Solar Energy- Wow!

[Rastoff]

My electrical usage has always been small. We are conscious of what we use and try to keep things to a minimum. If I averaged all my bills for a year it would come to around $80/month.

Well, there are a lot of ads for solar energy here. They all say that if your bill is more than $150/month solar is the way to go. My wife and I discussed it and decided to talk to a company to see if it made sense. It did and we are now on solar.

We ended up leasing a system. This way there is nothing out of pocket. My first two electric bills once on solar were $1.07 and $0.99 respectively. This is during two of the hottest months where we ran the air conditioner. I couldn't be happier.

For this to make sense, there is a little more info. We are paying $57/month for the system. When we signed up we figured that we were paying about $80/month for electricity. The lease payment combined with the energy we'd use from the electric company would make the installation a wash. So, I asked for a larger system. That change made the payment $4/month more.

In reality, we are saving at least $30/month by going solar. It's a good day.

[BigBill]

Way to go any savings is great considering the electric bill will only go up in the future. I need to look into it too.

I'm getting ready to build in vt. on my land. I'm going to run it on 12 volts and propane because I'm way off the grid in the wilds.

[Alnamvet68]

Where are the panels made, seeing as Solyndra along with a number of other US solar types have gone bankrupt.

[charlie sherrill]

They're making some of them here in Hattiesburg, Ms. They haven't folded yet. I'm looking into this myself.

[Rastoff]

Originally Posted by Alnamvet68

Where are the panels made, seeing as Solyndra along with a number of other US solar types have gone bankrupt.

That's a good question. I don't know. I'll ask when I speak to the company next.

Here it is a booming business. I see solar panels going up all over the place. Edwards has installed two huge fields of them and has more planned.

Of course, I do live right next to the desert. We typically have 270 cloudless days here. Even when there are clouds, they are scattered. Skys like this are extremely rare:


This is why I always have my camera with me.

[redlevel]

I put up a small panel to keep a 12 volt deep cycle battery on my deer fence charged. We haven't had enough sun this summer to keep it charged.

[Iggy]

I use solar panels and trackers to power submersible pumps that provide water to piplines to stockwatering tanks on the ranch. Much more reliable than windmills. 8 years since I put in the first one, never been a hitch or glitch of any kind in any of them.

[dave b]

That sounds real good. My only question is, as a taxpayer, am I being forced to kick in any money to subsidize or help the program? If not, it seem like a good way to go.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by dave b

That sounds real good. My only question is, as a taxpayer, am I being forced to kick in any money to subsidize or help the program? If not, it seem like a good way to go.

There's a 30% fed tax credit with no limit for residential solar systems.

[feralmerril]

Wow! I lived for many years right near you in palmdale and lancaster and I paid in the nose. However I always worked graveyard and had to try and sleep durring the day. I suppose that was a big factor compared to you probley working days and no one at home to turn on the air.

[georgepittenger]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

There's a 30% fed tax credit with no limit for residential solar systems.

Most power companies are required to buy alternative power at prices that are generally higher than what is regularly available to them .


George

[Alnamvet68]

I only have a small solar panel from Solar-X which keps my boat batteries charged up. I've had it for a couple of years now, and it does work.

[NCTexan]

Sounds great and good for you. I just wonder if the true overall costs are being covered by tax and government incentives... but by other folks (knowing or unknowing).

We had to replace a couple of waterheaters a few years ago and did so with a tankless heater. I know that the true cost was buffered by a goofy big tax incentive to me and some under the cover business incentives to the manufactor.

While I chose to take advantage of the "deal"... I didn't feel great knowing that I was riding a little on other taxpayers' nickel.

[eveled]

A friend put panels on his roof, he loved them until the winter. The snow was coming off in sheets, and made it dangerous to go in his front door.

There is a road near me that is having a lot of traffic accidents, because a home owner put solar on his roof. Now the glare off them is blinding people driving. Seems no matter what you do, it effects something else.

[Budasac]

My biggest issue with the solar panels is that for every panel there are 4 holes in your roof. I personally wouldn't put any screws though my shingles. Odds are one (or more) of them will leak eventually. Do they offer a warranty with that lease contract to cover water damage if a leak does occur?

[A10]

I think the idea of leasing the system is great. The real cost comes in 25 years if there is a decision to keep the system, panels only last 25 years or so. If it is leased replacement would be on the owner.

[Rastoff]

Originally Posted by eveled

A friend put panels on his roof, he loved them until the winter. The snow was coming off in sheets, and made it dangerous to go in his front door.

There is a road near me that is having a lot of traffic accidents, because a home owner put solar on his roof. Now the glare off them is blinding people driving. Seems no matter what you do, it effects something else.

Mine are in the back of the house on the second story. So, there is a lower roof and a patio cover. I don't think snow will be an issue. Besides, we only get 3-6" of snow a year.

I'm not buying that the glare off solar panels is causing car accidents. If you're so distracted by the momentary glare from a solar panel it's a factor in a crash, there's more wrong with your driving. I seriously doubt it will hold up in court. I will stand corrected if you point to a case where the solar panel was a significant factor.

Originally Posted by Budasac

Do they offer a warranty with that lease contract to cover water damage if a leak does occur?

This is why I went with a leased system. They pay for ALL the maintenance. Yes, it covers everything to do with the installation. Leaks, damage to the roof, even if animals build nests up there, they will take care of it. Further, should anything happen to the system itself, they fix it at no charge.

I hope I never have to test that warranty, but it is there.

Oh yeah, I have to eat some crow here. I looked closer at my electric bill from Edison. There are some other charges that only get billed once a year. I didn't realize that at first. So, in the end, what I'm paying for electricity will be only a little savings after all. Maybe $10/month. Still, it's worth it.


Please post a link to this "30% Fed Solar Tax" you mentioned. 30% of what?

[ladder13]

Basically, taxpayers are funding this 30% "credit"

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

[NCTexan]

Originally Posted by ladder13

Basically, taxpayers are funding this 30% "credit"

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

You must be confused... It don't cost the taxpayer nutthing. The guvment pays for it.

They've got a special stash for good stuff like this.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by Rastoff

Please post a link to this "30% Fed Solar Tax" you mentioned. 30% of what?

It's your fed tax credit you turned over to the leasing company by signing the lease agreement, as well as any state rebates or tax credits. Surely the leasing company explained this to you before they put their solar system on your roof, right?

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

It's your fed tax credit you turned over to the leasing company by signing the lease agreement, as well as any state rebates or tax credits. Surely the leasing company explained this to you before they put their solar system on your roof, right?

Good point, Phil

[Bullet Bob]

For the people who like doing their own research (both of you ), there's a good book called "Green Illusions" by Ozzie Zehner that's a very interesting. I certainly don't agree with all his points, but it is thought provoking. He's not right-wing or left-wing, just an independent thinker who looks at the facts instead of emotions.

[Rastoff]

Yeah, I don't get that. Neither do I get the state tax credit. So what? I wasn't getting it before and through the system I have, I'm not paying $30K for solar.

Like I said before, for me it will ultimately be a wash. It's possible that I will save a little on my electricity cost. At the worst, I'm not losing anything. It also raises the value of my house; not that I want to sell.

As for the "green" thing, that's not my bag. Sure, you won't see me pouring used motor oil down the drain, but I prefer lead bullets.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Purchased systems will raise the value of your home. A leased system is just something that a buyer will have to take over when buying your home. As technology improves, I'm not sure what advantage it would to be to take over a lease on an aging system when they would otherwise be able to lease a new system if that is what they wanted to begin with.

[mtgianni]

Originally Posted by georgepittenger

Most power companies are required to buy alternative power at prices that are generally higher than what is regularly available to them .


George

That is changing as well. Some PSC's have limited the percentage of green energy and it is fast approaching the % of "we don't need to buy your leftovers". Other PSC's have decided to try and safeguard rates for the rest of their users and made the buyback rates closer to market purchases.
I have looked at some off grid properties but I currently pay $45 for winter months and $55 when I pump to water the lawn.