Bram Lillard – VA
- IRA,
- Stories
Virginia homeowner Bram Lillard is tapping into the benefits of solar energy with help from his peers and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Bram’s interest in solar was sparked by a desire to power his home with renewable energy. A friend’s experience completing an installation of his own, and saving on the cost through IRA incentives, gave him the confidence to make the switch.
In 2023, he installed an 18.7-kilowatt roof-mounted solar array. The large system size is a product of his family’s high energy demand and the electrification upgrades they plan to make in the future. Bram oversized the system to accommodate transitioning their heating and cooling to electric mini-splits and charging an electric vehicle.
Through the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which the IRA increased to 30%, Bram was able to save about $14,000. These reductions in the upfront cost made the project a reality. “For just over $30,000, I got an incredible array that more than meets my needs,” Bram said, adding, “I would not have gone solar without the tax credit.”
The system now covers 100% of his family’s energy needs, cutting nearly $3,000 per year in electricity costs. “I do not have an electric bill anymore.” In fact, in the system’s first year, Bram is on track to be a net exporter. The excess energy he produces flows back to neighbors to meet local demand, earning credits on future bills through a policy called net metering.
Having experienced the benefits of distributed renewable energy firsthand, Bram now hopes to offer the same peer support he received to others. “Personal testimonies are really the starting point,” he said. By sharing the benefits of energy independence, and the incentives that help make it more affordable, he believes more people will have the confidence to pursue solar themselves. His efforts to pay this forward are having the desired effect. Since going solar and sharing his story, several of his coworkers have gone solar too.
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