Be careful of what exists today may not exist tomorrow. The CA PUC just voted to change the net metering numbers to the point that solar may not be viable in CA. at the same time that the state is mandating solar on new homes. The projected ROI is now predicted to be 20 years plus. Ya think someone is getting their palm greased? Fortunately, existing systems are grandfathered for 15 years and at my age that’s more than enough.
This web page is a good primer for small wind. Great knowledge base before making a small wind turbine decision.
www.solacity.com
Figures, politicians and greed. Then again, who fills those PUC appointments? They aren't elected in my state.
Thank you for the link. I went there and remembered viewing their material before. Some of their information is good, but they are a tiny bit slanted in their information. The website's maps say there isn't enough wind in my area for turbines, but there are ridges (one that I live on) that get substantially higher winds. Those wind maps can be viewed on other websites. I know these companies aren't putting up mega turbines where there isn't enough wind, the cost (even though they are heavily subsidized) is enormous. The entire appalachian trail, for the most part, can be a high wind source. That covers a large geographic area. Having said this, I am still looking at solar now.This web page is a good primer for small wind. Great knowledge base before making a small wind turbine decision.
The Truth About Small Wind Turbines – Solacity
Installing a small wind turbine? Get the information you need for an informed decision: The good and the bad, just the literal truth to help you choose.
Had any sunny days?
Where are you plans for disposal of the toxic heavy metals and lead from your solar panels once they stop working years from now?I poured footings today for my 5250 watt ground mount solar project. Being a retired licensed general contractor, my intent was to do this project completely myself. I found out that San Bernardino county will not allow an owner/builder do solar even though they can build a whole house legally. I think that solar is dangerous because once the panels are exposed to the sun, they are generating electricity and that could be dangerous to a novice builder. My license is inactive since retirement so they would not allow me to use that either. I found an electrical contractor to sign off on the plans for a small fee and I will still be doing the project myself.
The original design called for drilled piers, 24 diameter by 4 feet deep. Eight of them. That is a lot of footing but I am in a 120 MPH wind zone. No trees or buildings to slow it down here in the desert.
Because of the permit issues, it took me a month to get a permit. Then Covid hit and the only driller within 50 miles that could do 24 holes shut down for an unknown period. I had to keep going so I had a friend with a backhoe dig the footings. While he is a skilled operator, there is a limit as to how small a 4 deep hole you can dig. Now I had to form all the footings. I could have used sonotube but that was $500 and the closest supplier was 50 miles away. There are some drawbacks to living in isolation.
Concrete for the drilled piers would have been about 4 CY. My footings took about 4 1/2 CY.
Tomorrow it is strip forms and backfill and grade around the footings to flush them out. Then start panel installation.
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Paint me ignorant, I honestly did not know there was a waste problem with solar panels. Did a google search and read several articles about how large of a problem it actually is. Sad!
Lead acid batteries are over 95% recycleable. Sent a lot of forklift batteries in for a recycle, they left on the same trucks that brought the new batteries in.
I don’t know, but it’s the same toxic heavy metals and lead are in the computers in your tractors. Hmmm
