Hi. Does anyone have any sources for residential solar power? i.e. web
sites, companies that sell, etc. I want to learn more about the potential
for using solar panels on my house.
I believe, for now, the government still has a tax credit for solar energy
use.
I know the cost of the physical panels is still pretty high.

Thanks.
Walter

"Walter Cohen" wrote in message
...
Hi. Does anyone have any sources for residential solar power? i.e. web
sites, companies that sell, etc. I want to learn more about the potential
for using solar panels on my house.
I believe, for now, the government still has a tax credit for solar energy
use.
I know the cost of the physical panels is still pretty high.

Thanks.
Walter

These are the folks that I used to have my solar panels installed at no cost
to me, and an overall electric savings now of about 15% or so (depending on
a lot of stuff). They operate in NJ. Even if you are not in NJ, there is
some good reading here.
http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com
Tomes

"Tomes" wrote in message
nk.net...
"Walter Cohen" wrote in message
...
Hi. Does anyone have any sources for residential solar power? i.e. web
sites, companies that sell, etc. I want to learn more about the
potential for using solar panels on my house.
I believe, for now, the government still has a tax credit for solar
energy use.
I know the cost of the physical panels is still pretty high.

Thanks.
Walter

These are the folks that I used to have my solar panels installed at no
cost to me, and an overall electric savings now of about 15% or so
(depending on a lot of stuff). They operate in NJ. Even if you are not
in NJ, there is some good reading here.
http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com
Tomes
Correction - I operate at a net electric billing savings of 10% (not 15).
(I just looked over my stuff again...)
Tomes

Tomes wrote:
These are the folks that I used to have my solar panels installed at no
cost to me, and an overall electric savings now of about 15% or so
(depending on a lot of stuff). They operate in NJ. Even if you are not
in NJ, there is some good reading here.
http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com
Tomes
Correction - I operate at a net electric billing savings of 10% (not 15).
(I just looked over my stuff again...)
Tomes


How is it that they can install a solar system at no cost to you? I
know NJ has a rebate system, where the taxpayers are picking up a huge
portion of the cost, but this is the first time I've heard of it being
free. And if it is, why doesn't everyone have one?

The typical case I've seen is a 6KW system costs $55K, with the
taxpayers getting stuck with $40K of it and the homeowner paying $15K.
So, to the homeowner, the payback can appear to come in several years.
But in reality, it's a total misallocation of resources and a rippoff
for taxpayers.

wrote in message
ps.com...
Tomes wrote:
These are the folks that I used to have my solar panels installed at no
cost to me, and an overall electric savings now of about 15% or so
(depending on a lot of stuff). They operate in NJ. Even if you are
not
in NJ, there is some good reading here.
http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com
Tomes
Correction - I operate at a net electric billing savings of 10% (not 15).
(I just looked over my stuff again...)
Tomes

How is it that they can install a solar system at no cost to you? I
know NJ has a rebate system, where the taxpayers are picking up a huge
portion of the cost, but this is the first time I've heard of it being
free. And if it is, why doesn't everyone have one?

The typical case I've seen is a 6KW system costs $55K, with the
taxpayers getting stuck with $40K of it and the homeowner paying $15K.
So, to the homeowner, the payback can appear to come in several years.
But in reality, it's a total misallocation of resources and a rippoff
for taxpayers.

Check out the link. What they do is install it and then charge me for a
percentage of the electricity that it generates. This charge pays off the
'bill' for the hardware and the installation over 20 years or less. If it
is not paid off in the 20 years then the rest of the bill is forgiven. They
rig the monthly charge for the electricity to me in a way that I am saving
overall 10% over what I would be paying to JCP&L if I had no solar panels.

So, overall, I paid zero money up front and save 10% per month while doing
something good for the planet. This was the ultimate no-brainer for me. I
think that everyone does not have this because they do not know about it or
do not have a south facing roof. At this point they are only in NJ.
Tomes

Tomes wrote:
wrote in message
ps.com...
Tomes wrote:
These are the folks that I used to have my solar panels installed at no
cost to me, and an overall electric savings now of about 15% or so
(depending on a lot of stuff). They operate in NJ. Even if you are
not
in NJ, there is some good reading here.
http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com
Tomes
Correction - I operate at a net electric billing savings of 10% (not 15).
(I just looked over my stuff again...)
Tomes

How is it that they can install a solar system at no cost to you? I
know NJ has a rebate system, where the taxpayers are picking up a huge
portion of the cost, but this is the first time I've heard of it being
free. And if it is, why doesn't everyone have one?

The typical case I've seen is a 6KW system costs $55K, with the
taxpayers getting stuck with $40K of it and the homeowner paying $15K.
So, to the homeowner, the payback can appear to come in several years.
But in reality, it's a total misallocation of resources and a rippoff
for taxpayers.

Check out the link. What they do is install it and then charge me for a
percentage of the electricity that it generates. This charge pays off the
'bill' for the hardware and the installation over 20 years or less. If it
is not paid off in the 20 years then the rest of the bill is forgiven. They
rig the monthly charge for the electricity to me in a way that I am saving
overall 10% over what I would be paying to JCP&L if I had no solar panels.

So, overall, I paid zero money up front and save 10% per month while doing
something good for the planet. This was the ultimate no-brainer for me. I
think that everyone does not have this because they do not know about it or
do not have a south facing roof. At this point they are only in NJ.
Tomes


Of course this scheme only works because the tax payers in NJ are
getting shafted for about 75% of the cost of the system, or about $35K
per installation. Only after that does it start to become
economically viable for consumers. If even a few percent of homes
installed these systems, there wouldn't be enough money in the fund to
support it. We should be doing what makes sense to use alternate
sources, but this sure ain't even close to being an economically viable
alternative and is a classic case of a misallocation of resources.

wrote:
Tomes wrote:
These are the folks that I used to have my solar panels installed at no
cost to me, and an overall electric savings now of about 15% or so
(depending on a lot of stuff). They operate in NJ. Even if you are not
in NJ, there is some good reading here.
http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com
Tomes
Correction - I operate at a net electric billing savings of 10% (not 15).
(I just looked over my stuff again...)
Tomes


How is it that they can install a solar system at no cost to you? I
know NJ has a rebate system, where the taxpayers are picking up a huge
portion of the cost, but this is the first time I've heard of it being
free. And if it is, why doesn't everyone have one?

The typical case I've seen is a 6KW system costs $55K, with the
taxpayers getting stuck with $40K of it and the homeowner paying $15K.
So, to the homeowner, the payback can appear to come in several years.
But in reality, it's a total misallocation of resources and a rippoff
for taxpayers.

At least it balances the ripoffs in favor of the energy industries. I
recently read that Exxon hasn't paid any of the huge fine it was
assessed for the Valdez disaster, after all these years. You suppose
you could get away with that???

If there's going to be a tax ripoff--and that seems to be a permanent
thing--we might as well have one, and use it, that at least tries to be
in favor of energy renewal or conservation.

wrote in message
oups.com...
wrote:
Tomes wrote:
These are the folks that I used to have my solar panels installed at
no
cost to me, and an overall electric savings now of about 15% or so
(depending on a lot of stuff). They operate in NJ. Even if you are
not
in NJ, there is some good reading here.
http://www.sunfarmnetwork.com
Tomes
Correction - I operate at a net electric billing savings of 10% (not
15).
(I just looked over my stuff again...)
Tomes

How is it that they can install a solar system at no cost to you? I
know NJ has a rebate system, where the taxpayers are picking up a huge
portion of the cost, but this is the first time I've heard of it being
free. And if it is, why doesn't everyone have one?

The typical case I've seen is a 6KW system costs $55K, with the
taxpayers getting stuck with $40K of it and the homeowner paying $15K.
So, to the homeowner, the payback can appear to come in several years.
But in reality, it's a total misallocation of resources and a rippoff
for taxpayers.

At least it balances the ripoffs in favor of the energy industries. I
recently read that Exxon hasn't paid any of the huge fine it was
assessed for the Valdez disaster, after all these years. You suppose
you could get away with that???

If there's going to be a tax ripoff--and that seems to be a permanent
thing--we might as well have one, and use it, that at least tries to be
in favor of energy renewal or conservation.

Agreed.

In article om, wrote:

The typical case I've seen is a 6KW system costs $55K, with the
taxpayers getting stuck with $40K of it and the homeowner paying $15K.
So, to the homeowner, the payback can appear to come in several years.
But in reality, it's a total misallocation of resources and a rippoff
for taxpayers.

I recently got a quote here in the Southern California area for a 6kw system
and my overall out of pocket expense is either $41k or $47k depending on
whether I go with traditional panels or roof tiles (tiles being more $$).

YMMV.. We're currently getting $2.80/watt in the form of state rebates..

yeah i knw...


regards
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In article ,
Walter Cohen wrote:
Hi. Does anyone have any sources for residential solar power? i.e. web
sites, companies that sell, etc. I want to learn more about the potential
for using solar panels on my house.
I believe, for now, the government still has a tax credit for solar energy

You should have said where you are located. In most places the state and
local incentives greatly outweigh the local ones.

Here is one simple calculator. NYSERDA is NY state but it seems to know
about incentives in many other places too.
http://www.clean-power.com/nyserdaweb/

In Rochester NY I'd be looking at about a 40 year payback at current
prices. Since the expected lifetime is only 25 years it is really only
appealing if you have a very strong green streak or are willing to
gamble that electric rates are going way up in the not too distant future.

This is also for a grid-connected system. If you want batteries, or even
to be able to run off Solar when the power is out, the price goes up.

In sunnier places with expensive electricity it might look better.

I've heard that Solar hot-water is much more cost effective. Does anyone
know any good resources or calculators for it?
--
Jim Prescott - Computing and Networking Group
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Rochester, NY

"Walter Cohen" wrote in message
...
Hi. Does anyone have any sources for residential solar power? i.e. web
sites, companies that sell, etc. I want to learn more about the potential
for using solar panels on my house.
I believe, for now, the government still has a tax credit for solar energy
use.
I know the cost of the physical panels is still pretty high.

Thanks.
Walter

Here's a company in Massachusetts that has some state of the art panels but
they do not sell direct to the end-user.
http://www.evergreensolar.com/

-al sung
Rapid Realm Technology, Inc.
Hopkinton, MA