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Energy Concepts Corp.
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GreenWorks building 125 N. Main St.
In the eld of alternative energy, its not who you know its what you know. Cary Lane, owner of Energy Concepts Corporation in Las Cruces and Satello, N.M., started learning the science and engineering of solar and wind energy as a New Mexico State University student studying electrical engineering. He was drawn to research, and founded the company in 1991, rst to test products and determine which would live up to expectations. Quality control was an issue, Lane said of the 1990s, when solar technology took off in the marketplace. Consumers, too, are part of the information revolution that shapes the development of the industry. Customer education changes every year, Lane said. Ten years ago, when we said PV (photovoltaic), nobody knew what we meant. Five years ago, half the people knew what it was, but didnt know what it did. Now, when customers come to us, they know. As a result, Energy Concepts does less consumer education than in the past. Now we do more sales, Lane said. But now theres more competition. Lane and his sister Elisa Cundiff, who opened the new Las Cruces ofce of Energy Concepts in the GreenWorks building at 125 N. Main St., agreed referrals are still the way they get most of their new business.
Elisa Cundiff manages the Las Cruces ofce of Energy Concepts Corp., by her brother, Cary Lane.
Las Cruces Bulletin photo by Alta LeCompte
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for the next year and a half, Lane said. State and federal credits will continue, he said.
Cary Lane said solar energy can make a difference for homes and businesses, as well as churches and schools.
Investing to save
Alternative energy companies and consumers share another trait they are eager to try something new if it makes good business sense. Lane said switching to solar while remaining connected to the grid can earn a homeowner 10 to 15 percent return on capital investment in energy savings. The biggest residential customers probably have $20,000 in the bank, so its a very good deal to put that money into solar, he said. The return is less for smaller systems costing about $10,000, but its still a pretty good deal, Lane said. Cundiff, a marketing and systems design specialist, said less afuent consumers can make solar protable the way she did, wrapping it into a mortgage. Her system added $40 to her mortgage payment, but reduced her summer electric bill by $100 for a tidy net savings. I got a $54 check from El Paso Electric last month, she said. Cundiff, who owns an older home in Las Cruces, said the homebuyer can be cash positive right away if the system is nanced at a low interest rate. Lower costs and multiple incentives make the purchase more attractive. Cundiff said solar module prices dropped about 25 percent in the past three years, because the market expanded so quickly, responding to federal and state energy credits and utility company rebates. Homeowners currently are scurrying to go solar before the El Paso Electric Co. Renewable Energy Credits drop. To qualify for maximum energy credits, an owner must be under contract to have the work done by June 30. The credits will drop 1 to 2 percent every six months
and follow a long-range plan. Its such a dynamic industry we have to re-evaluate where we are every year. Incentives change every year, he said. Consumers change every year. One thing he can say with certainty is Energy Concepts is a broad-based company that designs custom systems. We help each customer decide what is their best option, Lane said. Maybe they should insulate their home or install new windows or consider LED lighting to make their homes more energy efcient rather than installing a solar system. As a general contractor and electrical contractor, Energy Concepts can design and install what will work best for each customer. Lane oversees each project.