Here in the great state of Washington, initiative 937 was recently passed that will require Puget Sound Energy by 2020 to run 15% of the power from renewable energy. Large amounts of wind turbines are going up throughout the rural central and eastern parts of the State. As wind turbines are starting to become a feasible means of producing energy, they also are becoming a solid investment for the farmers that lease out the property to set them up. But how can urban areas partake in renewable energy investments without the room to set up a wind turbines? Solar energy is not a new concept but I think it often is overlooked as an affordable and logical way to supply ones home with power. In California the state is offering massive rebates for anyone who sets up a solar-power system in their home. The higher producing wattage solar panel, the larger the rebate. In Washington if someone sets up a solar panel that produces more energy than they use, Puget Sound Energy will pay them for the excess energy. Not a bad deal seeing how an average system really doesn't cost much more than $13,000. It might be a lot of money but such an investment might have attractive returns if legislation of renewable energy increases.
Many bring up the fact that solar panels have a short lifespan of about 20-30 years. Maybe so, but think about how much money is spent every year on electricity in the house. The solar panel will eventually pay for itself. Why not go for the investment and upgrade the amount of watts you can produce so your neighbors pay you to produce their electricity. The big search engine company Google, has recently developed a massive solar-power system to run their headquarters near San Francisco. One of the owners stated that he hoped that this move would influence other major corporations to pursue similiar methods. Decentralized power is inevitably close, especially in California. It might just be worth compairing the prices of solar units for the home, if one has a spare 10 grand or so.
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A friend of my family went solar. They over produced energy and ended up selling it back to the energy company resulting in an end of the month check in the woods of a couple thousand dollars. If I had any forsight (or any sun), then I would set the same thing up. If not that then possibly a few small windmills.
A wise man once said
"An idiot is born every minute"
But an even wiser man said then
"I was born in between. "
An Interesting read, I have to say it could use some formatting for clarity as it really is a wall of text.
My main concern, however, is that while you repeatedly cover the cost benefits of solar power, you neglect to mention the environmental costs involved.
The manufacturing of solar panels is energy intensive and even the most advanced commercially available panels will not produce more energy than that of which went into their production.
Sure, you might save some money, but don't be fooled into thinking that solar energy is "clean".
That's the thing-- there aren't any idealists' contraptions in the market. But they're cleaner. And loads more efficient that so-called "clean coal"
Sustainably yers, http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/green-underbelly