating costs. Over the last three years, United Housing has seen the benefits of the solar systems for homeowners and plans to put solar on even more homes in the near future.

Solar Workshop & Tour at Brentwood Home


	Check out panels, inverters, and other solar gear at our workshop.

Attend our upcoming solar workshop at the solar-powered Grant Residence and learn more about adding solar to your home. We will cover how solar works, costs, benefits, financing, and we will provide a tour of the 11 kilowatt solar system on-site!

Saturday, October 28

10:00am-11:30am

Grant Residence

Brentwood, TN

Sign me up for the Workshop & Tour!

Reserve capacity in TVA's 2017 solar program

TVA's 2017 Green Power Providers program application deadline is December 15, 2017. Once in the program, TVA pays residential & commercial solar system owners the full retail rate for 100% of solar electricity for 20 years.

Unfortunately, TVA has indicated that the 2018 program might not be as lucrative. For projects in next year's program, TVA could lower the reimbursement for solar electricity to below the retail rate. Since 2018 details are unknown, we encourage you to contact us to apply for this year's program.

If you would like to tell TVA to support more solar, please sign the petition from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)!

USDA Solar Grant: Application deadline 10/31/17

Now is the time to apply for a USDA REAP grant, and LightWave Solar can help you! We have a 98% grant application approval record for our customers.

For the upcoming funding round this fall, the grant amount equals 25% of total solar project costs up to $20,000.

Eligible grant applicants include small businesses in rural areas (under 50,000 people and outside metro areas) OR farmers who earn over 50% of their income from farming (farms can be in any area).

Grant deadline is October 31, 2017. Please contact us to determine your eligibility and to discuss your project.

Where we'll be...

A Sacred Calling: Faith Communities Caring for Our Earth

Sat, Oct. 14 at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN
The conference aims to help houses of worship implement earth care efforts in their congregations and in the community.


	First Congregational Church in Memphis

Workshops will explain practical steps for houses of worship to become more earth-friendly, as well as provide education and worship resources and models for all ages, ways to impact public policy, and ways for houses of worship to establish long-term commitments to earth care.

LightWave Solar will present a workshop, "Is Solar Right for My House of Worship?" to explain the benefits of solar, costs, and ways to finance, as well as more ways to support solar in Tennessee. Click here to learn more and register.

The Case for Renewable Power in the Southeast

Oct. 19-20 at Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville, TN
Conference will discuss:

Current and potential future demand for renewable power in the Southeast among cities, corporations, universities and other organizations.
The socioeconomic, governance and market structures that affect renewable energy in the Southeast.
Emerging opportunities to mobilize new and existing renewable energy initiatives in the Southeast.

Free to attend! Click here to see the agenda and register.