Astrum Solar is one of the companies helping to bring solar to Maryland homes. Started in 2008 by Vadim Polikov, Josh Goldberg and Ben Davis (Vadim and Josh are Maryland natives) and headquartered in Howard County, Astrum has installed nearly 1,000 solar electric systems in Maryland alone. Astrum Solar’s mission is to spread solar power to the rooftops of America. More and more people around the country are ready to take control of their unpredictable utility costs and reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprints. When they make that decision, Astrum is there to guide them and make going solar easy and rewarding.
With that mission, in under five years Astrum Solar has expanded to twelve states, created 100 Maryland jobs and been named the 2nd fastest growing company in the nation by Inc. Magazine. As Astrum has grown, Maryland as a state has seen an explosive growth in solar installations. In the past 22 months alone, solar capacity in the state has grown by approximately 700%. This growth was made possible by considered policies put in place by the state years ago. Maryland instituted a broad but responsible grant program that seeded the market by helping home and business owners afford the upfront cost associated with solar. Maryland also affirmed its commitment to clean energy by demanding that a percentage of its power be produced by clean sources, specifically solar. These policies are largely the result of the smart government and vision of Governor Martin O’Malley, a trusted partner of Astrum Solar.
The solar industry has changed a lot since Maryland took those first steps. Declines in the cost of materials have made solar affordable for everyone without state assistance. Accordingly, the grant has decreased dramatically. Advances in financing now allow people to go solar for no money down. The market for solar is taking off nation-wide, and Maryland has positioned itself to benefit from the economic development and local jobs that come with this expansion. And let’s not forget that this growth helps Maryland to preserve its air and water quality while limiting its dependence on foreign fuels.
Despite this initial success, there is much more to do. Renewables and solar are still only emerging as major power sources and Astrum Solar has considerable growth ahead of it. Maryland will need to continue to take appropriate and considered steps toward a clean energy future to preserve and expand the considerable gains it has already made. As it does this, Astrum Solar will continue to grow and give Maryland citizens the ability to choose clean, affordable, self-produced electricity.
9 comments:
The only problem with renewables is the laws of physics, clouds and night.
Especially in our climate it will always be much more expensive than fossil power or nuclear.
The writer of the article is obviously someone who wants more taxpayer subsides and mandates.
A man down the street from me has it. Said it cost about $20,000 and will take 15 years to pay off. I said at least when the power go's out you will be set, he told me thats not the case at all? no battery back up sounds like a waste of $$$ to me. now if it would get me off the grid then I'd be all for it.
Solar is an alternative source of power, not a replacement because it is neither as efficient or inexpensive. If you look around you, you will notice that most installations of solar were paid for by somebody else.
Well that just sounds like some liberal crap to me. I bet Obama put them up to it. Next thing you know they'll want to marry their solar panels. They are giving away America to the sun. I want my country back.
Drill baby drill!!!
As a reminder - there is a solar company right here in SBY.
Your imbecilic comments reflect the ignorance the conservative right displays daily.
12:22 Must be talking about Alex's comment. Sorry 12:22 he's one of your liberal friends. Now say you are sorry for saying he was showing his ignorance.
Solar = scam.
If it worked, we'd all be doing it. Who wants to pay their power bill? Nobody. But we all do it because we like to have the lights on and the heat running.
If there was a way that actually worked to get out of paying the power bill, everyone would have solar panels on their roofs and in their yards. But it doesn't work.
Solar = modern snake oil.
My brother bought a house in Florida that had solar panels on it. A couple years later he had a roof leak from where the panels were installed. Now granted the shingles were at the end of their life so he needed a new roof. The roofer would not mess with the panels and it was going to cost more to remove and reinstall the panels than the roof job was going to cost and they said that disturbing the panels may damage them and could not guarantee they would work when put back and suggested he have new panels installed. So guess where the solar panels went...in the dumpster with the old roof. So unless you have a brand new roof you might want to consider this if you are putting panels on your roof.
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