Distinctly Montana Magazine

d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • s u m m e r 2 0 1 5 76 by the numbers DOLLARS aPPlIEd aS a TAx CREDIT on thE Montana InCoME tax for InStallatIon of a Solar EnErgy SyStEM % OF THE COST of a Solar En- Ergy SyStEM whICh rECEIVES a fEdEral InCoME tax CrEdIt yEarS dIffErEnt kIndS of SOLAR ENERGY haVE BEEn In uSE By huMankInd nuMBEr of quADRILLION WATTS StrIkIng thE Earth daIly % OF SuN'S ENERGY rE- flECtEd BaCk Into SPaCE MINuTES It takES thE Sun'S EnErgy to rEaCh Earth nuMBEr of EARTHS that Could fIt InSIdE THE SuN 1 milliOn 8 1,000 $ 2,700 174 34 30 Bozeman. Mr. Crawford is by far the largest individual investor in solar en- ergy in the state, with over 100 kWs of installed capacity among various properties, raising the bar for what one individual can do to contribute to our clean energy future. Orion and Conor have worked together on the installation of over 400 solar energy systems across the state, and have a vast practical knowledge they enjoy sharing with anyone who asks. ey both hold Certificates as Solar PV Installation Professionals through the North American Board of Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). is summer Onsite will be working on a major demonstration project for a large utility company. On the advocacy side of the industry, Conor and Orion are deeply involved in the Montana Renewable Energy Association, and both are active in solar education programs, giving them the impetus to stay current with trends in solar energy technology and design and installation practices. So, what will solar energy use be like in the future? "It's kind of hard to say," says Orion. e current technology has been around for over 60 years. But there is room for improve- ment, specifically in solar panel efficiency, and any number of new technologies could make the leap into commercial production Montanans take pride in self-sufficiency. That's why it's easy for us to get excited about the prospect of producing our own electricity. For many, when they realize that a solar system will actually make them money while reducing their carbon footprint it becomes a no-brainer".

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