Getting hooked on wind (backyard wind turbines)

[jpak]

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3953381.html

WINSLOW -- Frank Giordano might stop short of hoping for gale-force winds to strike his North Pond Road property, but he'd be more than happy to see daily stiff breezes.

Such is the mindset of a person who just had a wind generator hooked up in his backyard.

Giordano talked with the pride of a newly-minted dad Wednesday as a work crew installed his Skystream 3.7 turbine.

"What I'm thinking about," he said, "is saving some on my electrical bill. Electric costs are too much these days. They keep getting higher and higher. And I'm also thinking about the environment."

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[Auggie]

1. Too bad our government is subsidizing big oil instead of these.

[jpak]

2. IIRC there's a 30% tax credit on residential wind turbines in the current Energy Bill

Whether or not the GOP lets this through is anyone's guess...

[texastoast]

3. Here in a relatively low wind area

although the wind has picked up a little more as the trees continue to fall to urban sprawl, a friend put up his own turbine for about $1800 total and it is saving him 33% off his electric bill. I believe he wired it to specific circuits and is running his refrigerator, television, washer, and I think computer stuff. He's still running his AC off his regular electric service (which is Green Mountain).

I was surprised that he was able to capture that much wind here in Southeast Texas, but I guess if you get the generator high enough you can catch enough breezes.

I do truly believe that being off the grid will become a major selling point in homes in the near future. It will become a very good investment for resale, not to mention realizing the investment in energy cost savings.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. CC&Rs often block windmills

There are also complaints about solar installations, esp those on ground level