Solar Power
Hybrid Cars
Posted October 3, 2005
At NEYM Committee Day on Saturday, a question came up regarding the availability of "green" electricity in RI.
Does anyone have specific information about the availability of "clean" electricity in RI?
(The following web site suggests it is available: http://www.cleanenergyri.com/)
This past spring the possibility of homeowers and businesses getting 50% or 100% "clean" electricity through two different supplies distributed by CT Light and Power became possible: (see http://www.cl-p.com/community/environment/clean.asp).
Hartford MM (as well as a number of members/attenders of the Meeting) have subscribed to 100% "clean" energy.
The Interreligious Eco-Justice Network of Connecticut (IEJN) (www.irejn.org) is part of the 20% by 2010 Campaign to increase the use of clean, renewable energy and has actively promoted the use of "clean" electric energy through churches in CT.
Their Mission is stated as follows:
"Interreligious Eco-Justice Network engages people of diverse faith traditions in prayer, dialogue, education, advocacy and celebration of the sacredness of creation. The network encourages faithful living that reflects a right relationship between humankind and the environment."
Posted November 22, 2005
We are considering installing a PV solar energy system for our house in West Hartford. We have had one company come out and look at the site and they have come up with a quote for viable system that has sun about 80-85% of the time based on their calculations and thus is elegible for the CT rebate program. We expect to get at least a second estimate if not a third.
Is there anyone on the list that is knowledgeable about PV installations that might be able to help us evaluate the information we are getting?
Bill Upholt and Mary Lee Morrison
Hartford Monthly Meeting
Reply posted November 22, 2005
Well, here's my take on this. First, reduce the amount of electricity you use as much as possible- as Scott Nielsen says that is the best sustainable practice. My next take is to keep this sustainable technology as simple as possible, simple enough that you can understand and maintain it. I just got 4 small panels (total 390 watts) for the farmhouse here at Woolman Hill, with a charge controller and 2 Surette batteries. I will run several compact fluorescent lights and a car stereo off of it, all DC, hence no inverter. This set up is very simple, and I have installed it, and I have a very limited understanding of electricity! The grid-tied systems are good in that the state will pay a hefty portion of the cost, however they are fairly complex, and when the grid goes down, so does your system...
Mark Fraser
The Union of Concerned Scientists has a page on hybrid cars (www.hybridcenter.org), designed for folks who are trying to decide if/which they want to buy.
Molly Anderson