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Tips from Arrowhead Solar Projects
Build Your Own Alternative Energy ‘Green Power’ Plant
|  First
in Their County to Sell "Green Power"
Doug and Laura of Arrowhead Solar live in a delightful
strawbale home, powered by their own wind/solar "green
power" plant. They are the first in their county to
sell "green power" back to the utility company,
measured by a specialized meter that spins backwards.
A referendum was passed in Colorado in the Novermber 2004
election, stating that power companies must
purchase 4-6% "green power" from renewable sources,
and this amount must increase yearly! Colorado
sets a precedent for using alternative, renewable, sustainable
energy, encouraging other states to do the same. (Get a
referendum going in your state!)
Doug says that most people are unaware how easy it is to
build an "green power", alternative energy station,
how productive it can be economically and how satisfying
such independence is. Here are his professional tips for
getting your own renewable energy, "green power"
plant up and running:
-
When putting up solar panels, know your daily
use power demand, and plan for double. That way,
when the sun is shining during the day, you will generate
enough for both day and night. Some power will be lost
in translation, so plan to make a little extra.
-
Know the average number of cloudy days for your
region, reducing solar availability; plan battery
storage to cover that many days.
-
Wind is a great way to augment solar power.
Wind generators can run at night, when solar panels are
"sleeping" and in regions that have less sunny
days in winter, wind can take up the slack.
-
Economics: a good solar system still costs less than an
SUV;
an SUV depreciates and a solar system appreciates. Doug
and Laura found that by taking out a home equity loan,
and paying it off in four years, they will own an alternative,
renewable, clean energy plant that will serve them for
a lifetime (for them it just took the place of a car payment
as their vehicles are owned free and clear).
-
Get help to install your solar/wind system.
Home Power Magazine and Mother Earth News are good educational
resources. Doug suggests contacting a solar/wind company
to design a plan, order parts and correct size wire, and
assist in whatever way you need to complete installation.
- Enjoy
your "green power" independence and profit!
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Doug and Laura Constructing Their Straw Bale Home
| Researchers
in Boulder, Colorado predict that wind will provide
25% of U.S. electrical needs within ten years. They
are now able to collect wind energy even from very
slight wind; a big step ahead in the use of wind
power.
 UDALL
HONORS BOWMAN FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING WRAY SCHOOL
DISTRICT WIND TURBINE PROJECT
Washington, D.C.
Congressman Mark Udall (Democrat-Eldorado Springs)
last week honored Mrs. Eva Bowman of Wray, CO, for
her generous donation of $200,000 to the Wray School
District wind turbine project. Udall’s staff
presented her with a letter at the Environmental
and Clean Energy Inaugural Ball honoring her contributions
to Colorado’s rural communities and to renewable
energy.
“Your generous donation of $200,000 to
the Wray, Colorado school district wind turbine
project has already set an important precedent in
Colorado. While the project itself is relatively
small in nature, it shows what dedicated communities
can do to help rural economic development and maintain
farming as a way of life,” said Udall.
“Without your generous contribution of
seed money for the wind turbine project, further
grant money would not be an option. Wray is fortunate
to have committed members of the community like
you who have the foresight and patience to envision
a project and see it through.”
Udall, as co-chair of the U.S. House Renewable Energy
and Energy Efficiency Caucus, is a nationally recognized
leader on energy issues. The Colorado congressman
also served as co-chairman of the campaign for Amendment
37, the successful 2004 state ballot initiative
that requires utility companies to derive more of
their energy from renewable sources like the wind
and the sun.
News
from the office of CONGRESSMAN MARK UDALL
2nd District, Colorado 240 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 - 202.225.2161
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