Comments on: Alabama State Solar Power Rebates, Tax Credits, and Incentives

By: Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:34:52 +0000

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.

By: TLogan

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:43:52 +0000

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.

By: Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:37:43 +0000

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.

By: Leslie Muzingo

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:10:51 +0000

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.

By: Doug

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:59:18 +0000

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.

By: ME

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:16:14 +0000

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.

By: Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:06:46 +0000

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.

By: MAD BRAD

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:43:32 +0000

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.

By: red

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:42:44 +0000

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.

By: Tor a.k.a. "Solar Fred"

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:02:27 +0000

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.