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Taking the Solar Plunge

8/30/2015

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        Perched on a hill atop a 140 ft. tower, our wind turbine frequently catches the eye of neighbors and passers-by.  Besides producing more than enough electricity for all our needs it’s frequently been a source of conversation.

        I recently had just such a chat with a neighboring farmer, Joe, during a chance meeting in his soybean field on a Sunday afternoon.  “How‘s that thing working out for you?  What does it cost to put one of them up?  I’ve been thinking about looking into one of those for my place,” are typical opening lines.

        I’m always glad to share the ups and downs of our experience since we installed our turbine 6 years ago.  At that time solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (that directly convert solar energy into electricity as opposed to solar hot water systems for example) couldn’t compete with residential wind turbine systems for cost per kilowatt (KW).  So with our hilltop location, capturing some of that free wind whistling past us was the obvious choice.

        But when Joe related his concerns about future costs and availability of fossil fuels my suggestion was that he investigate solar PV.  Why?  The rapid spread of solar photovoltaics has made it a bargain.  Since 1998 the cost has dropped about 7% each year so that now the installed cost for PV is about 1/3 of what it was in 1998.  Not only that, in Wisconsin the Focus on Energy program offers home owners cash back incentives of $600/KW up to $2,400 for a 4KW system – large enough for most typical homes.  And a federal 30% tax credit (not just a deduction) further sweetens the deal.  Focus on Energy has a listing of reputable local solar installers.

        So when folks like Joe tell me, “I’ve been thinking about…” my response is, “Now’s the time to take the solar plunge!”  The federal tax credit is set to expire after 2016 and while current funding from Focus on Energy seems stable, one never knows.

        Beyond the monetary practicality, who can resist being part of an energy renaissance that’s creating a cleaner, healthier, more secure world? There’s ample evidence that the extraction, transportation and burning of fossil fuels is harming our environment.  We can do better than that, and your family can take part because this is the only place we’ll ever call home.   We’re here forever…Earthbound.


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Future's Promise

8/14/2015

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        Karen and I first became parents 35 years ago in 1980.  At that time President Carter struggled with the Iranian hostage situation as reported by CNN’s first 24 hr. broadcast news cycle.  Patriotism swelled when the U.S. hockey team’s “miracle on ice” upset the seemingly invincible U.S.S.R. squad.  Mt. St. Helens covered the Northwest with ash, and John Lennon sang his final song.  We’ve come a long way.

        With forethought, the next 35 years can be a journey toward a healthier, wealthier, and cleaner future.  New research shows that by 2050 the smell of fossil fuel fumes could be “old school”.  In Wisconsin, instead of annually exporting $12 billion in today’s dollars on energy we could be generating all our own residential, commercial, industrial and transportation energy right here courtesy of the wind and sun.  

        A recent study out of Stanford and U.C. Berkeley finds that the entire country could generate all of its energy needs with renewable, non-fossil fuel sources by the year 2050, just 35 years from now, using currently available technology.  New innovations could shorten that time frame. (Just compare your current smart phone with the one that used to hang on the wall in 1980!)

        The study lays out a state-by-state outline for achieving renewable energy independence. What would it look like for Wisconsin?

·      51,458 career (40 yr.) construction jobs created

·      33,200 career (40 yr.) operation jobs created

·      36% increased efficiency over burning fossil fuels - much less total energy needed

·      $7.1 billion saved annually in health care costs (934 lives saved annually)

·      $10,779 annual energy, health, and climate costs saved per person by the year 2050

        To reach this goal the projection predicts that Wisconsin’s energy mix would be roughly comprised of: 3% rooftop solar, 16% solar photovoltaic plants, 2% concentrated solar plants, 45% on shore wind, 30% off shore wind, 3% commercial / govt. solar rooftop, and 1% hydroelectric.  Less than 3% land area would be needed.

        This future won’t just happen without intentional planning.  Adjusting to new opportunities is always a challenge.  But what’s not to like about a free, endless supply of energy generated on our own soil that reaps health, wealth and employment benefits for all?  It’s a future we Badgers should embrace because the path we’re on is not sustainable, and this bountiful Earth is the only home we’ll ever know.  We’re here forever…Earthbound.
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    I'm interested in the topics of sustainability and climate change especially in regards to our local area in southwest Wisconsin.

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