http://solarpowerrocks.com/affordable-solar/solar-fred-warningagain-citizenre/ I checked it out. It's basically an MLM
Nanci
-----Original Message-----
From: Myles Twete <matwete@comcast.net>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, Feb 18, 2011 1:13 pm
Subject: Renting Solar? (was RE: [Electric Boats] Lynch /agni motor)
Since this question on solar is a departure from the Lynch/Agni thread, I'm changing the subject according to the gist of what Mr. Garrison is getting at.
What I think about a solar panel rental program for boats?
First, any company doing this isn't doing this to break even---they intend to make money. The money they make will seriously cut into any savings you will get. That Citizenre program website doesn't mention what they actually charge for "rent" and so there's no way to tell offhand what benefit this would offer. We had solar installed on our home 1 year ago. With the incentives and power savings, our 2.5kw system will be paid for within 5yrs and we'll be saving some $250-300/yr thereafter until the inverter craps out and has to be replaced. Assuming a "rental" firm were to install and own your panels (on a home wherever), how much would they have to charge you to stay in business? Realize that they paid for the panels, the installation and all that. Given similar tax incentives and wholesale costs, they might install a system like ours that costs them $5k or less after taxes---i.e. $2/watt. They want that money back within 5yrs for sure. That's $1k/yr, or about $80/mo. Even if their horizon for payback were figured at 10yrs, they still would want $40/mo in rent for a system our size. And as our bill has been reduced by $250-300/yr, this would be a losing proposition for us. And about 1/3 of our electric bill savings during this past year has been due to dropping the 3 plans we subsidized (Clean Wind, Healthy Habitat and some other one), which added up to about $8/mo regardless of whether we used a nanowatt or a kilowatt.
Second, they own the system. You move or sell your home (boat, whatever), either the buyer assumes the contract or the owner comes and rips it out of your roof/system. Having gone thru the pain of seeing holes punched into a brand new roof for solar installation, I do not relish the idea of seeing it ripped out when solar becomes too cheap to meter and we choose to own instead of rent.
Third, you get no tax advantages at all---it's a rent…and depending on the scope you choose, it might get renegotiated in 10yrs. Or they could come by and rip it out.
As solar is getting cheaper and not more expensive, I can't see any reason why someone would want to rent a solar installation
These are just some initial thoughts…your mileage may vary.
Electricity is still nearly too cheap to meter---that is why solar looks so expensive to folks.
Let's turn this around, Bill---why do you find the idea of renting solar panels attractive? Low initial cost---is that it? But there's another option to renting---owning thru financing. You have a home perhaps? You could borrow $10-20k on your home at 4.3% interest over a 20yr timeframe, pay minimal payments and own whatever solar power system you want.
-Myles Twete
I have been reading so many emails about trying to find ways to incorporate solar on boats. I wish Citizenre offered PV systems for rent for boats like they offer for homes. Check them out at www.jointhesolution.com/northerncalifornia and see if there might be a way to incorporate what they are doing into what we all seem to want to do with our houseboats and sailboats. I don't if they can, it's just a thought. Let me know what you think. William A. Garrison --- On Fri, 2/18/11, John Raynes <johncraynes@gmail.com> wrote: Geoff, I suggest you look at equipment from Electric Yacht and talk to Bill Tomlinson. A tried and true drop in electric propulsion system. If you are in the New England area I can help with installation at no cost. Hi, I am a new member and have a small sailing boat that I have just taken the twin cylinder petrol engine out to replace with electric as that is all that is allowed on the lake I intend using.
Looking to buy a comlete ready to install kit minus batteries and propshaft as that is still installed.
Tried numerous firms with no joy. Been told the agni motor is out of stock and only available from india.
wow what a shambles in the present economicall climate I would have thought buying anything would be easy,far from it.
anyone any ideas please regards Geoff |
No comments:
Post a Comment