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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Most state solar incentive programs are limited to
new equipment. I don't recall if used equipment qualifies for the federal tax
credit. Perhaps someone on this list can advise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Some good people who can use new and used
equipment are the Rahus Institute <A
href="http://www.rahus.org/">http://www.rahus.org/</A> and Solar Energy
International <A
href="http://www.solarenergy.org/">http://www.solarenergy.org/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Any others?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=allan@positiveenergysolar.com
href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com">Allan Sindelar</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">'RE-wrenches'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:10
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Tax Deductible
RE Donations (inspired by InverterforSwitch to GT)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>We
would never donate PV equipment to charity, Joel. I would guess that
most organizations wouldn't know what to do with this stuff. Pretty soon
somebody discovers it (at a church rummage sale?), buys it cheap and tries to
put together a cheap and funky system with major safety issues. I wouldn't
want to install a system with outdated hardware with an unknown
history.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>We
keep a periodically-updated sale flyer with descriptions of used equipment.
Typically I (as the old fart specializing in off-grid here) will suggest
something we have in the shop to a prospective customer on a budget. Since
they're looking for guidance as well as a good deal, I can generally make up a
safe and complete system using a package of used stuff. Everyone
benefits.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Sometimes I even install it. Just today I completed installation of a
Code-compliant (for tax credit eligibility) system package that we first
installed elsewhere six years ago. The former clients brought in grid (to run
an electric kiln; she's a potter) and rewired the array to run a Sunny Boy
when the batteries died. The new owners saved several thousand $$, as we
resold the entire BOS at 55% of original price. New array, rack, and
batteries; reused SW4024, T240, PSDC, SB50. TM2020, even cables,
interconnects, and internal wiring. We charge regular rates for
installation; the client saved on labor as we reconnected existing wires,
previously carefully disassembled.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>We
will generally sell equipment we replace on consignment; very little goes
unsold, given enough time. Our consignment schedule (worked out over many
years) is part of our general Rates and
Policies:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=203044303-07082008>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Resale and Recycling of Used
Equipment</B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We often remove serviceable
used equipment when upgrading a power system. We will resell this equipment
for you if you request it, according to the following terms:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>No “blue book” exists for solar components. We will
estimate a reasonable resale price based on our experience and intuitive
fairness.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>We sell on consignment, and while we may predict an
item’s resale appeal, we won’t guarantee when or if it will
sell.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>We will resell for you only specific component hardware
items. Wire, conduit and fittings, electrical equipment, etc. will be reused
or recycled, but will not be sold on consignment for you, as the recordkeeping
becomes too difficult.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>We will pay you when a resale is made according to the
following schedule:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">o<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>Our base commission is 35% of the sale price excluding
tax.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">o<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>If you have bought a full system from us, our commission
is reduced by 10%. (This is quite common.)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">o<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>If the buyer of the component has bought a full system
from us, our commission is reduced by an additional 10%. (This is rare, but it
happens.)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">All materials that leave a
jobsite in our truck will be sorted and reused or recycled to the greatest
extent possible. We recycle all standard household recyclables as well as
copper, brass, aluminum, steel, batteries, packing peanuts, cardboard, and
anything else we can reasonably keep out of the landfill.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><SPAN
class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Joel, this has
resulted in many happy customers over the years. The check that shows up in
the mail from us is seldom expected. I hope this
helps.</FONT></SPAN></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><SPAN
class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Allan</FONT></SPAN></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><SPAN
class=203044303-07082008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN></o:p> </P></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> <B>
</B>Joel Davidson<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wrenches,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Following on comments about switching to grid-tie
(or any other changes), what do you do with modules, mounts, inverters, etc.
that no longer serve your clients' needs? Do you or your clients contribute
the unneeded or unwanted equipment to a charitable or
non-profit organization that qualifies the donation for a tax deduction?
What are your favorite charities and non-profit orgs (what churches, schools,
etc.)?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
<P>
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