Andy Palms – MI
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Michigan homeowner generates power and resilience with solar
By: Gabe Hutchison
As an information technology (IT) professional, Andy Palms is accustomed to solving problems by adopting new technology. Andy lives outside of Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County, Michigan, and often suffers power outages. In 2023 he added solar energy to become his own source of power and insulate himself from an unstable electric grid.
“A major driver for me actually started with the fact that I lose electricity fairly often,” said Andy.
An eight-month period where he was without power for a total of nine days served as the tipping point. Andy considered getting a whole-house generator but decided against it because this type of backup power would maintain his reliance on gas purchased from the utility company. By pairing a solar array with a battery system, he could instead produce his own renewable energy that keeps his home running when the grid goes down.
To achieve resilience, Andy settled on a 10-kilowatt (kW) solar array and a 16-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery backup. Pairing a solar array with batteries allows you to power your electrical needs even when the utility grid is down. Most solar arrays in the U.S. remain grid-tied because they are less expensive, but for those wanting the security of backup power, federal tax credits help make batteries more affordable.
In 2022, the federal government—through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—increased the federal renewable energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to 30%. The total cost of a residential solar system, including the optional batteries, is eligible for the credit. This incentive was crucial in making solar a reality for Andy. “Without that, I am not sure we would have done it,” he said.
The system covers all of the home’s energy demand. “Electricity now is essentially a free good.” This has spurred electrification upgrades throughout, including transitioning to an induction range, electric landscaping tools, and purchasing an electric vehicle (EV). “I do not come in smelling like gas anymore from cutting the lawn … I literally do not have gas cans anymore in the house, which is nice,” Andy said.
Enabled by the federal incentives that put the system he needed within reach, Andy has attained the security he hoped for and reshaped how he consumes energy in the process. It is a source of considerable satisfaction. “I am really quite happy with it. I’d definitely make the same decision again—no question.”
Andy’s experience highlights the benefits of a distributed renewable energy system, with residential solar at its center. “I can essentially create electrical power. I cannot create gas at my house. I cannot create hydrogen power,” he said. “It just feels like this is how things should be. You should be able to generate your own power.”
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