“We added solar panels about four years ago,” said Frank Runion, general manager for ABRA Auto Body Repair of Cleveland. “Our main motivators were energy savings and the energy improvement tax credit. Since then, we’ve had no maintenance, which is great, and the panels have performed very well. It was a smart investment.”
The facility also switched to water-based paint and expanded its program to recycle metal, cardboard and other materials.
Commercial solar panel installations are eligible for a variety of federal and state incentives that lower the overall cost of going solar. The main federal incentive is the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), a credit for 30 percent of the total system cost. The owner is also allowed to depreciate the system under the five-year Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), subject to certain conditions. Many states also have different incentives, including rebates, renewable energy credits, and financing programs. To learn more about incentive programs and tax credits, visit www.seia.org.
ABRA Auto Body Repair provides guidance and resources for its franchise members who are looking to make energy-efficient and waste-reduction improvements. These improvements include energy audits, process reviews, as well as tool and technology guidance to improve air quality, reduce waste and decrease energy costs. For more information, visit ABRAauto.com.