A natural partnership: Staying local for clean energy

Berkeley Springs propane company Blue Flame has grown rapidly in the last 15 years, expanding their service area and investing in a new storefront and showroom along Valley Road. High demand for clean-burning propane for construction and residential use has driven Blue Flame to add storage capacity, widen their customer base and become the leading propane provider in the tri-county area. 

The roots of the family-owned company are in Berkeley Springs and reach back into the 1970s. Initially owned by the Bohrer family, the company passed into the hands of the Haldeman family in 1994. Blue Flame is a key part of the local economy as an employer, service provider and community-minded company. 

Blue Flame in Berkeley Springs equipped with 70 solar panels. Heather Haldeman, center, is the company’s Business Manager. She is pictured with Blue Flame operations team Shaun and Terri, and rescue dog Max.

Heather Haldeman, Business Manager at Blue Flame, said when she started thinking about adding solar panels to the company offices, it only seemed natural to choose another Berkeley Springs business – mtvSolar – to be the propane company’s solar installer.

“We’re both in the energy business. I’d much rather work with a local company and have that nearby connection. If you have an issue, they’re right up the road and they’re very responsive,” Heather said of mtvSolar.

Being part of a move toward clean energy, Blue Flame decided on a next step to multiply their impact – adding solar panels to the roof of the company offices. 

“We really looked at it – there’s a changing world and clean energy is on people’s minds,” said Heather. “It is a natural partnership to partner solar with propane.”

Working with Senior PV Consultant Jabari Baker, Heather decided to maximize the roof space and have 70 solar panels installed. The plan was to essentially “zero out” Blue Flame’s annual electrical consumption with solar energy. Once the solar panel system was activated and the panels started generating power, electric bills for the Valley Road office dropped to the basic commercial billing level.

“We save about $4,000 per year,” said Heather.

Taking advantage of Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding for small rural businesses helped offset the costs of the solar installation significantly. Blue Flame received a 30% REAP grant when planning the project in 2022. The funding level for REAP has since risen to 50% for eligible companies. 

“With the REAP grant where it is now makes it even more feasible. If your business is highly electric-intensive, the more sense it makes,” said Heather.

Working with mtvSolar and Jabari Baker smoothed the process for Blue Flame to apply for and get the REAP funding, Heather said.

“They did a great job managing that process. It’s an extensive process,” she said.

Heather praised mtvSolar’s customer service, Baker and the company’s way of doing business.

“Jabari is great. I’d like to hire a couple of Jabaris,” Heather joked. “What I like about him is he’s calm throughout the process. If I had a question, he was willing to answer it without hurrying me to get past it.”

For the most part, Heather forgets that Blue Flame’s electrical supply is coming from the 70 panels on the company roof. But customers and passers-by take note of the sleek panels and mention the solar array. 

“It’s very public and people notice it,” said Heather. For Blue Flame, the panels are now just part of their clean energy business.

Why a Qualified Solar Installer is key to your home’s Solar Power Success

The solar power industry is booming around the world, and the United States is no exception. As more and more homeowners look to solar energy to power their lives, the demand for qualified solar installers is skyrocketing.

But what exactly does it mean to be a qualified solar installer? And why is it so important to choose an installer with the right experience and qualifications?

In-depth training is essential for safety and efficiency in solar installations. Qualified installers have the knowledge and skills to properly install and maintain solar panels, ensuring that your system operates safely and efficiently for years to come.

Here are some of the benefits of choosing a qualified solar installer:

  • Safety: Solar installations involve working with electricity and heights. A qualified installer will have the training and experience to complete your installation safely and according to code.
  • Efficiency: A qualified installer will know how to properly size and design your solar system to meet your energy needs. They will also be familiar with the latest solar technologies and installation techniques, ensuring that your system is as efficient as possible.
  • Performance: A properly installed solar system can save you thousands of dollars on your electricity bills. A qualified installer will make sure that your system is installed correctly so that you can reap the full benefits of solar power.
  • Warranty: Most solar panels and equipment come with warranties. However, these warranties may be void if the system is not installed by a qualified professional.

When choosing a solar installer, be sure to ask about their qualifications and experience. 

Here at mtvSolar, we don’t just slap on solar panels. We’ve been installing solar and batteries since 2009, and we take immense pride in the quality and efficiency of our installations. 

We have certified installer status with the major solar and battery manufacturers whose components we install in your home and business, including SolarEdge, enPhase, Schneider and Tesla. That means our crews have gone through ongoing specialized training for those components particularly — how they fit together, work most efficiently and stay working for your top performance. This training makes us great at servicing a systems, too.

Our team is stacked with experts who have dedicated themselves to mastering the art and science of solar power. Many of us hold NABCEP and college certifications in relevant fields like electrical engineering or renewable energy.

But our commitment to excellence goes even further. We employ numerous NABCEP certified professionals. NABCEP stands for the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals, a highly respected organization that sets rigorous standards for solar installers.  Earning this certification requires passing comprehensive exams and demonstrating a deep understanding of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It’s a mark of distinction that assures our customers they’re getting the best in the business.

This dedication to ongoing education and professional development isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about ensuring that every system we install is built to last, operates at peak performance, and delivers the maximum return on your investment.  We understand that your solar panels are a significant investment, and we take that responsibility seriously.

By choosing a qualified solar installer, you can ensure that your solar power system is installed safely, efficiently, and to meet your specific needs.

Habitat partnership in Va. makes solar part of affordable housing

Winchester Mayor David Smith with Kim Herbstritt, Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity

Winchester, Va. city officials and affordable housing advocates celebrated the start of a project this week to add solar panels to five newly-constructed Habitat for Humanity homes in the downtown area. Winchester Mayor David Smith said the renewable energy addition to the two-story homes is exactly what the city’s planners have in mind for the future. The Winchester Star reported on the gathering on Wednesday.

Kim Herbstritt of Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity welcomed visitors on Tuesday, March 19 to see the homes and watch mtvSolar installation crews work to prepare the solar installations. High winds on Tuesday kept the crews from attaching solar panels to the first of five homes, but the rails to hold the panels are installed and ready. Five panels will go on each home to start.

Homeowners are expected to reduce their energy bills to somewhere around $20 per month once the panels are connected and feeding their electric supply. More Habitat for Humanity homes in the Blue Ridge area will get solar panels in the near future, with mtvSolar as the trusted solar installation partner.

mtvSolar President Mike McKechnie talks as installation crews worked to prepare a roof for solar panels.

mtvSolar Mike McKechnie talked about the importance of making homes affordable for residents over the long term by fixing their energy costs. Installing solar panels essentially locks in electric costs, which normally rise steadily over the life of a home, Mike said. When mtvSolar began as a construction company, his crews donated their labor and time to help build Habitat for Humanity homes in the area. Mike McKechnie said 20 years later, mtvSolar is still an advocate for affordable housing and is excited by the movement toward more energy efficient homes. The company continues to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity through direct donations, community give-back partnerships and reduced-price work. mtvSolar customers can choose to give a panel to community projects like Habitat for Humanity when they purchase their own solar energy system.

Jeff Heie of GiveSolar, headquartered in Harrisonburg, said charitable donors have made it possible to add solar energy systems to Habitat for Humanity homes throughout Virginia, adding another level of sustainability both to affordable housing and the environment. Additional solar energy projects are in the planning stages.

Jeff Heie, GiveSolar

How to fit solar into new home construction

Building a new home comes with hundreds of decisions, large and small. What’s the square footage? What material is the exterior? What’s the roofline look like? Throughout the process, homeowners have to pick bedroom sizes, window styles, flooring and appliances. One of the most basic decisions can have the biggest impact over the life of the structure – what will power the home?

Many of today’s new homes are all electric – an approach that takes fossil fuels out of the home energy landscape and creates energy savings. Indoor air quality and safety also benefit from the removal of various fuels from a residence. 

But what supplies the electricity? In most cases, a residential connection to the power grid is one of the first utilities to be brought to a house under construction. So what do you do if you want solar energy or battery storage to be part of your home energy supply? At what point in the construction process can those systems be brought into the planning and design?

Mike Studholme.

This blog will explore how you can bring solar into the early stages of planning your dream home to create a residence that can generate its own energy for the decades ahead. 

So when is the right time to bring solar into the construction conversation? As early as possible, says Mike Studholme, Senior PV and Battery Consultant with mtvSolar.

“Orientation is key. Make sure the roof is going to be oriented properly from the start,” said Studholme. How a new house will sit on the site, what kind of clearance the site has and the pitch of the roof all affect the viability of solar panel systems.

If a builder doesn’t offer a solar package among their services, ask if they have worked with a solar installer they trust. Well-established solar companies like mtvSolar have a track record of working with multiple contracting companies in an area, making the coordination of building and installation much smoother. 

And if a builder doesn’t have “a solar guy,” a homeowner can bring a solar company into the process themselves.

“You can contact us directly and we can talk with your builder, do a design and give them a proposal they can build into the project costs,” said Studholme. 

Solar proposals for a brand new home can come from house plans, with a few added details – what appliances the homeowner expects to have and other electrical demands in the home like an EV charger, heated pool or hot tub.

“We can take a plan set and design a solar array. It can take place very early in the process,” said Mike.

Starting the solar conversation early in a construction project can pay off in multiple ways:

  • Ensuring the home and roof are oriented for maximum solar production
  • Adding solar costs to construction contract for integrated financing
  • Reducing extra costs by incorporating trenching and electrical work into initial build
  • Starting energy production and banking solar credits DURING construction
  • Streamlining permits

Getting a builder and a solar installer talking together with the homeowner early in the process helps everyone – whether solar panels will be part of the main construction process or will be added after the new home is complete. 

“Our production and sales team, builder and homeowner come together on a call where we all agree to a plan. We’ll coordinate with the builder as to when it’s the ideal time for us to come install,” Mike said.

Once the solar plan is in place, construction will follow its normal path, with a few minimal preparations for a future array. A designated “solar conduit chase” from the attic to the electrical room clears the path for solar connections after walls are closed in, for example.

Mike Studholme said as with all solar projects, mtvSolar works with each homeowner to design and install a system that will meet their needs best and fit into their energy budget. For a brand-new home, that personal approach extends to collaborating with contractors all along the way.

“We’re very experienced with how to coordinate with builders,” said Mike. “Communication along the way makes all the difference.”

If you’re wondering, could your dream home power itself? And your vehicles? With the right kind of building site, some forward planning and an experienced solar installer, the answer is likely a sunny Yes!

A system that paid for itself in one storm

Like most solar owners, John Snyder calculated how long it would take for his solar panel array and battery backup system to pay for itself from the initial upfront cost. That calculation prepared he and his wife for a 7-year return on investment. But their solar and battery payoff came much sooner than that. Their 45-panel, 10 kW system was installed by mtvSolar at their Summersville, W.Va. farm in 2011. In June of 2012, a freak derecho storm hit West Virginia, knocking out power to most of the state for 12 days in sweltering temperatures.

“The battery backup system paid for itself in that derecho,” said Snyder. He and his wife watched people lined up at gas stations trying to get gasoline to power their generators to keep refrigerators cool, fans running and supply electricity to essentials.

“We never lost power,” he said. Their solar and battery backup saved two freezers full of expensive meats and specialty products that would have been near impossible to replace. “It paid for itself in one storm,” Snyder said.

Shortly after, Super Storm Sandy knocked power out for another seven days. He and his wife never lost electricity.

Nearly a dozen years later, operating a rare breed chicken farm with multiple coops and pens, the Snyders have an even bigger solar array and slightly different battery backup, all paying for itself in self-generation.

For 10 months of the year, their electric bill is around $5.

Back when the couple started looking for a solar contractor, there were very few choices in West Virginia. He found a number for mtvSolar and called to see if the Berkeley Springs company would travel to Summersville, several hours away, to install a system. A salesman said yes, drove down to see their farm and talk about the possibilities.

Snyder said one thing in particular made an impression on him.

He and his wife had started thinking about a combination of solar panels and wind, thinking one of their fields would be a good candidate for a windmill. The mtvSolar salesman didn’t recommend it. The location would have required a 150-ft. mast and the equipment would have been expensive to repair if anything malfunctioned.

“He could have said, ‘Okay, we’ll sell it to you’ but he didn’t,” Snyder said. That honest approach impressed him, and kicked off a long customer relationship, including added solar panels and battery upgrades.

“We have recommended mtvSolar to anyone who’s looking at solar,” said Snyder.

Build the ultimate backup system

Be ready for anything.

The world’s full of uncertainties. From monster storms to surprise grid hacks, you deserve power on demand. Forget scrambling in the dark – mtvSolar builds ultimate backup systems, crafted for your peace of mind.

No outages, no worries:

  • Stay grid-connected: Enjoy solar power with seamless backup during dips and blackouts.
  • Go fully off-grid: Ditch the grid entirely and embrace independent energy freedom.
  • Fuel for all seasons: An auto-start propane generator can kick in when sunlight is limited and the batteries need a boost, only sipping fuel as needed.
  • Control without being online: We design systems that thrive even without internet reliance.
  • Tailored to you: We craft the perfect backup solution for your needs and budget.

Don’t wait for the lights to go out. Embrace your power today.

Get a free consultation and secure your bright future with Mountain View Solar.

Plan now to grab Maryland energy storage tax credits for 2024

Maryland’s Energy tax credits for residential energy storage projects (think battery systems) were so popular in 2023 that the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) stopped taking tax credit applications in August, anticipating the state would run out of designated funds well before the end of the year. Maryland’s lawmakers had agreed to set aside $750,000 in the 2023 tax year. Once the money was given out in tax credit certificates, that was it for the year.

The MEA was authorized to give out tax credits for 30% of the cost of an energy storage system — up to $5,000 in tax credits for a system installed in a residential property, and up to $150,000 for a system installed in a commercial property.

For many homeowners and businesses, these credits offered a big incentive to add energy storage components for a variety of reasons — to weather power outages, offset peak demand charges and establish energy stability for themselves.

The popularity of the tax credits this calendar year are a preview of 2024. Under Maryland law, the new year will replenish the Maryland Energy Storage Income Tax Credit fund back to its annual level of $750,000. That means homeowners and businesses can start adding energy storage and battery systems, and tap into the new pool of credits for 2024. The fund is set to run through the end of 2024, as long as the money holds out.

Maryland customers thinking of adding a battery storage system to tie into your solar panels should act early in 2024 to grab the state tax incentives while they last. mtvSolar is proud to serve customers all over Maryland and has the battery expertise to talk you through your options. Call us at 540-686-2052 to find out more.

We tested out the new Smart Load controller for you

This week, we put the SolarEdge Smart Home load controller to the test! Our team trained with SolarEdge on site to install the controller in one of our own homes — letting us see how this new component can fit into residential settings and work with existing solar components. We liked what we saw!

Take control of your home energy like never before!

The SolarEdge Smart Load Controller is a game-changer. It gives homeowners an easy way to manage what gets power during an outage, and for how long. Here’s what else:

  • Maximize your solar self-consumption: Use more of the clean energy your panels produce, reducing your reliance on the grid and saving you money.
  • Extend your backup battery power: Prioritize essential appliances during outages, keeping your lights on and your family comfortable.
  • Schedule and control your heavy hitters: Run appliances like pool pumps, air conditioners, and electric vehicle chargers on your own terms, using smart scheduling and remote control. ‍
  • Track your energy in real-time: Monitor your solar production, consumption, and savings with the user-friendly mySolarEdge app.

Our field-tests of the controller, with company reps and our top electricians working side by side, gave us a real-life look at whether this new component is suitable for our customers. The answer — it is.

The SolarEdge Smart Load Controller is available NOW from mtvSolar! Want to know more? Let’s chat!  

Call us now at 540-686-2052.

Customer testimonial: A quick response to add battery backup in rural Pennsylvania

After losing power over Christmas for a day and a half, Steve Hendricks starting looking into a battery backup system to tie to his home’s solar panels in the rural countryside of Bedford County, Pa. He and his wife were in line for a Tesla Powerwall, but the installation options fell through. Steve searched online and found mtvSolar was a certified Tesla Powerwall installer, and called us. Consultant Natalie Friend responded right away, and very soon Steve had four Powerwalls in action. Several months later, he decided to add two more Powerwalls to help charge the couple’s electric vehicles and add to their rural home’s power backup system. Steve called us back and after a day’s work, we had upgraded his system to six Powerwalls.

Steve said the first four batteries were able to cover the whole house electric needs, but he wanted to ensure there wouldn’t be any more power interruptions. Just last week, the power went out for his neighbors and he said he never would have known the grid was down except that his Tesla monitoring app sent him a notification it had happened.

Steve was impressed by how responsive mtvSolar was to his request for the batteries and installation work, and how hard everyone worked to get the job done. Everyone he encountered was friendly and took time to explain the work they were doing. “It was a totally positive experience,” he said. He would recommend mtvSolar to anyone interested in building out their own solar and battery backup system.