Solar Pros And Cons

Homeowner Jack Logue, of Chester County, Pa. said "What I have to pay to air condition my house in the summertime is the cost of most people's mortgages today. "

Logue isn't kidding. His electric bills run anywhere from $600 to $1,000 a month!
Just a few miles away, a solar energy system is already saving money for the Green Valleys Association, a nonprofit environmental group headquartered in a historic estate. "Because we are on the national historic register, we wanted something that would blend in but still be functional," said Vicki Laubach of the Green Valleys Association.
The solar panels were installed on the roof of the building in June, taking nothing away from the historic architecture. The hope was to save up to 50 percent on the electric bill.

The average home uses about about 15,000-kilowatt hours per year of electricity. The average solar array that most homeowners install can produce about 5,000-6,000-kilowatt hours of electricity per year, reducing a bill by about one-third.
Solar Power Pros and Cons:
Charlie Reichner of Heat Shed Inc. said a system can cost about $37,000, which works out to about $7 a watt. While most consumers would rather look into the sun than pay that kind of money for energy, there is help to make solar energy more affordable. Now it should also be noted, that the $37,000 is the cost of purchasing the solar pv system, having it installed and connected to the grid.
A grant paid for more than half of the cost of the solar array at the Green Valleys Association headquarters. A state energy harvest program could cover the rest of the cost.

But if consumers are looking to put solar panels on their home, they might not get very much by just holding out their hands. Homeowners are pretty much on their own when it comes to footing the bill.
Businesses and non-profit groups can get grants for solar projects, but not private homeowners. Special loans are available, but no grants.
There is a bill in the state House right now that would provide $11 million for residential solar energy assistance, but it's been stuck in committee since last spring.

But even if there was money, consumers would have a tough time getting solar panels. Most are being shipped to countries like Germany, where homeowners get paid to produce electricity.
The manufacturers can get much more money selling them in Europe than they can here," said Reichner.
Those who can actually afford solar panels may actually end up making money. A customer that's part of a small electric co-op in Chester County actually gets paid by the co-op for the excess solar energy they put into the power grid.

So to answer the question; are there grants available to homeowners, the answer is no. However, a homeowner can significantly reduce the cost of installing a solar system by taking advantage of tax rebates, state and federal incentives, and manufactures rebates. If a homeowner takes advantage of all the options available, the homeowner can reduce the cost of a solar system drastically.
But if you take the time, and start a small electic co-op in your area, then you could make money from installing a solar electic system, and even qualify for a grant to reduce or eliminte the purchase and installation costs.

Find out what your states congressional and senate leaders are doing to help residents in your state to lower energy costs at: State Energy Efficiency Policy. Learn about pending energy efficiency legislation and current laws including: appliance standards, tax incentives, appropriations, fuel economy standards and more at the Library of Congress

For residents in Pa. find more information on the "Sustainable Development Fund Solar Photovotaics Grant Program" here.

And remember, it's an election year and a great time for citizens to email, write, or call your elected state officials and ask, even demand that they not only support energy efficient legislation, but to also introduce legislation that will help you, you the tax paying, voting resident. The Senate and Congress are all to willing to bailout fiscally irresponsible major corporations, and give millions to the oil companies, none of which trickles down to you and me, the tax paying, voting consumer.

It's time our elected officials shell out a few dollars to help us, the homeowners, and consumers. Let them know, that by helping the homeowner with solar systems, they are also helping the economy. Think about it, if we the consumers weren't buried with fuel bills, electric bills, high cost of food and clothing, we would have more money to spend, and that spending would help the economy. Do your selves a favor, do our economy a favor and call, write and email your elected Congress members and Senators and yes, even the White House, and tell them to include assistance to home owners for alternative energy systems in the Stimulus Package. If they have money for "art museums, re-sodding lawns and the like, and no money, or very little for infrastructure and job creation, then they can easily add a few million dollars for consumers to enable them to buy and install solar energy and or wind energy systems.