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How Solar Empowered Pourware Inked's Business Expansion
Pourware Inked (formerly Mastercraft Decorators), a Rochester-based manufacturer of screen-printed pourware, switched to solar power in 2024. The move was critical to the company’s expansion plans.
Since 1979, Pourware Inked (Mastercraft Decorators) has been serving clients across the Northeast with custom-printed drinkware and pouring vessels, including many well-known Finger Lakes breweries and wineries like Genesee Brewing Company and Preservation Beer Company. Their business began exploring solar as a means to an end—to make their move from a facility they’d vastly outgrown in Fairport, NY, to a larger facility in Macedon, NY, financially feasible.
The business case for solar
Pourware Inked’s business operates on a large scale, thanks to a giant oven that cures all of their screen-printed glassware. They are one of only a few companies in the country with this capability. The oven has huge energy requirements as it runs at 1,500 degrees all day, every day. Huge energy needs mean big electrical bills. To help fund their move to the larger facility, John Regis, CEO, was on a mission to figure out how to use solar to dramatically cut these critical business costs.
The business impact of solar
John worked with GreenSpark Solar to install a 441 kW commercial roof-top solar array on their new building in Macedon, NY. Completed in April 2024, the array will offset their annual electricity needs, resulting in expected savings of $48,255 per year ($1,448,881 by year 25).
Pourware Inked was eligible for two grant programs—NYSERDA NY–Sun and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)—along with the 30% federal tax credit and projected equipment depreciation benefit.
Solar for business: understanding the incentives
This combination of federal and state incentives allows New York State businesses to cover 50% or more of their cost of going solar. And in cases like Pourware Inked, the financial outlook was even better. Here’s a look at how these incentives stacked up:
- The NYSERDA NY-Sun grant is a program that offers a grant of $.25 per watt for eligible business entities that install solar panels.
- The federal investment tax credit, made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (or the Climate Bill), incentivizes businesses to go solar with a 30% tax credit, eligible for the year the solar array is installed.
- Under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), businesses can depreciate the value of their solar equipment over five years. This accelerated depreciation allows companies to deduct a substantial portion of the system’s cost from their taxable income, resulting in considerable tax savings and a quicker return on investment.
- The USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) offers significant additional incentives to agricultural producers and rural small businesses, like Mastercraft, when they switch to solar. Qualifying companies can cover up to 50% of their project costs through the REAP grant and up to 100% when paired with other state and federal incentives.
The combination of these incentives will offset the entirety of Pourware Inked’s solar project, bringing their final net investment to ZERO.
"Ultimately, the move to solar was a no-brainer for us. If it weren't for solar, we wouldn't have been able to make that move. On top of that, the incentives from New York State and the Federal Government just solidified our plans."
Environmental impact of Pourware Inked's solar array
Beyond the incredible financial benefits, our Rochester community also greatly benefits from Pourware Inked’s choice to go solar. The solar production of their array is the equivalent of powering 58 homes with clean energy and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from over 1.1 million miles driven by a gas-powered vehicle.
GreenSpark is honored to partner with New York businesses like Pourware Inked (formerly Mastercraft Decorators). We are excited to see how their solar savings enable their continued growth as they unveil their new Pourware Inked brand and support the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes community.
An Interview with Pourware Inked's CEO
Watch our interview with Pourware Inked’s CEO, John Regis, to hear more about their business, their journey to solar and the advice they have for other businesses exploring solar.
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