Renewable Energy Issue Makes Front Page of Wausau Daily Herald
Wisconsin is fifth in the nation for dependence on coal for electricity, sending $853 million out of state for the fuel in 2008. Why not keep more of those dollars working in our own economy by switching to clean energy sources like solar and wind?
We’ve been pointing out for ages that when it comes to fossil fuel, Wisconsin is dead in the water. Every lump of coal, drop of oil, and therm of natural gas we burn has to be imported from out of state – thus exporting dollars that could be used to bolster our state’s economy.
Well, it finally made front page news.
Today’s Wausau Daily Herald featured an article penned by Gannett News Service staff writer Larry Bivens, entitled Coal costs Wis. $853 million each year.
The article covers a recent report released by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) entitled “Burning Coal, Burning Cash: Ranking the States that Import the Most Coal.”
Coal is one of the dirtiest ways to get electricity. Burning it brings consequences not only for global climate change but for Wisconsin’s air quality and thus the health of its citizens.
In addition, switching to renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind will keep more dollars circulating in our state’s economy.
“Wisconsin has the technical potential to generate 4.2 times its electricity needs from renewable power,” Biven quotes Barbara Freese, a senior analyst with UCS and a co-author of the report, as saying during a recent teleconference.
Want to be part of the solution? Call us to find out how we can help you generate your own clean, local electricity from the sun! 715-218-8654
Tags: coal, PV, renewable energy, solar, solar contractor, Wausau, Wausau Daily Herald, Wisconsin
Solar Roofing or Traditional Solar Panels – Which Should You Choose?
Snow can present a major problem for owners of solar roofs in northern climates.
Don’t get me wrong. We’re not anti-PV. Quite the contrary. We install PV as well as solar thermal systems. On a personal note, we lived completely off-grid and used two small PV systems to supply electricity for our home and an outbuilding for three years before moving to the Wausau area. It was a wonderful experience in many ways and we plan to install PV in some capacity on our new home once we’ve gotten that far in the renovation process.
Visit Performance Energy, Inc.
Tags: installing solar, photovoltaics, PV, solar, solar installation, solar panels, solar roof, solar roofing, Wisconsin
Solar PV Installer
It’s been a little lonely around here the past couple of weeks. That’s because Dan’s been out in Colorado, finishing up his photovoltaics training at Solar Energy International (SEI).
I just tried reaching him on his cell phone and couldn’t get through, but according to the syllabus he should have just graduated as a certified PV installer about an hour ago.
Dan will be swinging through Kansas City to visit his mom on the way back up to Wisconsin. Bet she’s proud of him!
Tags: photovoltaics, PV, solar, solar contractor, solar electric, solar installer, solar photovoltaics
Solar Power Flies High
No, we’re not branching out into aviation. This has nothing to do with us, but it’s so cool I just had to pass it on.
Last month Solar Impulse unveiled a prototype aircraft designed to fly day and night with zero emissions and no fossil fuel. The Solar Impulse HB-SIA has a wingspan as wide as a Boeing 747-400 but only weighs 3,500 lb. – about as much as a typical car. And it’s powered entirely by the over 12,000 solar cells mounted on the wing.
They’ve scheduled several test flights during the second half of 2009.
We may not be flying solar business class any time soon, but it’s exciting technology to follow. And it just goes to prove how powerful solar energy can be.
Too bad about the sales tax…
Well, looks like we’ll have to wait another couple years for the sales tax exemption for solar and other renewable energy equipment. Governor Doyle went ahead and passed the bill.
You can’t win ‘em all!
Sales on renewable energy equipment are now slated to become tax exempt on July 1, 2011.
On, Wisconsin! Sales Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy
How’s this for progressive? Starting in July 2009, wind, solar, and anaerobic digester systems will be exempt from sales and use tax in the State of Wisconsin.
To be eligible, a system must produce at least 200 watts of alternating current or 600 British thermal units per day. Even most small residential systems should have no trouble meeting these requirements.
But don’t try to take it to illogical extremes. The sales tax exemption does not extend to “receipts from the sale of and the storage, use, or other consumption of electricity or energy” you may receive as a result of owning your system.
