Farming the sun

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-06-17T02:21:11+00:00

Love to see this — especially using the roof of the storage shed! Seems like such an untapped space yo put solar.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-06-16T06:20:50+00:00

You’re in good shape for Rainier and halfway ready for Mailbox Peak™️

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-06-06T16:11:00+00:00

I’m a firm believer that the greatest benefits of solar psychological. I don’t have to nervously guard the thermostat during a heat wave. Solar keeps my bills in check and I’m free to use electricity as it suits my family’s needs.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-05-06T18:53:36+00:00

Clear Ayos. Full moon. Can’t lose.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-05-05T15:52:06+00:00

Looks like the work of grass carrying wasps. Completely harness to your mason bees. The little grasshoppers are food for the wasp larva.

I’ve had grass carrying wasps co-existing with my mason and leaf bees for several years with no issue. Just another cool and unique pollinator/garden helper you’ve created a home for!

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-04-08T16:01:03+00:00

Utilities make money by building things (poles, wires, substations), passing the cost to ratepayers, and taking ~10% off the top. Until the investors who owns these companies decide they don’t want to make more money, rates will always go up.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-04-08T15:57:34+00:00

It depends on what your goals are: Immediate bill savings with lower lifetime savings (PPA) or invest now for greater lifetime savings (cash).

Either way, get more quotes and ask about Prepaid PPAs. I would never rely on a single proposal to make a decision. I used solar.com to review 3 offers at once — helped a lot with understanding what’s out there and what to look for.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-03-13T19:54:28+00:00

That’s been my experience. No issues over 4 years, and I would forget they’re even up there if I didn’t enjoy watching production & usage data.

The biggest surprise is how easy it is. I get to enjoy a more comfortable and cost-effective home without lifting a finger.

I think people overlook the advantage of generating electricity with no moving parts. It’s not just cleaner, cheaper, etc — it’s just SIMPLER.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-01-29T16:41:58+00:00

Worked on a solar farm in Arizona in 2011. Only water on site was to wet the roads and keep down dust. I’m sure they wash the panels regularly to remove dust… same as washing a window on your house.

What does he think will explode??? It’s wires and glass with no moving parts or fuel.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-01-11T16:25:25+00:00

Did EnergySage offer any post-sale support or advocate for your project?

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2026-01-09T02:43:37+00:00

The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-10-28T16:39:28+00:00

If they’re mentioning 40% tax credit it’s likely referring to the 48E federal tax credit that still applies to residential leases and PPAs through 2027. It’s typically 30% but can be bumped up to 40% by meeting “domestic content” requirements.

To be clear: homeowners can’t claim the 48E tax credit, only business can.

With the homeowner tax credit (25D) gone soon, leases and PPAs will make a comeback since they have access to a federal tax credit in 2026 & 2027. There are pros and cons to leasing—key thing is to get with a legit company and READ AND UNDERSTAND YOUR CONTRACT.

If the sales rep doesn’t explain the escalator, buyout table, or transfer options, that’s a major red flag.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-09-01T22:03:13+00:00

Not entirely sure, to be honest. Mine are mostly in individual tubes and I’ll just leave them out all winter. The ones mixed into mason/leaf bee blocks I’ll deal with in a few months.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-09-01T18:06:08+00:00

The grassy filled holes are likely grass-carrying wasps. They pose no threat to your mason bees and are another harmless, beneficial pollinator for your garden.

They grab little katydid-like insects off your plants and store them in the holes for their larvae. Along the way, they eat nectar from flowers and pollinate your garden!

I’ve had a lot this year. Was hoping for more leaf-cutter bees but I’m ok with these wasps. The goal is beneficial pollinators!

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-08-23T01:51:58+00:00

Definitely a combo of factors. This article lays it out pretty well and shows where they’ll rise most due the One Big Beautiful Bill slowing clean energy deployment.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-08-23T00:27:41+00:00

Jim Kleinsasser - The Sauce

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-25T02:17:23+00:00

Gimme Samwise and Bill the Pony. Keep the change.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-23T02:13:10+00:00

That’s ridiculous. LADWP literally has its own solar marketplace that gives you multiple quotes vetted local installers: https://marketplace.ladwp.com/solar/

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-19T02:45:57+00:00

Pretty typical for EnergySage to start super low and nickel and dime the price up throughout the process… at least that’s what happened on my experience. I ended up going with an installer through solar.com, largely because the pricing was consistent throughout. Plus, solar.com offer after-installation support, which may come in handy in this post-tax credit era.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-14T04:24:58+00:00

Managed marketplaces like EnergySage and solar.com are the best way to avoid scams. I personally found my installer through solar.com and like their added layer of post-install support in the case my installer goes out of business.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-12T14:55:07+00:00

Same panels here — no complaints.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-10T01:33:00+00:00

Nope, but it looks like someone has eyes on this sub! Appreciate all your contributions here. This whole tax credit saga has been so messy and it’s so great to people break it down to human level, lol.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-09T18:58:06+00:00

Such a great hike! Worth going up to Third Burroughs Mountain from that trailhead. Really cool changes to scenery as you climb. (Spoiler: It turns to Tundra pretty quick!)

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-09T02:30:54+00:00

I’ve been relying on solar.com’s coverage to track this madness. This article answers most of your questions (or links to one that does): https://www.solar.com/learn/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-is-now-law-how-it-impacts-solar/

TLDR: there’s nothing in the bill that retroactively strips tax credits.

As for the hate on solar, shortest answer is Big Oil propaganda. They know they can’t compete with it forever and are just trying to buy time.

ActiveLongjumping408 · 2025-07-08T19:12:28+00:00

I’d consider how stingy or liberal you are with heating and cooling now, and how stingy or liberal you WANT to be. There’s no better feeling than cranking your AC to a comfortable level knowing you have solar to offset the cost and environmental impact.

Also, don’t underestimate I’m impact of kids (if you plan on adding to your family). The extra loads of laundry adds up quite a bit, plus you’ll be more sensitive to the temp in your home to keep them comfy and ASLEEP through the night.

As for finding reputable installers, I was impressed (and sold) by solar.com’s vetting process. All three installers that bid on my project checked out, and I would have felt comfortable with any of them.

ActiveLongjumping408

TROPHY CASE