A 2.1kw Solar array mounted on the roof will provide enough electricity to power a highway speed electric car for 10,000 miles per year.
The Fisher’s won’t be worried about rising gas prices, they produce their own fuel now. The project began in the summer of 2007 when the Fisher’s contacted The Solar Stone, LLC to design a system to meet their needs. Within a few weeks the 2.1 Kilowatt direct grid tied solar system was installed. The 10 Sharp 208 Watt solar panels generate electricity when the sun shines and through the use of a Xantrex Grid tie Inverter that electricity is fed directly into the existing electrical system for the home. Any excess electricity is sent out of the house onto the utility grid and the household electric meter actually turns backwards, Avista buys the excess!!
This system performed great, but… In the spring of 2008, the customer got on the waiting list to purchase a Tesla all electric highway speed car. To really maximize the benefit of an electric car it would be ideal if the owners produced their own electricity to charge the electric car. Phase 2 was born. A second 2.1 kw Solar array was added to the roof, this time with batteries to provide backup electricity during a power outage. Now all they need is the car which is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2008.
This is an amazing example of what can be done with the technology that is available in the alternative energy industry. The federal government has just passed a new policy that qualifies residential solar installation for a full 30% tax credit. Yes, that means that the federal government pays you $300.00 for every $1,000.00 you invest in solar power. State and utility incentives are also available, greatly reducing the overall cost of these systems. Washington customers can receive up to $2,000.00 per year from their utility provider to produce solar energy.
This project represents just one of many systems successfully installed by The Solar Stone, LLC in North Idaho and Eastern Washington in the recent past. The time is now for solar power to become mainstream in the inland Northwest, we are well behind the rest of the country, and the US is well behind many other parts of the world. Our Sun resource here is nothing to shrug at, Germany is the leading user of solar power in the world, and they have less sun than Seattle! Solar really works, take a look.
If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with Justin McLane please contact us today.