Alabama State Solar Power Rebates, Tax Credits, and Incentives

henry

Alabama state legislators have been investing our money in “clean coal” and nuke. clean coal is misleading: “There is no such thing as ‘clean coal’ and there never will be. It’s an oxymoron.” i am proud to be an american but imbarased to be from alabama where the lobbyers own the the goverment from the governor down. may the ones who sells us out burn in hell.
imbarased

Michael Alpers

The local power producers Including TVA and Huntsville Utilities in northern Alabama do not care or have a clue. If you read the TVA write-up completely they will not allow reverse power generation to offset the cost of making green power. It is only a marketing scam. If they were truly serious they would allow reverse generation at the rates charged to the consumer as most other states do. There is nothing green about the state of Alabama and from what I can see never will be. They won’t even recycle for that matter.

Jon Ingram

“imbarased” is embarrassing me! Believe it or not, there are plenty of literate people who live in Alabama! Not all of us are rednecks either. My state has been stereotyped since the ’60s. Alabama is not as nearly backwards and unrefined as national public perception would have one believe.

Anyway, our Governor IS doing something in the area of alternative fuels. Is it enough? NO. But, at least it is a start. To see one important step he is undertaking check out this press release from his office:
http://governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2008-09-26-01-clean_corridor.asp

henry

jon, you got me. (embarrassed), public schooled. need i say more. we are not on the same page with alternative fuels. do you work with the gov.?

Jean

A power plant near Birmingham holds the record for airborne mercury production from coal.

michael

I have lived in Alabama for most of my life and I am ashamed at the way our state is lacking on renewable power that will help not only our state but the country as a whole by not providing more in the way of grants and insentives to help anyone go green if they want. Alabama Power should not hold a monopoly on Power nor should any other.

Sumpter

Im all about green power. The real tradgedy is a southern company also owns georgia power allows residents to sell power back to ga power where as alabama residents cannot! What should be done is all deposit money collected should be made to be used in construction of pv and wind generation plants. This money is never taxed and is hidden to public disclosure. The person who pays this money almost never sees it again. Politicians who protect monopolys such as this god will spew from gods mouth, no matter how godly they veiw thierself. What pathetic blight.

M. H. Henry

I think we should focus on how to save money as Alabama residents and write our congressman with any complaints. It will not do any good here. We should be interested in sharing information here that will lead us to a decision to buy green power or not based on the current benefits and or tax cuts. Leave the emotions out of it and stick to the facts. This will help us and others be more productive in our decision making.

M. H. Henry

Question #1 (calculation of savings)
I am interestd in this calculation.
Green Power Switch Producer credit (3,500 Kwh/year * $0.15 * 10 years)
Is the 3,500 an average or a maximum?

Question # 2 (Best installers)
Who if anyone here has had a contractor install a system? What are the best contractors in Alabama at the best cost.

Nicole

If I am not mistaken, the TVA program requires the homeowner to carry huge amounts of very expensive insurance to cover TVA’s equipment — insurance costs which overwhelm the savings of any benefits they offer.

Paris Vega

I live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Our city offers Recycling, emissions testing, and hazardous waste collection. Here is a good article about what Tuscaloosa and other Alabama cities are doing: http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/tuscaloosa_experiments_with_going_green_at_waste_water_treatment_plant/59631/

Chris

One would think that with energy prices as high as they are that each state could come up with a nice plan to help the individual who wants to go solar. Doesn’t surprise me that Alabama which is also one of the lowest ranked states in everything else would not have a plan to help people.

JOHN

I am very disappointed in my state government and their lack of interest in promoting solar energy. To add insult to injury our local cooperative, Baldwin EMC actually charges you a higher rate for electricity if you have any alternative energy source supplementing energy to your home or business.

Monty

Alabam is a great place to implement a PV system, all you have to do is pay for it yourself. Obama’s plans and incentives work only for commercial investments geared towards “savings” for the tax payers. What a joke.

There is a huge political mokery running this state when a man can get payed to burn wood and gets laghed at when he wants to sell the extra juice generated fron a PV system.

Here’s an idea: Make it a “federal” mandate that anyone who generates more power than they need, gets to run the meeter in reverse. Set a standard for the quality of power produced, the same thing you want running your home theater or computer, give me a little insentive, keep it simple and call it a day.

Sorry, that would make too much sence. Obama is just as big a stand up “green” comedian as the gold lined pocket pupets in Montgomery.

Judy

I am not ashamed of living in Alabama, nor do I particularly care about the stereotypes commonly associated with it. I do think that the Alabama should assist, and in some cases, provide “green living” for its residents. It would save the government a fortune in low income supplement. Also, considering the years of toxic abuse heaped upon our land, Alabama could really use the opportunity to make amends to the earth.

Mark McMullen

I see that most of you agree to a certain degree that the federal and overall individual states are not as GUNG HO to give big incentives. I agree with Monty’s idea, Let the meter go in reverse if you make more than you use, and or at least pay you the same rate that they charge you per kwH. When you install the PV system it comes with a secondary meter that shows you how many kwH you have produced produced. Although there is no incentives in Al. to speak of, if you install a system and use the power from the PV as the primary and the grid as the secondary than you bypass the issue of being compensated by the local power company. The systems out there are expensive, but if you are building a home get the system finance all in one with the home loan and you will hit the ground running with savings. If I stand corrected please comment. The more we know the better. Power to the People.

Mark McMullen

I will also share this. I have worked on government facilities as an inspector and as a construction superintendent and I have seen the govt. waste alot of our tax money. And to this day I cannot figure out why they will not utilize the power supply systems available on there own structures. I think we should also pressure them “contact your local Rep.” to do the right thing and set the example. They all preach how we ” the rodents in the maze” need to do the right thing for our country. Its time we make them do the right thing for “US” since we do pay for their luxuries. Power to the People.

Stephanie

How do we get this changed in Alabama? Alabama needs incentives for solar panels!

JACKSON CANUP

start with you local goverment , and work your we up the line ,and vote. get in the local town halls make noise it will take time but look at the savings for all, look at the new jobs, sheffield alabama I am coming your way and we are going to get green! alabama goverment is going to help or alabama goverment is going to change! alabama could be looked at as one of the best states in America to retire.

Larry

Priorities
#1 Learn to spell or use spell check.
#2 Save the environment

Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Honestly, Larry, Our priorities are 1) Save the environment, 2) drink celebratory beer, 3) spell check, 4) more beer. 5) See #1.

In any case, the only spelling mistake that our system caught that wasn’t intentional (“gotta” is just how write) was “bigwhigs.” Should have been bigwigs. Gotta change that. But thanks for pointing that out. If bad copy editing is all that prevents you from going solar, well….real bummer for the planet and I guess bad on us. We’ve probably got a zillion more typos on our 3 years worth of our great solar info here, so please forgive us in advance and go solar anyway.

red

First dont think tha Alabamas government is the only one getting their pockets stuffed, the only difference is who is doing the stuffing. Here in Alabama it is mostly Alabama power, where in other states it is the green energy companies. Second I am not at all embarrassed to be from Alabama and if you are you have the right to leave.
I have sent many letters to the state reps on this very subject. NOT e-mails. Letters. They get a huge amount of e-mails every day. If you want to get your point across to them send letters. Send ten a day, what ever it takes. Or you can also run for office yourself. Another effective move might also be to make sure the state reps see this comment board. Print it out and send them one hundred copies.

MAD BRAD

Just joined in on trying to get something done by contacting our representatives and got ignored with no returned calls and lies that I would get returned emails. The one office that would respond started in on how education needs priority over solar and our education is in quote dire straits. They may be in bad shape but they were not so bad that two years ago that our state officials gave themselves a 60% raise. Also we hear how cheap our taxes are here. That may be the case for some but not for me. That figured a way to double my business license this year and my land tax continues to go up.

Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Good for you, Brad! Sounds like the next step is to get more press for the cause. See if you can’t the attention of one of the large Alabama news papers or, even better, a television station. But don’t be mad brad to these reporters. Be polite, make your case that solar is important too and that it’s important to the health of those kids in terms of pollution and asthma related health costs. Point out that utilities all over the states are getting on board, including Florida and Georgia. Does Alabama want to be left behind on the bottom floor of clean air solar energy? With all of its sun? That’s what I would say to the reporters. Hopefully, they’ll then go get some kind of comment from the lawmakers about why they want to leave Alabama behind the times. Coal is yesterday. Solar is ready now and will be a huge part of our energy future.

Keep it up, Brad! But remember to keep your cool. Otherwise, they’ll just listen to your anger and emotions and not what you’re truly trying to say.

ME

Well Considering where I live in South Alabama does not even have a recycling program how can you expect them to have anything for solar.

Doug

It’s not up to the utilities.It’s up to the consumer to prove the demand is there to convert to alternate power sources. Solar wind and geothermal often appear to be blocked. If the public would move forward with out the help of the state and learn to go off grid the TVA and the state will have no choice but to get with the times. The loss of tax revenue usually gets the states panties in a bunch pretty quick.

Leslie Muzingo

While I will agree that Alabama certainly should be more environmentally friendly and offer more incentives, Alabama can, on the other hand, be considered PROGRESSIVE for offering a tax incentive for burning wood before the Feds did as they are now – yes folks, you can now get a 30% tax credit for installing a fireplace insert. It could be that your fireplace was none functional or you didn’t even burn wood before, but thanks to the fed govt, now you burn wood. Why? Because wood, as Alabama knew long ago, (and as they know in Norway and Sweden) is a renewable resource, and so long as the fireplaces and stoves are energy efficient, this is actually a good way to heat our homes. As for the individual who claims to live in South Alabama but says there is no recycling center here, I don’t know where THAT person lives, but I live in Mobile, and there is a very large center not a quarter mile from my home. That center is actively used by the community and has several full time employees.

It is easy to criticize. We in Alabama would appreciate it if you’d just encourage us next time.

Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Leslie, thanks for your perspective. The wood burning program you’re taking about is explained briefly here.

Nevertheless, this is SolarPowerRocks, not WoodPowerRocks, and we hope that Alabama natives will do all they can to encourage their legislators to pass programs that will use all that gorgeous Alabama sun for solar electric and solar hot water systems. I’m glad to hear that you’re recycling down there in Mobile. I have friends down there in smaller towns that don’t. It would be great if all could be more environmentally conscious as Mobile. Thanks for your thoughts.

TLogan

I sat in an Economic Development Conference in Montgomery in early 2009 and listened in unbelief as one of the heads of Alabama Power said that the State of Alabama was not a good place to try to generate either solar or wind energy. The people at our table all groaned as he showed a “map” of Alabama with sun and wind ratings that in his words were too low for any benefit.

Then he displayed a pie chart showing how by 2025 more than 20% of Alabama Power’s KWH would come from nuclear ? energy!!

And he represents the guys who are running our power industry in Alabama.

Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Why spend billions on a nuclear plant in Alabama when you have a natural nuclear plant: The Sun. And great solar technology to capture that power. It’s ready here and now and Alabamans have to elect and pressure officials to give subsidies toward solar projects, not costly, unreliable, unsafe, water intensive nuclear.

wayne

Anyone ever really looked at the ROI for a PV system? It’s somewhere bordering on the outrageous. And NO – Bama does not give us any incentives to go green. Even buying a Smart car is Dumb – in Bama, you’ll get run over and crushed to death. Forget that.

Bottom line – unless the cost of PV comes down to where I can get ~ a 1-year ROI, then I’ll keep ignoring solar. Too bad – ’cause I think solar is cool (pardon any pun here).

msg

we have the technology to go green and save our environment and ourselves. yet we have no incentives from state government to do so. i don’t know about everyone else, but i can’
t seem to save a dime to put toward solar panels for trying to pay my electric bills. sad indeed.

Catfish

There are several errors with postings above. 1) Alabama Power does not have a monopoly in Alabama. There are more than 30 electric municipalities in AL, who are served from multiple resources and providers. Other “power companies” are TVA, Powersouth, and AMEA. 2) Alabama may not have tax incentives, but we do have similar legislation as other states that allows for renewable energy buy-back from consumer owned generation. This became effective in May 2008. It is not specifically net-metering, because net-metering is not always the best solution, and does not always give the best payback to the consumer. 3) ALPower does have a Solar rate (PAE), and it has been in place since June 2009.

bobby white

I have just installed a 2100 watt PV system.I intened to install a grid tie system,however I was discoreged all alone the way by my electric co op {CAEC} I was told this is nota good solar area and that to conect to there system I would have to provid $100,000 worth of insurance.So I put in a 48v battary based unit with a 6kw inverter so ther will be room to grow.now i cut there power off at 6am till 5pm

Larry White

Some very intersting disucssions, but I am still interested in installing solar power for my residence. Energy costs will just continue to rise and I believe home solar is the way to go. Currently we could pay for a system in 10-11 years and be generating “free” energy from that point. Any feedback?

Andolyn

I’m glad to read all of the input on solar incentives in Alabama or the lack thereof. I am building in Fairhope, AL (near Mobile) and we are earnestly trying to build with energy conservation in mind. We started by using structural insulated panels (SIPs) and now need to decide on roofing. I would love to use solar shingles and be net-zero for the year in terms of energy consumption. I have been discouraged to use solar shingles by my builder and the gentleman we chose to set up our solar water heating system (roof panels) It certainly sounds like the state/power company will not support these efforts. Anyone know of someone who has used solar shingles in south Alabama? Thanks in advance for your help!

Andolyn Fitzgerald johnandolyn@bellsouth.net

roderick morrison

right glad to hear that there are some hardy souls in Lower Alabama who are determined in the face of adversity to go GREEN, we also live close by that recycling plant on Govt St, lets join up and develop our own SOLAR Movement.
PS I migrated straight into Mobile from Scotland-its a great State its the right choice for me,,, however, I may speak funny- but at least I can spell,

Kiwistyle

We decided to get on Budget pay for our electric. We have two meters at our house so each went on separate Budget pay. This is the month to “reconcile”, one of the bills ended up with a $400.00 credit and the other with a $300.00 deficit. Now here is the issue that has me upset. For the one that is under the payment they want us to catch it up with a $680.00 payment and the other one they just simply want to keep and neither credit to our other account or get a refund on it. Why would they as they are getting interest of our money.

Now here is an interesting fact. I contacted the Utilities Commission to lodge a complaint about this practice. But I was at the wrong place so I was given the Attorney Generals phone number and was told Now I will Quote:
There is no agency that Governs Electricity in the state of Alabama. I ask what my other recourse is. She told me to go to a Board meeting and voice your opinions. Board Meetings are closed. So in fact the Covington County Electric Company can and do cheat people everyday of the week and it is legal.

I am looking for another Electric source for two buildings, one is 16X20 and the other is 16X24 and I need to run air conditions and water heaters in them both. Then I am going to work on the house. I have enough room to put up a windmill, any know anything about this source of energy??

WBA

I live in Spanish Fort Alabama. I am installing (myself) a small 24 volt solar grid tie system with battery back up . This type of system will slow down the power meter and reduce the power bill. Also, I installed a ‘Power Saver’ or power factor corrector box to further slow the meter down. I am following standard electrical codes and my grid tie connection comes into my power panel on a double 220v 20 amp breaker. I hope to add a wind pma soon and as time goes on, I’ll add a panel and extra inverter over and over again to increase my overall output into the grid. I will be curious to see if Riviera Power forces me to turn off my system.

wba

I read somewhere in the Ala. public service commission papers that a home power generation customer (gird tie) must provide a $1,000,000.00 insurance policy in order to get a net meter. Does anyone in Ala. know if that is in fact true? I think without the net meter, you actually pay for the power you introduce.

gail marshal

I had a plan for a solar & wind power home power project and would like to know how much this payback program payed back per____?… watt. can you give me the information? thamks

Magdi

Why wait for incentives. Most of the text listed here is whining. Just do it. Worst case scenario, you will produce enough power not to pay electricity.
I am planning an 8 KW system to be done in December 2010. Why let the Saudis and the mullah laugh all the way to the bank. Consider this a patroitic matter. A good system of 8ww cost about 24K. Instead of buying a BMW with 45K. buy a chevy for 20K and pay for the 24K with the rest.

Tony

Do any Alabama Utility Companies offer energy rebates?

Pat

Why can you not install a system that will provide 100% of your needs and write these power leaches off for good?

Chris

FACE IT PEOPLE. When you enter Alabama turn your watch back 50 years. That is how far we are behind the western states in green energy.

RTR

TVA has 3 Mark I Nuclear Reactors (the type that melted down in Japan) in Browns Ferry. The reactors are over 30 years old and at the end of their designed life.
However; The NRC gave the TVA a license to operate these plants for an additional 20 years. Seems strange that the plants are operated to recover cost and produce profit in the 30 years life. But the cost of power still goes up even though a paid for plant is producing the power.

Pete

For all the state bashers I have two suggestions. Alabama has several interstate highways that lead to other other states, take one of them. Move to a state that charges higher utility rates and enjoy it. My second suggestion, quit asking tax payers to subsidize your green power endevors. Pay for it yourself and quit whining.

Paul

Thanks for stopping by Power Pete, obviously every one knows that brown power is also subsidized by tax payers. You’ll probable not get any response from your elected officials because they receive a tax revenue from every chunk of smoldering coal producing power.

What aggravates me is how the power company writes articles about renewable energy and they all ways seem to inflate the cost of installing it, deflate the output that it will produce and fail to mention any thing about the environmental benefits (which another quick internet search will also provide). Also they try to discourage investment in solar power by giving the systems a life expectancy of 20 years, the panels are warranted to produce 80% of the rated output for 25 years.

The power company usual state you would have to spend 100,000 dollars to invest in solar, this just is not true. The system with the quickest pay back is grid tied no battery back up and only produces enough to cover your constant loads(fridge, freezer, tv, modems and whatever else always stays on). The ac does not run all the time there for you would be giving power back to the power company at a discounted rate. based on my use the optimal system is 600 watts or 3 panels which would cost 2500 before the 30% tax credit.

Also if you look a little deeper you’ll find that people that use more electricity pay less per kwh. So while the power company is pushing cfl and telling everyone to turn off our lights their billing practices are rewarding excessive use. I feel that electricity has become more of a commodity and should be sold as such, every person should pay the same per kwh with no base charges or meter fees. If it takes a meter, transformer and wire to sell the public power that should be the cost of doing business for the power company. What if gasoline was treated that way? If there was a $100 dollar monthly fee to pump gas it would reward the person that uses the most with a lower per gallon price.

Here is an example of a PV system in MS that cost 6000 (after the federal tax credit) and took 1 person 8 hours to install. http://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/rQq46398 If you click on the lifetime graph you’ll see the south east has a good amount of productive days contrary to the power company’s always rainy/cloudy description. I would have to say it’s a co2 cloud not the weather hanging over their heads. Please keep in mind that even if the pay back is 20 years their is a pay back. You can pay on your power bill forever and the power company will never pay you back. Understanding your power use will reduce your bill the most devices like this are excellent. (http://www.theenergydetective.com/store/ted-5000)

Feel free to contact me at showmeyourgreencard@gmail.com

David

Well Id be the first to say Al. sucks on Renewables. Im not saying anyone should be payed by another to get started.. Its just plain wrong and I dont do things like that because folks might take me for a Politician, but it would be nice if our State Politicians would atleast give us Net-Metering.

Billy fuller

folks we need to get net-metering in our state,if we dont try to get it we never will ,Bill

bruce

i live in tuscaloosa al i have a small pv sytem that charges batteries it cost me about 800.00 it lower my bill by havle i want to sell power back to the grid but they told me with the new smart meter it was not avable thats a lie but thats al power for you ps my sytem is only 300 watts

David

Heres a breakdown of the Investment on average. Lets say a 5200W system @ every possible positive factor you can use for the systems effeciency. Ok, 5200W X 4.98 = 25896.00. Minus 10% of the Fed. Tax credit you may qualify for which now leaves 23306.40. Now on avg, a 5200W say produces 29.9KWH daily, give or take 8KWH daily. 29.9 X 30 days = 897KWH monthly on avg. 897 X 12 months = 10764KWH a year. 10764KWH X 27 years = 290628 KWH for the avg. lifetime of the system. When you divide the cost of 23306.40 by 290628 KWH, your avg. cost per KWH comes out to .0801 KWH for each KWH over the life of the system. If by chance you will need another Inverter over this lifetime of your system, Lets say 15yrs, it would only raise this avg. by .0100 to .0900 per KWH. I pay now .1265 and dont believe itll ever go down. 5, 10, 15 yrs from now what do you think the cost of a KWH will be? I know of areas around the country that they are paying already .15 to as high as .18 per KWH.
So is it a bad Investment? I dont think so.

Bill

Hello to all dose anyone out there still Read these comment,s here, or is there anyone trying to talk to there Rep.” out there to get something going up in montgomery,there are only 2 or 3 states left that dont have net-metering and no thanks to the power company,s around the state we are one of the states that dont have it ,here in coffee county we are trying to get our Rep.” to move if we can,But we need a lot of help,is there anyone out there Reading these post ,that is trying at this time to get something going,if you are let us know about it ,Bill

David

Bruce its a big time lie.. Go to Alabama Powers Internet site and search for solar.. Then call those liars back.. Good Luck.

watchman

Well, I live in semi rural Alabama. The comments about running your meter backwards are mistaken. You can do it, and I have a system that does it. I have a 2500 watt grid tied battery backup system which I installed myself. I am an electrical engineer, now retired, but you don’t need to be to install one. My system and I made it just fine through the latest 8 day power outage caused by the May tornadoes.

The system uses grid-tied inverters, which as the name implies passes excess power back into the power lines, and can also drow on the lines when the load is heavy. Research it. –Hint: Outback Power systems.. You do not have to be an engineer, just handy with tools and have a little common sense.

My system cost has been about $16 k, including 2.5 kw of panels, mounting structure, inverters, controllers and batteries. (plus a LOT of elbow grease)

I save about 20% on my electric bill. Granted it is not a money maker, but it does provide lights and electricity for refrigerators and freezers when the mains go down for indefinite periods, without worrying about gas for a noisy generator.

A small apartment sized gas stove tucked in the basement and rigged to run on propane will cook meals for 5 for over a month on a grill-sized propane tank.

Paul

WATCHMAN, What loads are you running while on back up? you should be able to run a window unit that would keep a room cool during an outage.I would like to talk with you, email showmeyourgreencard@gmail.com

Roxann

I’m stunned to have read all of the comments posted! Some helpful, some just ignorant! Let me just say, I ended up here on accident researching solar panels to help with our pockets as well as saving this planet. If we can harness the energy our earth supplies why haven’t we yet? Mostly because of the cost! Which ive found is incredible! I’m not looking for someone to put money in my pocket but my energy bills are going through the roof my taxes are going up and its getting harder to make ends meet.I was born in this beautiful state as well as my children. Ive had the pleasure of seeing others and have to say proud to be an Alabamian. We do have a bad reputation for being rednecks or stupid and reading some of what was posted just encourages those thoughts.The fact is Alabama should give incentives for installing solar or wind and if were generating enough power to turn the dial backward your dang right I want a check in the mail and better not be late with it or I wont hesitate to tack on late fees,cause the power company doesn’t mind and wont blink an eye to turn you off!! I don’t know what the answer is but Alabama is 50 years behind when it comes to going green.I love my state love my GOD love my children,I don’t love spending money on electricity if i don’t have to. For those who posted helpful hints thank you. For all others you got a chip on your shoulders and give Alabamians the bad names in which we cant get away from.

R. Draper

after reading many of the comments that have been posted, it boils down to educating the public in general, and contacting state legislators or even the governor himself with numerous letters if need be. I think the people should have the choice, and more of a say when it comes to utilities.

Billy fuller

to all those in alabama I am in solar it works Real good But for it to work the way it should we have got to get net-metering in alabama so every one Please call the governor,s office every week or so ,and get everyone that will call ,and let the governor know the people of alabama need net-metering in our state, I have Been calling it But I need more to call to , call this number (334-242-7978 this is johnny Blackman,s number of the governor,s office and let them know we need net -metering in alabama ,the more people that call the Better it will Be ,please call them ,thanks Bill

David

After reading the last two post that are here on this site, I too beleive its all education and contacting of your States Gov. Officials to get the ball rolling. Corporations Like Wal-Mart and walgreens throughout the Country are getting on the Solar Bandwagon like Crazy… If you follow politics Republicans are now not so Green. But they need a cash Cow to now unseat Obama.. Im Concervative myself, but see through the BS… They need money, like Obama has GTE.. Poltics!! Dont let anyone try to convince you Solar doesnt work. So many states now enjoy relatively free energy independence from Corporations that gouge you to the brink everyday.. Alabama no dought is fighting for last place. Let your voice be heard, and Alabama will join the rest of the Country in true energy Independence.. Capitalism at its best! Corporations competeing with the people..

tony hanners

i am from the dothan alabama area and i to am starting to check into solar as the power bill keeps just going up and i am now installing a wood burning fireplace for the tax break as this is a joke but doing it for us as alabama is broke and have our taxes on hold from 10 as i installed new windows and doors and the whole works and have all papers to prove and feds paid but not alabama waiting on a audit, what a joke.

david

Im sorry, I meant GE!! lol

David

If anyone is interested, there will be on December 6th nd 7th a conference in Auburn,Al. Alabama Clean and Renewable Energy Conference @ Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. State political figures will be there as well as all aspects of energy for finding ways to improve Alabamas renewable energy policies. Contact info: Kathy Hornsby 334-242-5284 Hope to see you there.

Tony

First let me start by declaring the pride I have living in Alabama. I’m not from here and nor have I been here but 18 months. My wife is from Panama and I’ve lived with her in Panama, Puerto Rico, Germany, and now here. In these months, us foreigners have been made to feel very welcome by our neighbors, our Church, and my co-workers.

Although thankful, our time in Germany (7.5 yrs) is what is relevant to this conversation.

In Germany, our next door neighbor, with his middle aged step-father, put in solar panels which covered nearly his entire south facing roof. A roof with a very tilted pitch! This guy is an M.D. and his step-father has worked the land his whole life. I watched them and talked with them. Their greatest concern was sealing the holes in the roof created by the infrastructure holding the panels. It went up slow and careful, but they did it. Their motivation? Energy cost 2.5-3 times what we pay here compared to Germany. Varies depending upon area, obviously.

So this experience motivated me to consider PV for the home I was to buy. My wife’s dream house is in a Home Owner Association sub-division. Guess what? Yep, no PV panels allowed on the roof. Sad, because I have a huge southern facing roof tilted at approx 20 degrees – ideal right?

So maybe Alabama does have an opportunity to achieve better policies in support of solar energy use. For me, I’ll continue working to influence the HOA so I can do as my German neighbor and brother Watchman above – get’r done!

Watchman, if you wouldn’t mind sharing details, I’ll appreciate it. tony_ret@yahoo.com

Jennifer

I really wish Alabama would go Solar Power.It would really help in everything,from saving money to the trees.Our power Companies need to stop and think how it would help their customers out that is having a hard time paying for power cost.LIke our household,there is only one person working and it’s hard to pay it on time like they wont it to be.You would think they would do that,but i feel like they don’t care,all they care about it having that money in their pocket..yip!!!!

Jim

I am an Auburn boy who moved out to California, and the contrast between AL and CA policies is stunning. CA passed a law 3 or 4 (?) years ago that said HOA’s could not restrict homeowners from installing solar on their home. Although there is no state tax credit, the power company provides a credit (was about 10 percent when I installed) for installation costs that is partially subsidized through the Air Quality District. I was thinking of getting a system for my retired dad in B’ham, but AL policy seems to discourage this. Finally, I wasn’t smart enough to realize it at the time, but install it yourself and save a ton. I am extremely pleased with my system and have even gone ahead and bought an all electric Nissan Leaf that I could charge off the roof. I have paid about $150 total for electricity since mid 2008 and have not been to a gas station since May 2010. Like everything else, whether it pays for itself depends on what you do and how you use it.