New Orleans Solar Power

Homeowners and major businesses are not the only ones interested in solar energy. Sonic franchises are now getting in on this trend to save both money and the environment.

Solar energy has expanded to fast food franchises, lowering both their energy costs and their impact on the environment. One recent example is the Sonic Drive-In located in Wilsonville, Oregon. The owners had 45 solar panels installed on the roof of the drive-in, which should generate over $6000 of electricity per year. This equates to over one quarter of the Sonic’s electricity bill. While it is not necessarily the first fast food restaurant to use solar panels, it is the first Sonic in the area to do so, and is setting a good example for other franchises to follow.

New Orleans Solar initiatives got a big boost from the Fed today.

From the Times Picayune:

The Department of Energy recently announced that the 30 percent federal solar tax credit, which is available to residents and businesses, has been renewed for eight more years, effective through Dec. 31, 2016. The department also removed the $2,000 cap that was placed on the 2008 credit.