See below for more information and resources about commercial and industrial solar power.
Solar Power Affordability
What makes solar affordable? Increased efficiency and lower solar panel prices make the cost of solar power generation lower than the cost of electricity generated by your local utility. Funding options for solar power include:
- Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): PPA rates will typically be significantly lower than current electric rates and provide 20 to 30 year price stability.
- Direct Ownership: Self-owned systems can provide a motivating return on investment. Plus, a variety of federal and state incentives are available
GEM Energy’s solar experts can provide an analysis to determine which option is right for your business.
FEDERAL
Recently signed into law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly expands the incentives and improves the economics of solar for businesses and non-profit organizations.
- The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is now 30%, with additional incentives available that can increase this credit up to 50%.
- Provisions under the IRA allow municipalities, educational, and other nonprofit organizations with a solar project to receive the equivalent amount of their IRA tax credit as a direct payment from the Federal government. (Learn more about the IRA here.)
STATE AND LOCAL
Some counties, cities, or municipalities offer tax advantages for businesses adopting solar energy. GEM Energy will do the research and apply if you qualify.
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Dana Corporation World Headquarters
Maumee, Ohio
Construction of a new solar array that will generate clean, renewable energy for the company’s World Headquarters in Maumee is underway. NextEra is serving as developer and financer with GEM Energy acting as Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor.
Located on 10 acres along the south end of the Dana campus, the array has a capacity of 2.9 MW. It is expected to generate 4,100 megawatt hours of electricity annually, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from electricity by 31%.
Also in northwest Ohio, GEM Energy and Dana’s first solar project – which was completed in 2020 – powers the Dana Toledo Driveline Facility in Overland Industrial Park.
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JAM Best One Fleet Service
Toledo, Ohio
GEM Energy served as design/builder for a 345kW rooftop solar array for JAM Fleet’s Toledo 60,000-square-foot service center.
JAM Fleet is a provider of tires, light mechanical, and electrical services for commercial trucks, with 10 locations throughout Ohio and Michigan.
With assistance from GEM Energy, the owner was able to take advantage of significant tax benefits through the Inflation Reduction Act.
The solar array, which was completed in March 2024, is providing clean and affordable electricity for over 30 years to this facility.
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- To evaluate if solar power is a good option for your location, a free virtual analysis will be conducted, with no site visit necessary.
- Upon completion of the online site evaluation, you’ll receive a comprehensive report with an assessment of your location for solar power viability.
When you’re ready to get started, here are the next steps GEM Energy will perform with you:
- A review of utility bills and electrical drawings
- Preliminary design, layout and cost structure including estimated PPA rates and/or self-owned financial analysis
- Project development agreement and objectives
- Complete the project due diligence and design
- PPA or Engineering/Procurement/Construction (EPC) agreement and move to engineering and construction
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For commercial and industrial facilities, this Solar Scorecard will help you compare solar developers you may be speaking with:
When evaluating potential solar providers, here are 9 key questions you should ask, and how to interpret the answers:
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GEM Energy has been actively developing solar projects in Ohio since 2009. GEM Energy ranked #20 in Solar Power World's 2023 Top Solar Developers for Ohio (projects completed in Ohio). Nationally, GEM Energy is in the top 100 of Solar Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) firms.
Download GEM Energy’s Solar Solutions Overview
As your solar power partner, GEM Energy is a one-stop shop for every aspect of your project. We can handle all the details, including facility assessment, funding, and all other details through to implementation, with no capital expense for your facility.
We’ll begin by conducting an analysis of your energy usage patterns and electricity demand to determine:
- Is there a time of day, month, or year in which your electricity usage spikes?
- Which operations use the most electricity?
- What is the best design to optimize your solar array for maximum energy savings?
We’ll also manage the funding/financing for your project. This involves demonstrating to a financier that the undertaking is an investment-grade opportunity, likely to deliver significant ROI throughout the life of the contract.
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For more information or to talk with a solar expert, contact Andrew Whitehead at:
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