Comments on: Harnessing Solar Energy Outside the Sun Belt

By: carmen

carmen — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 02:14:55 +0000

I think solar panel system is great to produce huge alternative and recently people are focusing on it more, that is really great.

By: jerry

jerry — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:14:14 +0000

The point was that here in Arizona swimming pools are so commonplace that people are more than willing to spend money on something that costs money to keep full of water, chemicals, electricity to run pumps up to 12 hours a day 365 days a year, and time and energy or a service to clean them. Key word there was “cost” if added up over 10 or 20 years adds nothing to the value of a home. On the other hand installing solar saves the owner money. As far as city rules and regs will always be violated. How can a blanket statement like that be made? Always? Not here in Arizona. The State Legislature has made it illegal for anyone to be denied the ability to install solar. 20 year payback? once again not here in Az. A 5KW system installed for about $6.00 a watt is $30,000. The utility incentive is $3.00 a watt ($15,000) that leaves a balance of $15,000. Federal tax credit 30% after utility incentive has been deducted $4,500 and state tax credit $1,000. Grand total after credits and incentives $9,500.5KW produces about 9,125KWH with an average homeowner paying about $0.12 a kilowatt hour $1,095 gives it a payback of 8.67 years not 20. You were off by over 11 years by our standards. And don’t even get me started on the utilities here raising their rates by 5 to 10 percent a year which would bring the payback down to 5 or 7 years hence the car purchase analogy. Now excuse me while I go take a dip in my heated pool!

By: Thomas Finger

Thomas Finger — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:37:47 +0000

Amen Ron — here in SE Wisconsin micro hydro may make sense for about 3% of the population and I like some of the stuff I have read about magnetic power generation — I hope there is real money being put into some of that tech…

By: Thomas Finger

Thomas Finger — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:57:12 +0000

What does a swimming pool have to do with most people wanting an alternative energy that will be a solid investment? Sure humans are greedy and consume more than they should — always have and always will — but most of us love the idea of making our own energy and sticking it to the grid… it is highly unlikely most will be able to since living in a city/suburb involves many rules and regs — and wind and solar will always violate many of those restrictions — so onward and upward!! There have to be more possibilities than just those two — Now bring em on!

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:19:37 +0000

A swimming pool does nothing to the value of a home?

Come on. I agree that a 3-5 year payback on a solar system is a bit unrealistic at this point, but in PA the estimated payback right now is also unrealistic at roughly 20 years even with 20% of it paid for by the state and another 20% paid for by the Fed’s. I agree with pursuing solar power, but let’s use our heads and research it in regions where it makes sense. The technology is not efficient enough yet regions like PA, so stop wasting federal taxes on installation there. Let’s do it. But – take the emotions out of the equation. Do it only… where… it makes sense.

By: jerry

jerry — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:16:52 +0000

It’s funny to read comments that want a 3 to 5 or so year payback on solar. Here in Arizona what’s your payback on that $20,000 swimming pool, what’s your payback on that $25,000 car? Furthermore what did those things do for the environment? But nobody hesitates to buy those things that do nothing but depreciate, cost thousands to keep running over their lifetimes use untold natural resources and do nothing to add to the value of a home. But that solar better pay for itself chop, chop!

By: Thomas Finger

Thomas Finger — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:04:18 +0000

Mark — surely you can see that water heating is only a small fraction of what we need energy for — solar is so limited because of where population centers are in many north and eastern regions — and prob upper west coast too — It is not PRACTICAL for transportation or industry — not too mention the storage conundrum — batteries are NOT very environmentally friendly or carbon neutral — sooooooo I still await the right consumer friendly solution that I can put up in SE wisconsin and power my home… I really want a 3-6 year payback on whatever can be logically used — there has to be something out there… what about magnetics? anybody up to date on that tech?

By: mark

mark — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:36:56 +0000

I think that solar energy will become the future of the most important forms of energy, and pollution-free, it is environmentally friendly. I now use solar water heaters, so I advocate everyone should work together to protect the environment.

By: Thomas Finger

Thomas Finger — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:17:17 +0000

thanks “lorn” I will go to that website–Ron I think you are right–nothing “alternative” appears realistic now or short term–and probably not even 10 yrs down the line—Most modern countries do have extremely reliable small (nuke) reactors that seem to have a pretty safe (extremely economical) record–we need to wise up and get building–especially in this economy of horrors…Tom in SE Wisconsin

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:54:44 +0000

Interesting article, but that gentleman built two decent sized panels, and only generated 18.9 Volts under NO load, and he was operating them in Arizona. That is a good way from 120 V. Just to get to 120V you would need an entire room covered, and your still a long way from providing enough amperage to support even a small home, let alone the battery system or a way to put it back into the grid if a battery system is to be ignored. Again, if he were in the state of PA, his payback would be 1/5th of that found in Arizona.

If residential solar power is truly ever going to pay for itself, we need less hype and more realistic solutions. Otherwise, we should stop kidding ourselves about solar power outside the sun belt. We should solve the problem where it is easiest first, by putting most of our resources into developing large solar power plants in the sun belt. If they can’t measure up there, we should face the facts and go nuclear.

By: Lornkanaga

Lornkanaga — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:02:02 +0000

Thomas Finger–check out off-grid.net. It currently has two articles on a gentleman who built his own solar panels for under $100 each. Granted, it’s a lot of labor, but it might be something for you to consider.

I wholeheartedly agree that those who can afford it, and who are so inclined, should buy and install solar/hydro/wind/etc. regardless of the climate. The more who buy, the lower the cost becomes for those of us who want it but can’t afford it yet.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:58:36 +0000

Pennsylvania is presently offering 20% of the costs to be paid by the state for solar power installations, and the Fed also is offering 20%. However, I have not seen much interest. What are your thoughts on PA? This is a significantly populated state, and in elections it is often said that “so goes PA, so goes the Presidential election”. I would think that this state would be more of true indicator of whether or not solar energy will ever work outside the sunbelt. However, even at 40% subsidized costs, many solar panel suppliers are still saying the projects will not start to pay for themselves until ~20 yrs after the install. I want to see this be successful. But how?

By: tyler

tyler — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:34:28 +0000

Portland does not get much sun at all (its solid grey for about 9 months out of the year unfortunately), but we still have a lot of solar installations and more coming everyday.

-Tyler

By: Thomas Finger

Thomas Finger — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:52:46 +0000

I think it is interesting to chart what parts of the U.S have the greatest interest in solar/wind–even if they are not making an economical choice — I am still waiting for a frugal, mass produced alternative .. something that a typical consumer would be able to install themselves or with a minimal investment — when will it be here? I am in SE Wisconsin and I am anxious to install something that would show a return in two years or less ($1200 at most) — Something that I can use myself — call it a winner — then market and encourage others in my neighborhood… Anyone have a good recommendation?

By: Bob Congdon

Bob Congdon — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:31:09 +0000

You make no mention of the Mid-Atlantic, DC area, or the Southeast. What is outlook for these areas? Thanks.