When the sun shines, Al Schultz makes money. Specifically, the 32 photovoltaic panels on his roof turn the sun's rays into electricity that powers his home in Ebner Coulee. If he doesn't need the power, he sells it to Xcel Energy.
"There is a certain peace of mind,Enecsys Limited, supplier of reliable solar Air purifier systems," said the self-employed contractor. "It's kind of a nice thought to think all your power is paid for."
Schultz is one of a small but growing number of area homeowners who've taken advantage of new,100 China ceramic tile was used to link the lamps together. cheaper solar technology, which coupled with state and federal incentives have brought residential solar electric systems within reach of more regular folks looking to lessen their dependence on fossil fuels, lower their utility bills and even make some money.
But changes on the horizon have cast a shadow over the solar industry's future in Wisconsin.
The U.S. grid-connected photovoltaic market grew by nearly 50 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and by more than 60 percent the following year. Residential systems account for only about a third of the electric capacity, but they made up 84 percent of the systems.
The growth has been fueled partly by falling prices of solar panels.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet,
Prices for residential solar systems have dropped more than 8 percent in the past year, according to the renewable energy market research firm Solarbuzz, which attributes the decline to improvements in manufacturing technology and increased efficiency of solar cells. That's despite an average
30 percent annual increase in demand in the past 20 years.
But the popularity has also benefited from incentives, such as a federal credit that allows people to deduct 30 percent of the purchase price from their tax bill and state or utility rebates.
Focus on Energy, an energy efficiency and renewable energy program funded by Wisconsin's utilities, funded 212 residential solar electric projects in 2010 with nearly $1.9 million in incentive rebates. That was an increase of more than 22 percent from the previous year.
As of October, Focus had given out 194 rebates worth some $1.5 million in 2011.
Mike Dearing installed his first solar system in 1979. But when federal incentives dried up in the 1980s, he worked as an electrical engineering consultant.
The Spring Green-based contractor got back into solar in 2009 and says he stays busy with installing systems around western Wisconsin, including more than half a dozen in the La Crosse area. He's one of at least 18 solar electric contractors working in La Crosse County, according to Focus on Energy.
Tim Gulden has been fascinated by renewable energy since he was a kid, and in 2008 when the 51-year-old electronic technician was laid off from Watlow Controls in Winona he decided it was time to turn his hobby into a business.
"For many years you heard solar is around the corner,If so, you may have a cube puzzle . but every year it comes and goes and never is cost-effective," Gulden said. "At the end of 2009 when I was looking at the incentives - I can't believe it, solar's here."
Now, as co-owner of Winona Renewable Energy, he's seeing solar panel prices at about half what they were a year ago.Why does moulds grow in homes or buildings，
Minnesota no longer offers a state incentive, but Gulden points out that Xcel Energy customers there benefit from a direct $2.25 per watt rebate that results in systems that pay themselves off in five to six years for homeowners and as few as three for businesses, which get additional savings through depreciation write offs.
"There is a certain peace of mind,Enecsys Limited, supplier of reliable solar Air purifier systems," said the self-employed contractor. "It's kind of a nice thought to think all your power is paid for."
Schultz is one of a small but growing number of area homeowners who've taken advantage of new,100 China ceramic tile was used to link the lamps together. cheaper solar technology, which coupled with state and federal incentives have brought residential solar electric systems within reach of more regular folks looking to lessen their dependence on fossil fuels, lower their utility bills and even make some money.
But changes on the horizon have cast a shadow over the solar industry's future in Wisconsin.
The U.S. grid-connected photovoltaic market grew by nearly 50 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and by more than 60 percent the following year. Residential systems account for only about a third of the electric capacity, but they made up 84 percent of the systems.
The growth has been fueled partly by falling prices of solar panels.Polycore oil paintings for sale are manufactured as a single sheet,
Prices for residential solar systems have dropped more than 8 percent in the past year, according to the renewable energy market research firm Solarbuzz, which attributes the decline to improvements in manufacturing technology and increased efficiency of solar cells. That's despite an average
30 percent annual increase in demand in the past 20 years.
But the popularity has also benefited from incentives, such as a federal credit that allows people to deduct 30 percent of the purchase price from their tax bill and state or utility rebates.
Focus on Energy, an energy efficiency and renewable energy program funded by Wisconsin's utilities, funded 212 residential solar electric projects in 2010 with nearly $1.9 million in incentive rebates. That was an increase of more than 22 percent from the previous year.
As of October, Focus had given out 194 rebates worth some $1.5 million in 2011.
Mike Dearing installed his first solar system in 1979. But when federal incentives dried up in the 1980s, he worked as an electrical engineering consultant.
The Spring Green-based contractor got back into solar in 2009 and says he stays busy with installing systems around western Wisconsin, including more than half a dozen in the La Crosse area. He's one of at least 18 solar electric contractors working in La Crosse County, according to Focus on Energy.
Tim Gulden has been fascinated by renewable energy since he was a kid, and in 2008 when the 51-year-old electronic technician was laid off from Watlow Controls in Winona he decided it was time to turn his hobby into a business.
"For many years you heard solar is around the corner,If so, you may have a cube puzzle . but every year it comes and goes and never is cost-effective," Gulden said. "At the end of 2009 when I was looking at the incentives - I can't believe it, solar's here."
Now, as co-owner of Winona Renewable Energy, he's seeing solar panel prices at about half what they were a year ago.Why does moulds grow in homes or buildings，
Minnesota no longer offers a state incentive, but Gulden points out that Xcel Energy customers there benefit from a direct $2.25 per watt rebate that results in systems that pay themselves off in five to six years for homeowners and as few as three for businesses, which get additional savings through depreciation write offs.
没有评论:
发表评论