[XCSSA] RE: Solar Green event day in SA

Sun, 20 May 2007 13:28:44 -0500

Robert, check out these roof panels. The couple that invited the NiCAD
batteries for the GM Evo1 car have started a new company that makes
solar panels that look EXACTLY like roofing shingles.

http://www.solar-components.com/pvshingl.htm

On 5/20/07, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org <xcssa-admin@xcssa.org> wrote:
>
> I looked into the windtricity and II looked into other forms of alternative
> energy. During the times when paying my CPS bill was hard  I joked about
> going to Solar Energy ar even my own windmill and CPS in turn told me they
> would buy any surplus Energy from me.  Just thought it was something
> interesting to say.  AS for me now I am considering experimenting with Solar
> panels on my house and seeing what kind of usage I could get out of a
> battery backup for my home just to power essentials a few lights and the
> emergency radio or even the TV (still trying to decide if it is a cost
> prohibitive right now for me.)  Seeing how Harbor Freight sells Solar Panels
> I might try experimenting on a smaller scale and see what happens
>
>
> Robert
>
>
>  p.s. are we top posting or bottom posting
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xcssa-admin@xcssa.org [mailto:xcssa-admin@xcssa.org]
> Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 12:00 PM
> To: xcssa@xcssa.org
> Subject: XCSSA digest, Vol 1 #989 - 1 msg
>
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>    1. Re: Solar and Green events in SA (xcssa-admin@xcssa.org)
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 23:55:12 -0500
> Subject: Re: [XCSSA] Solar and Green events in SA
> To: xcssa@xcssa.org
> From: xcssa-admin@xcssa.org
> Reply-To: xcssa@xcssa.org
>
> >
> >
> > I do... I just don't fully trust (or respect) the folks behind
> > windtricity.
> > You're paying MORE $$ to help them build out THEIR infrastructure
> > that THEY
> > will get "free power" from to turn around and continue to charge
> > you for...
> > What the heck?!
> > That's just playing back into their recurring revenue net.
> > A net I would like to escape from.  At least a little.. :)
>
> OK Tweeks.  Even the environmental community is somewhat split over
> the worth of Windtricity and other Renewable Energy Credits for
> reasons you describe and others.  Even though I'm now at about 100%
> participation, I still have concerns and plan to be watching to see
> if I feel like my money and good intentions are being abused.  To
> some very limited degree, as a participant I have leverage.
> Renewable Energy Credits are not only promoted by the Bush
> administration DOE, they are endorsed by the Union of Concerned
> Scientists and other organizations and individuals considered "liberal."
>
> CPS does have connections to one (or maybe two now) wind farms.  That
> is for real.  I am paying for KwHr's of wind-generated electricity
> DELIVERED into our San Antonio Grid, not just theoretical or lost in
> West Texas.  CPS has the resources to do that.  If that's not being
> done, they should be sued for false advertising.  Whether those
> electrons actually come to my house, or when I'm using the power, is
> unimportant to me.  I would be only slightly less happy buying REC's
> where the power is delivered somewhere else in the country, as long
> as it's actually being delivered somewhere and replacing fossil fuel
> power.  The effect on global CO2 is the same regardless of whether
> the electricity is delivered to my house or not.
>
> That should mean that they can reduce coal or natural gas burned at
> other plants by a tiny amount, though the dynamics of grid management
> (and the actual utility of wind power, which is intermittant by
> nature) are a subject of some controversy.  I have studied (and
> debated with others) this at some length.  Personally I do believe in
> wind, solar, and geothermal power in combination.  In fact I have a
> vision of how through diversity (lots of different wind locations),
> load management (water pumping and other things can operate when
> there is surplus power only), and energy storage (I'm not sure if CPS
> uses that yet, but there are current and future technologies for it
> on the grid scale) wind can be a big contributor, and in combination
> with other renewables ultimately meet all our energy needs.  By
> participating in Windtricity, I'm giving it a small push.  There's
> not only the kwhr's being delivered today, there's further
> development of the technology so it can be used better in the
> future.  That was also part of the motivation for buying my first and
> now second Prius.  Technology improves better when people are buying it.
>
> I also believe in "social" solutions where we can achieve much more
> working together than by trying to do everything individually.  The
> electricity grid is one example of that, even if it's managed by
> characters you don't entirely like.  As an example, it's far far
> easier for me to reduce my CO2 footprint by buying Windtricity than
> by trying to generate power at my own house.  And I have little
> reason to complain about CPS.  They sell us power at rates much lower
> than most of the country gets.  (My Windtricity only brings my rate
> to about the national average.)  And, in addition to low rates, they
> kick back 17% to the City, which should mean we get better city
> services than we would otherwise get.  (That may help because this is
> a low tax base town with lots of untaxed assets such as military
> bases.)  I think it's great to have a municipal utility, and we
> should never let that go.  It does irk me when CPS starts acting like
> a private corporation.  We own it, not the other way around.  I sign
> my checks "CPS" instead of "CPS Energy" as my one small protest.  So
> far they still cash them.
>
> Charles
>
>
>
>
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