From an article by D.J. Slater in the Wausau Daily Herald:
A Stratford-based roofing company hopes its new venture will help residents and businesses go green even as the economy continues to slide.
Since mid-May, Kulp’s of Stratford has offered residents and businesses the chance to upgrade their properties with solar roofing. The systems allow property owners to generate electrical power from the sun, which they can use and sell to utility companies.
The roof panels can either replace conventional roofs or be placed over an existing roof, said Bob Kulp, co-owner of Kulp’s. The panels are designed to collect energy for about 30 years and last about 50 to 60 years before needing to be replaced, he said.
“We definitely see a bright future ahead for this service,” Kulp said.
Kulp’s midrange solar system, which are applicable for most homeowners, ranges from $20,000 to $30,000, but those costs can be cut by as much as 55 percent through federal tax credits provided by the Internal Revenue Service and grants from Focus on Energy.
Those incentives were enough to convince Edgar resident Debby Kregenow to invest in her own solar roof, which was installed last week.
“We figured, if we’re going to put new money into a roof, why not go solar?” she said. “We are very happy with it.”