Beating Global Warming with Solar Power (Denver)

[jpak]

http://northdenvernews.com/content/view/907/2/

Every time we use electricity, we contribute to our “carbon footprint” or greenhouse gas emissions. For every kilowatt-hour we use, almost 2 lbs of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere from the coal burned at the power plant. However, some NW Denver families are changing that equation and reducing their carbon footprint by getting their electricity from the sun using photovoltaic panels.

One great example can be seen in the Highland neighborhood. Owners, Donna Vetrano-Pryor and William Pryor installed a 5 kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof of their garage. Donna reports that they installed the system “out of a sense of social responsibility and for general concern for the environment”. The system has been running since October 2006 and has cut their electricity bills by about 75%. Another example can be seen on new townhomes in the Sunnyside neighborhood on W. 43rd Ave. between Alcott and Bryant. Best seen from the alley, the entire southern wall of the buildings is covered in photovoltaic panels. The new owner, just moving in when I spoke with her, said the solar energy system played a large role in their decision to buy the home.

<snip>

Photovoltaic panels are different from the solar panels that many people installed on their roofs in the 1970s and 80s. The older solar panels collected heat that was brought into the house typically for hot water. The systems involved pumps, pipes, and storage tanks. Photovoltaics, on the other hand, convert sunlight directly into electricity. They are mounted on the roof and wired directly to your electric meter. When the sun shines, electricity is fed into the meter where it can be used by the lights and appliances in the home. Sometimes, when the panels produce more than you need in the house, your electric meter runs backwards for a credit on your bill. My system has been driving my meter backwards for the last four months, giving me a credit on my bill for the winter when the sun doesn’t shine as much.

<snip>

System output: 2 kilowatts Physical size: 16 ft x 11 ft Installed Cost: $16000 Rebate from Xcel: $9000 Federal tax credit: $2000 Final Cost: $5000 Electricity saved: 2917 kWh per year Carbon dioxide reduced: 2.8 tons per year Reduction on bill: $251 per year.

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[IndyOp]

1. Have you checked out Sun Edison or other similar solar energy outfits?

Sun Edison install solar panels at no cost - primarily in business & government applications. You pay market rate for the solar-generated electricity you use for 5 years and then your cost locks in so there are never any increases after that.

Sun Edison
http://www.sunedison.com/

I'd like to find an outfit that will install the panels and allow me to pay the cost of the panels by paying a regular electricity bill -- but eventually will allow me to own the panels. Do you know of any?

:shrug:

[OpenSpace]

2. Why would a company install solar panels on your home,

for free? Its a great idea but you will never find a company willing to do this. I personally believe that the electric companies and the oil companies should be mandated by government to install solar panels on every home in the USA. They made enough money last year to do this and still have a profit. This however doesnt address the real problem with solar power in the USA.

[IndyOp]

3. You pay for the cost of the solar panels (+interest) over time -

By paying your "electric bill" for the cost of the energy you get from solar panels to the company that installs the panels they get back the price of the panels. After you've paid for the panels & installation then you don't have to pay an electric bill anymore - at least not for the energy you get from the panels you now own.

If energy companies installed solar panels on every home (& business!) in the U.S. -- why would that not "address the real problem with solar power in the U.S"? What is the real problem with solar power in the U.S.?

[OpenSpace]

4. Well, think about it.

Why would a company willingly incur the expense of installing panels on your home? What would they get out of it unless they are forced to do it? It would make more sense for a solar panel company to simply purchase a large field in the middle of nowhere and put up their own solar power farm which they own forever. Why would a company build and install a solar system in your home and then eventually just give you ownership of it? Sounds good but it is unrealistic.

I researched this subject for about a year before we put solar panels onto a building that we recently built. The problem with the 'scheme' is that each month I generate so many kilowatts of power. The power is stored in the local electric grid. If I produce 100 kilowatts and my consumption is 110 kilowatts I have to pay the electric company for 10 kilowatts of power. On the other hand, if I produced 100 kilowatts and my usage was only 90 I would not have to pay anything for kilowatt usage but I would still have to pay all the taxes, fees and service charges. I would not get credit for the extra 10 kilowatts of power that I 'GAVE' to the power company.

Basically, we determined that it would take us about 20 years to recover the cost to install the panels. If we were given credit for the extra kilowatts that exceeded our usage we would be able to recover our costs in a much shorter period of time. Since the life of a solar panel is only about 20 years, it fiscally did not makes sense. Of course, it did environmentally so we went ahead with the project but people who are crunching number for the sole purpose of making a profit would never invest in solar power as long as there are federal and state laws that make it illegal for solar panel users to receive a credit for the surplus amount of kilowatts which they produced. If this law was changed you would see solar panels and wind turbines on every business in the USA. I think the problem is that no taxes are being paid on energy produced 'in house' so the government stands to loose massive amounts of tax revenue if people stop buying electric and start producing it on their own. This is why there has never been a real incentive to push people towards renewable energy. Yes, lots of politicians talk about it, but their actions speak louder than words. The government will loose to many tax dollars if renewable energy is ever implemented. I dont think our hacks in congress will ever allow this to happen.
I think Nancy Pelosi is the only person who understands this problem but I dont think she has reveived any support from others to do something about this.

I hope this clears things up for you.

[IndyOp]

5. If you lived in Denver, you would get a credit on your bill if the panels

produced more electricity than you needed in your building and your electric meter ran backwards. The article from the OP says that "My system has been driving my meter backwards for the last four months, giving me a credit on my bill for the winter when the sun doesn’t shine as much."

There are other places in the U.S. where this is true and, in Germany, the utilities actually have to pay you (credit you) 7x the going rate for any electricity your solar panels put into the grid. Why 7x? Because the cost of building a new powerplant to produce the energy your panels are producing would be about 7x the going rate.

The German power companies are paying people to install little powerplants on their homes and businesses. That is what SunEdison is doing -- they put their solar panels on your property so they don't incur the costs of buying land, so that the local power company is forced to allow them to input energy from their solar panels into the local grid.

SunEdison really does install solar panels onto business & government properties at NO initial cost outlay -- you can look at their site for more information:

SunEdison simplifies solar by offering solar energy services that deliver predictable energy pricing with no capital outlays. Our commercial solution removes complexity and cost from the equation, with SunEdison taking 100% responsibility to build, own and operate the asset - including all upfront purchase and installation costs. You pay only for the solar energy produced, at prices equal to or below current retail energy rates. http://www.sunedison.com/commercial-overview.php

Benefits - http://www.sunedison.com/commercial-benefits.php

[OpenSpace]

6. Colorado must have there energy policy in order.

That is great to hear. Unfortunately, most of the North Eastern states do not work that way and until they do, the energy problem will never truly be addressed.

[IndyOp]

7. I think I understand your point now - and you are right! (n/t)

[corbett]

10. Yes! You Can Reserve A System Now At

the following URL

http://www.NewSolarParadigm.com

The program reduces the installation costs from thousands to just hundreds. I have reserved a system with them and can't wait to have it running next to my solar water heater!

[razzleberry]

8. for 16 thousand dollars, society gets ...

for $16,000 , society's annual payoff is ...


2917kw-h times 5 cents =

$146
.............
typical peak electricity
is $50 per megawatt hour, could be slightly different
....................

we are truely f****d.

[GliderGuider]

9. Who pays for that $11,000 in rebate and tax credit?

It wouldn't be other ratepayers and taxpayers funding someone's PV hobby would it?
How is this blatant wealth redistribution scheme going to "beat global warming"?