Solar Powered IRAs

We just sold our first two SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) which are 1 Megawatt/hr blocks of energy from our PV array. The buyer actually does not buy the power itself, but the right to call it their renewable energy. We used all that power at home already for free, so its like getting paid twice at 2 to 3 times the going rate. The lucky buyer was Washington, DC for $250 each. We can also sell to PA and soon Ohio who has the best prices (~$300+)
Now that it has actually happened, after waiting 6 months, it gives me a renewed interest in adding capacity to our system. Our plan is to add a 6.9kw linear array across the pond dam. (see array further away in image) The two pedestal mounts by the willow tree are what we have right now and are rated at 3.6kw for both pedestals combined. Our total will become about 10kw capable of producing about 13 SRECs a year. The plan is to stuff that money away in our 2 IRAs for as long as the party lasts. We also get a 30% tax credit from the Feds and $2000 tax credit from the state of WV.
The capital for this installation comes from an online joint trading account we have maintained for years. Now that the market is up, we intend on liquidating part of our portfolio that has yielded good gains. One of those holdings is a domestic oil/gas field salvage company called Linn Energy. (LINE, stock symbol) It is both ironic and symbolic that we are taking the profits from petroleum and investing in solar. The whole country should be doing so by raising fuel taxes, enacting a carbon tax, and stopping subsidies to big oil and apply those funds into furthering incentives for alternative energy. According to my calculations, we can expect 8% to 25% (at much less risk than the stock market) return on our money depending on installation costs and future SREC and electricity prices. Any capital gains or dividend taxes are offset by the tax credits for PV and IRA investments.
But it doesn't stop there. We will have twice the generating capacity of what we currently use. The plan is to install a heatpump to replace our propane heat supplement. (we also burn wood) No more propane except the cook stove. Yea!
With all the incentives and the fact that electricity and propane prices will rise steeply over the coming years, this system makes sense to us. As we get older, we will appreciate the free energy (system payback in a few years) and yearly contributions into our IRAs. PV isn't instant grats, you must look out 5, 10 or 20 years. These modules should still be puttin' out in 50 years, although I most likely won't. Then there's my grandkids..........hmmmm

Power Production Update

At the end of November we had a surprising 400-some KWh in credits on our meter. After 28 days of snow and clouds, I suspected we would have burned that up by far. When I checked the meter 12/28, I saw we had finally bought 122 net KWh from the grid. I never thought we could get this far into winter before dipping into the grid. The gridtie system has performed beyond expectations here in the West Virginia hills and hollers. Can't wait to see when we get back into credit territory.

West Virginia Enters New Age

Although WV has had net metering provisions they haven't been very good compared to other states. Recently, a new set of rules have been passed by the PSC to put WV's net metering among the best in the country. I am so happy this happened without too much dilution from the powers that be.
Read all about it at http://irecusa.org/2010/07/july-2010-connecting-to-the-grid-newsletter/
Download PDF at bottom of page then go to page 3 to read all about it.
Yeah!

Renewable Energy Eyesore?

Over the past few years there's been quite a fracas over the industrial scale wind farm to be installed on our ancient mountain tops. (never mind entire mountains being removed not too far away) In typical corporate culture, Invenergy LLC had ulterior motives and omitted certain facts about the venture. Well they got caught omitting info and got punished by the Judge; they had to scale back the installation and get a license to kill bats.
I've been flipping back and forth about my feelings over the turbines. After all, they do represent one of the paths our country will follow for cleaner energy. Even my son, Ivan, posted a comment on my Big Oil Mess post. He said the sight of large scale RE sites pales in comparison to the gulf oil spill and the reckless/deadly mining of coal. I was surprised by his comment since he barely mentioned energy issues before.
While large scale RE growth will forge ahead, I think we all have the opportunity to do decentralized power generation and conservation. Modern RE devices are compact and the prices coming down. One can start on the smallest scale and build up over the years.
If you go to http://openpv.nrel.gov/ You can explore all the PV installations in our country that were reported to Open PV. No need to login just hit the explore section or search box. My brother Jeff and I put Greenbrier County in first place of all the WV counties. Shocking. It shows how one can make a difference.

Pond Solar Aerator Online

I spent most of the day Saturday in the blazing heat to finally install the solar aerator I mentioned in a previous post. It is comprised of 4) 55 watt 12vdc solar modules, some 12-2 SO cable, a switch box w/a voltmeter and ammeter, 2) 12vdc bilge pumps rated at 1000 gallons per hour each, some 3/4 plastic tubing, stainless steel cage for a pump filter, foam float for the nozzles, and an old steel pipe for a bottom weight.
Once I was finally able to turn it on, the sun was already far to the west. However, the performance was impressive for the money I had in it.
The following morning, Tenley and I watched it slowly rise in power as the sun came over the trees and the mist burned off. She joked about having it computer controlled to make it dance. Well, later in the day, puffs of clouds raced in the sky and the wind picked up too. I thought, there is no need to make it artificially dynamic, the forces of nature were at the controls, diminishing the flow then gushing forth and the wind changing the water splash patterns.
Now, I wonder how it will change the pond's environment. Usually in the Fall you can smell an off-odor anaerobic whiff once and a while. Meantime, I will monitor turbidity and color of the water. It usually exhibits many state changes though the year, but I'm not sure what they mean. I can only take note of variations from previous years. Of course, there are many forces at work like wind, nutrients, or weather anomalies to throw me off.
I'll be looking into getting some UV resist flotation foam for the nozzles to make an island for turtles, frogs, or waterfowl to perch on.