JJR Power helps two Minnesota farmers win 1st Made in MN Solar Lottery

EXCELSIOR, Minn. - April 14, 2014 - PRLog -- When Steve Busack's phone rang in February and a guy on the phone asked if he wanted to enter a "solar lottery", Steve wondered if this was some new scratch game or Powerball drawing at the Cenex station. Fortunately, Mike Woodley who was calling from JJR Power, mentioned right away that Clark Grannes told him to call. Grannes owns a successful trucking operation in nearby Echo, MN along with several profitable farms. "When Clark Grannes says something is a good deal, then I know I should listen," said Busack. Busack has a farm located 20 miles Southeast of Granite Falls, MN. Busack took his friend Clarks's advice and trusted JJR Power to help him apply for this solar rebate that, if selected, would pay him 29 cents per kw for every kilowatt his solar array would produce for 10 years. The stipulation was that you needed to use a made in Minnesota solar panel. There were a few choices but JJR Power suggested TenK Solar of Bloomington, MN. If selected in the March lottery, Busack would get the rebate and also use the solar energy to trim his Xcel Energy bill. He also could benefit from a 30% Investment Tax Credit on the total cost of the system. Woodley shared with Busack what was needed to accomplish to get the application in prior to the upcoming deadline and Grannes also suggested that another farmer, Dave Leupke of Belview, MN might also be interested. Luepke also got in on the application process and the flurry of shared information, shade reports and signed documents for all three farmers were completed just in time before the midnight February 28th deadline.

Thirty days later, the Made in Minnesota solar lottery winners were announced. There were thousands of submissions. While Busack and Leupke were declared solar lottery winners, Clark Grannes was not. Grannes was wait listed and will be automatically entered next year but won't cash in on the huge solar savings value that he introduced to his friends.

"Maybe next year," said Grannes. His friends Steve Busack and Dave Leupke hope so too. "It would only be fair," Busack said. "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have done this." Busack and Leupke expect to have their TenK Solar array installed in June and it will cost $49,000 and create an estimated 12,000 kWh of energy annually. The system will generate an estimated annual rebate of $3,480 per year in a production payment from Xcel Energy. The 10-year payback will total about $34,800 not including the energy production savings off his bill along with a 30% federal tax credit. "I had no idea that solar could be such a good deal," Busack said after he went over all the details of his proposal.

As farmers, Busack and Luepke can also depreciate the solar array and they have applied for additional grants with the USDA. Bottom line is that Busack and Leupke are excited about what the solar savings that lies ahead. As for Clark Grannes? JJR Power is working with him on a solar array at one of his other locations where a 40 kw solar array still brings significant savings and a return on investment in just 4.5 years without winning the solar lottery. JJR Power is offering a 25-year warranty on the system so Grannes can still cash in on the booming solar business in the State of Minnesota after all.

Any commercial or residential customer who is interested in learning about what solar or small wind can do to lower their energy bills can contact Mike Woodley at JJR Power directly at 612-386-0082 or visit JJR Power online athttp://www.JJRPower.com.

Media Contact
For JJR Power
Mike Woodley
(612) 386-0082
mwoodley(at)JJRPower(dot)com

About JJR Power
JJR Power has been financing and developing mid-sized solar and wind projects since 2006. JJR Power has a strong understanding of how to optimize the financial structure of a solar/wind portfolio as well as how Utility incentives work in the Upper Midwest.