mPOWER has just released the 2018 annual summary detailing energy- and water-efficient improvements to residential and non-residential properties in Nevada and Placer counties. The report tracks improvements that were financed through mPOWER. Nevada County saw an impressive 83% increase in the total amount of funded mPOWER projects.
The combined total increased from $1.2 million in January 2018 to $2.27 million at the close of December 2018. Grass Valley saw an increase of more than 90%, moving from $350,534 at the start of 2018 and closing December 2018 at $668,361. Nevada City experienced an 80% increase moving from $108,613 in January 2018 and closing the year at $195,906. Unincorporated Nevada County also saw a nearly 80% increase rising from $781,657 and closing December 2018 at $1.4 million.
The overall mPOWER program (Placer County, Nevada County, and Folsom) saw an increase of 13.3%, and has exceeded $100 million in approved projects.
Cumulatively, mPOWER has created an estimated 1,926 local jobs putting contractors to work and saving property owners money that they can redirect elsewhere. Energy efficiency has the added benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emission. Under the new 2019 US EPA methodology, energy efficiency improvements financed by mPOWER have saved more than 24,600 metric tons of GHG, equivalent to removing 5,230 cars off the road annually.
Build It Green created a map showing efficiency improvements throughout the state, and included all of the improvements made through mPOWER. That information can be viewed at https://builditgreen.org/directories/green-homes-inventory-map. By hovering over the map, viewers can see the overall number of green homes in an area, and those that used mPOWER financing in the mPOWER service area.
As this is the last year for the 30% federal solar tax credit, more solar activity is expected in 2019. In 2020, the federal tax credit is scheduled to drop to 26%.
