Do you wonder where is solar energy being used for homes in the US? You are going to be surprised how much solar energy is used outside of the Sunbelt. There are states in the eastern part of the US that are giving tax credits and other incentives for home solar use. This article will point out some of the places where this use of solar energy is taking place.
One of the advantages of hooking up to solar panels or wind generators is you can sell the excess energy back to an electric company or co-op if your state supports it. For example, in California Pacific Gas and Electric has teamed up with Cisco, IBM, and other organizations to create a Smart Grid. It was a response to a call from President Obama for, "updating the way we get our electricity by starting to build a new smart grid that will save us money, protect our power sources from blackout or attack, and deliver clean, alternative forms of energy to every corner of our nation."
It takes more than a sunny place to be a good bet for consumer interest in home solar power. It also takes social and political values, disposable income and, significantly, state and local incentives. One way to find out if your state has incentives is to use the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
Take a look at some examples of cities and states you might not expect to be great for solar energy: Washington State, Minnesota, Chicago, Michigan and Indiana, and the Southeast Appalachians.
You would not think that a state with the top 14 cities in the nation with the LEAST amount of sunlight would be progressive and tech-savvy but Washington state is big in solar. Solar is significant in the rural areas along with Seattle and Bellingham.
There are people who say that it is not worth pursuing solar power especially in areas of the U.S. where there is little sunlight. In spite of that, there is a lot of interest in solar power in Minnesota in the Twin Cities but also the state's farm country. The next question is, "Why not combine that with wind generators?"
The city of Chicago, under former May Richard Daley, has also been pursuing the use of solar energy. Other Midwest states that have begun to think solar are Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. There really is money in green businesses that goes beyond the rebates and tax incentives. These states hope to use this interest in alternative energy to help rebuild economies.
There also is interest in use of wind and solar technologies in states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, parts of North and South Carolina and Georgia. In 2007, the South Carolina Solar Council reported that "Electric cooperatives in South Carolina will offer a pilot program for net metering for members who wish to install their own renewable energy generation facilities, such as solar systems, in their homes. Net metering will reward consumers who produce more electricity than they use by allowing them to sell the excess to their cooperative. The program will encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of cooperative members and provide a working laboratory for future renewable generation partnerships." Additionally, the Electric Cooperatives plan to invest plan to invest up to $10 million per year towards renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
The last example may be a big surprise given the low amount of sunshine in New Jersey. New Jersey has invested heavily in photovoltaic electricity and is second only to California in solar power generating capacity. New Jersey is one of many states using Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) to boost solar development. The state estimates that as many as 3,000 jobs have been created by the solar industry there. This effort by the state has spurred interest in home solar use.
If you think that solar and wind energy are only for the western and southwestern states, you need to investigate this further as the cost of installing these systems continues to decline.
One of the advantages of hooking up to solar panels or wind generators is you can sell the excess energy back to an electric company or co-op if your state supports it. For example, in California Pacific Gas and Electric has teamed up with Cisco, IBM, and other organizations to create a Smart Grid. It was a response to a call from President Obama for, "updating the way we get our electricity by starting to build a new smart grid that will save us money, protect our power sources from blackout or attack, and deliver clean, alternative forms of energy to every corner of our nation."
It takes more than a sunny place to be a good bet for consumer interest in home solar power. It also takes social and political values, disposable income and, significantly, state and local incentives. One way to find out if your state has incentives is to use the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
Take a look at some examples of cities and states you might not expect to be great for solar energy: Washington State, Minnesota, Chicago, Michigan and Indiana, and the Southeast Appalachians.
You would not think that a state with the top 14 cities in the nation with the LEAST amount of sunlight would be progressive and tech-savvy but Washington state is big in solar. Solar is significant in the rural areas along with Seattle and Bellingham.
There are people who say that it is not worth pursuing solar power especially in areas of the U.S. where there is little sunlight. In spite of that, there is a lot of interest in solar power in Minnesota in the Twin Cities but also the state's farm country. The next question is, "Why not combine that with wind generators?"
The city of Chicago, under former May Richard Daley, has also been pursuing the use of solar energy. Other Midwest states that have begun to think solar are Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. There really is money in green businesses that goes beyond the rebates and tax incentives. These states hope to use this interest in alternative energy to help rebuild economies.
There also is interest in use of wind and solar technologies in states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, parts of North and South Carolina and Georgia. In 2007, the South Carolina Solar Council reported that "Electric cooperatives in South Carolina will offer a pilot program for net metering for members who wish to install their own renewable energy generation facilities, such as solar systems, in their homes. Net metering will reward consumers who produce more electricity than they use by allowing them to sell the excess to their cooperative. The program will encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of cooperative members and provide a working laboratory for future renewable generation partnerships." Additionally, the Electric Cooperatives plan to invest plan to invest up to $10 million per year towards renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
The last example may be a big surprise given the low amount of sunshine in New Jersey. New Jersey has invested heavily in photovoltaic electricity and is second only to California in solar power generating capacity. New Jersey is one of many states using Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) to boost solar development. The state estimates that as many as 3,000 jobs have been created by the solar industry there. This effort by the state has spurred interest in home solar use.
If you think that solar and wind energy are only for the western and southwestern states, you need to investigate this further as the cost of installing these systems continues to decline.
Keep It Green Ideas is an online business dedicated to helping people make easy, simple, choices for a sustainable life.
Follow Keep It Green Ideas on Facebook or for more information on solar and wind power go to Alternative Energy.
Follow Keep It Green Ideas on Facebook or for more information on solar and wind power go to Alternative Energy.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét