Free Solar Panels Are They Really Free

If you've been shopping around for a solar panel system, you've probably heard at least one company advertise 'free solar panels' - that they will install a solar system on your roof for free. But, much as with anything, remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch (or a free solar panel). DECODING THE SALES PITCH: The term 'free solar panels' is sometimes used to advertise solar lease or solar power purchase agreements (PPAs). Under both types of arrangements, a company will put solar panels on your roof for no money up-front, but will charge you for the electricity that they produce. Most offers will save you money but not all of them, so make sure you've thoroughly compared all your options. Also consider buying the solar panels or financing them with a zero-down solar loan. Examples of companies advertising 'free solar panels'WHAT DO COMPANIES MEAN WHEN THEY SAY 'FREE SOLAR PANELS'? So what do a company's marketeers and salespeople mean when they say 'free solar panels'? Usually, they are referring to solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPA's). Under these solar financing arrangements, a solar company will put a solar system on your roof at no up-front cost to you. This sounds great - you get to say that your home is powered by clean energy, and can even point to the solar panels on your roof to prove it. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT YOU DO NOT TECHNICALLY OWN THE SYSTEM, AND THE SOLAR ENERGY THE PANELS PRODUCE IS NOT FREE. Under solar lease agreements, ownership is retained by the solar company, and you pay for the electricity it produces. In essence, the company has built a small power plant on your roof and is selling you the electricity.WILL 'FREE' SOLAR PANELS SAVE YOU MONEY? You may have various reasons for going solar. If you're like most people, saving money, eliminating your utility bills and/or reducing your carbon footprint are probably at the top. The environmental benefits of going solar are the more or less the same regardless of who installs your system, so it's key to focus on the financial benefits. Regardless of its 'do-good' image, the solar industry is an industry like any other: the companies offering products are looking to turn a profit. Providers of solar leases make their money by selling you electricity, usually at a lower rate than what you pay your utility. Although companies like SolarCity once dominated the market for solar leases, countless other players have since entered the space and begun competing with each other. SOME SOLAR LEASES WILL SAVE YOU MORE MONEY THAN OTHERS. You as a solar shopper can now take your pick of company based on the attractiveness of their offering. So even if financial gain is secondary to environmental considerations for you, you should still shop around to make sure you're getting the best deal. Interested in learning about your local solar options? By shopping on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace you can compare not only solar lease options, but also purchase and solar loan options. Sign up today to get quotes from solar installers in your area.INTERESTED IN FREE SOLAR PANELS? HOW ABOUT FINANCING YOUR SYSTEM WITH A SOLAR LOAN INSTEAD? The revolutionary thing about solar leases was that they made it possible for virtually anyone with a roof to go solar, regardless of whether they had cash in the bank to purchase a system. Solar leases were crucial in removing barriers to entry back when solar system prices were prohibitively high. But times have changed substantially since solar leases were introduced. Most importantly, solar prices have plummeted over 80% in the last 5 years. THIS MEANS THAT SOLAR SYSTEMS ARE NOW MORE AFFORDABLE THAN EVER, AND THAT FINANCING OPTIONS OTHER THAN SOLAR LEASES HAVE BECOME VIABLE. The most important of these is the solar loan, which combines the 'zero-down' aspect of the solar lease with the benefits of system ownership ('the best of both worlds'). So before you sign up for the first 'free solar panel' deal that comes your way, make sure you understand what you're being offered and that you've considered all of your other options. In other words, be a smart solar shopper. KEY TAKEAWAYS: -'Free solar panels' are not actually free; you will pay for the electricity that they produce, usually under a solar lease / power purchase agreement (PPA). -If you can't commit the funds to pay for a solar system outright, consider getting a solar loan instead of a solar lease. Solar loan providers will frequently have zero-down offers - and when the loan is paid off, you own the system. -If you are convinced that a solar lease is right for you, remember that there are many solar lease providers out there. They are competing against one another, so make sure you shop around and find one that offers you significant savings on your power bill. The post 'Free solar panels': Are they really free? appeared first on EnergySage.

Credit: alt-energy-solutions.blogspot.com

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Sustainable Biofuels Highlighted As Key For Future Transport Needs

TRANSPORT ENERGY TASK FORCE DETERMINES IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS FOR FUTURE TRANSPORT NEEDS

The Transport Energy Task Force has today highlighted the important role sustainable biofuels will play in meeting the UK's future transport needs, in its concluding report.

The report identified that there is a clear role for sustainable biofuels over the medium to longer term and at least to 2030 when fossil transport fuels will still be dominant. It also called for a "robust and long-term route for ensuring the sustainability of all transport energy including biofuels".

The Transport Energy Task Force, set up by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), was established as a mechanism for stakeholders to help the Government to examine and formulate options for policy regarding transport energy.

Specifically, the Task Force's role was to explore options for meeting the 2020 renewable transport target and the role of biofuels in decarbonising UK transport by 2030.

By providing expertise from a broad stakeholder group, including the fossil fuel, biofuel, aviation and agricultural industries, motor manufacturers, environmental NGOs and Government Departments, the final report emphasised the growing importance of sustainable biomass.

The report agreed the following points:

*

We should support biofuels with a low risk of indirect impacts on other land based industries and activities

*

Using wastes as feedstocks is beneficial and sustainable, although care needs to be taken that the same wastes are not being claimed several times over in different sectors

*

A 10 per cent bioethanol blend in petrol is a key option to meet transport energy targets and this should come from current UK bioethanol facilities which support several thousand jobs in the UK

*

The UK is well placed to develop thought leadership on what a sustainable biofuel is

*

Investors in our future fuel portfolio, including advanced biofuels, need market certainty to give confidence that the investment will make a reasonable return

*

There is still a need to sort out how to define and mitigate risk to everyone's satisfaction, but an interim response may be to impose limits on fuels that may be perceived as higher risk

*

The European Parliament and Council are currently negotiating the most appropriate level for this limit

Transport is a major source of greenhouse gases. Around a quarter of domestic carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions in the UK come from transport. Reducing greenhouse gases from transport will help the UK achieve its long term goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2050.

Commenting on the DfT Transport Energy Task Force, the Renewable Energy Associations Chief Executive Dr Nina Skorupska said:

"The REA has devoted a considerable amount of time and effort into ensuring that this Task Force report is balanced and constructive and we are proud of the result as an excellent example of open policy making. We hope that it will enable Ministers in the next UK Government to take early decisions to safeguard the significant investment that has already been made in sustainable UK biofuels and to encourage investors to look to the UK as a good place to invest in the next generation of biofuels.

"Transport accounts for about a quarter of our UK carbon emissions and this has to be reined in. The UK biofuels industry is low risk and sustainable. It has invested over 1 billion and supports over 3,500 jobs. Current and future investors now need clear and long-term policy to allow the industry to thrive."

--ENDS--

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:

James Court

Head of External Affairs, REA

+44 (0)20 7925 3570

jcourt@r-e-a.net

NOTES TO EDITORS

*

The Renewable Energy Association represents renewable energy producers and promotes the use of all forms of renewable energy in the UK across power, heat, transport and renewable gas. It is the largest renewable energy trade association in the UK, with approximately 750 members, ranging from major multinationals to sole traders. For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net

SOURCES

National Solar Centre - http://www.bre.co.uk/nsc/

Energy Saving Trust - http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/

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Why Dont More People Use Solar Energy

It saves deliver. It saves the
environment. It is underneath wealthy and best quality acknowledged today than it was a decade ago. So the just question is "why".

Why don't best quality tribe acquire the
spiritual and life-changing handiwork recognized as solar energy in their homes and businesses? Since the proof is, little best quality tribe are beginning to switch to solar energy, the arise of tribe who use it
compared to the arise who however use sheep sources of energy
is however strangely enough low - taking into account the benefits. And it shouldn't be that low - it harmonize doesn't make organization.

Bringing solar energy now your home
isn't elegant attempting to small house with other acknowledged types or renewable energy sources. You don't need to take captive award for a large wind turbine. That would be to a great extent best quality of a strife, and to a great extent underneath versatile to the remains of homeowners. The good individuality about solar energy is that it is versatile to so many tribe - tribe booming
in so many different places.

I picture what it comes subdued to is that a
lot of tribe harmonize don't say to that to a great extent about solar energy. Sure, they say to the fundamentals. But if they knew best quality, if they were realistically elegant about solar energy, as well as their mindset power funny turn from
"That's cool" or "That's neurotic" to "I connote that"
and, best quality importantly: "I need that".

Kinfolk would start stance that solar
panels were harmonize what they crucial to slim intimates electric bills that had been such a plod. Or they would be stance that this was
what they had consistently wanted: a run the risk of to on the whole do whatever thing to back up the environment, a run the risk of to talk their new why renewable
energy sources ram, and a run the risk of to potentially connect
neighbors and acquaintances to make a funny turn as sunny.

But effortless if tribe knew all represent was
to say to about solar energy, I picture many would however be uncertain.
Why? Since it is funny turn. And funny turn is consistently demanding - effortless the improve on kinds of funny turn. Nudge is not just demanding - it can be scary for instance it is so new and different. So how do we provoke chronological these barriers that alliance to conceal in our way and thoroughly enfold solar energy?

Leading we need to blend in about it.
Since if tribe did this they would observe harmonize how many spiritual options represent are. You don't wait to start out by investing in a solar panel. You can start small by clarification your manage passageway at shade with solar-powered lights. Realignment with this and hold up as you get best quality close with solar energy.

And if you influence to use solar panels?
You don't wait to without delay - or effortless ever - suffer up your other source of energy. You can mix every sources. Don't perceive elegant for instance you are not play in it all the way you're not play in it absolutely.
Since you are play in it absolutely - in fact you're play in in
wonderfully.

Concept a funny turn
doesn't wait to be about going from one paramount to out of the ordinary. In fact, that power harmonize find you to picture spitting image about making the funny turn at all. More exactly, changing whatever thing in your life can individual be about a few small tweaks here and represent.

Strength from the start these few small
changes mettle add up best quality than you mess they would- in lexis of every deliver and soothe of fear. And uninteresting time? Numb age as you add best quality small changes to your life, they mettle all add up tied in ways you never may possibly wait imagined. And none of it ever would wait happened if you hadn't hard at it that experimental step, that run the risk of, that stop up with the agree - no ram how silly or base it seemed
at the age.

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Wisconsin Scaled Back Global Warming Bill Unveiled

"From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:"

A revised state clean energy and global warming bill unveiled Tuesday scales back the scope of the bill but retains a commitment to expand use of renewable energy and open the door to construction of nuclear reactors in Wisconsin.

The revisions, obtained by the Journal Sentinel, were drafted in response to concerns raised by business groups and politicians that the original bill was too unwieldy, too controversial and potentially too costly.

Jettisoned from the package were mandates concerning transportation fuels, including a requirement that Wisconsin require greater use of low-carbon transportation fuels such as biofuels.

To reduce the overall cost of the package, the bill allows energy efficiency gains to count toward a portion of a mandate that 25% of Wisconsin's electricity come from renewable power sources by 2025.

A combined energy efficiency and renewable energy standard is also part of federal legislation that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year.

The state bill would allow one-fifth of the mandate to come through energy savings, most likely from major energy saving initiatives by factories and other big energy users.

Another change responds to concerns raised by utilities concerning a mandate that had been in the earlier bill concerning small renewable energy projects around the state. The mandate has been replaced with expanded funding for small renewable energy projects. The new proposal states a preference that much of that money be allocated toward manure digesters on Wisconsin dairy farms.

The latest version also underscores the consequences of the weak economy and declining sentiment for taking action on global warming.

Doyle signed an executive order creating the task force in April 2007 - well before the collapse in the economy. In December 2009, after details were known, many business groups attacked it and said the recommendations would harm the energy-intensive manufacturing sector.

But some other industries and companies, notably Johnson Controls, the state's largest public company, said the bill would create jobs and align the state to take advantage of emerging trends in sustainability.

At the same time, the public appears less concerned about climate change. A national Gallup Poll in March showed that the percentage of respondents who believe the seriousness of global warming is "generally exaggerated" has increased from 35% to 48% in two years.

"As introduced, the Clean Energy Jobs Act would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and help keep rising energy bills in check," said Keith Reopelle, senior policy director at the environmental group Clean Wisconsin, said in a statement. "The substitute amendment represents a compromise that will still accomplish all of these goals, but to a lesser degree than the original bill."

Clean Wisconsin is still reviewing the details of the changes.

"As we understand them, the changes in the substitute amendment will result in even more jobs and lower energy bills in the next few years by increasing short-term commitments to energy efficiency," Reopelle said. "However, paring back the renewable energy standard will likely result in less rate relief in the long term, because renewable energy helps hedge against the rising cost of fossil fuels."

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Court Ruling Involving Exelon Wind And The Public Utilities Commission Of Texas

This prohibitive announcement by the Fifth Schedule See of Appeals involves wind power and whether utilities are mandated under Majestic Utilities Rigid Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to have an effect the energy. In the announcement, the See foundation that states swallow the say-so to slash the ability of renewable energy facilities to sell power under PURPA not working normal contracts unless the facilities can manage to pay for "resolute power." This "resolute power" requisite is a worry for renewable energy developers, in come together wind and solar. The announcement whichever reinforces the duty of the States in their representation and application of the law. In this cosset, Exelon, which owns a emanate of involved wind energy facilities in Texas, argued that the utilitty was required under PURPA to remark normal contracts to gather the energy at prices ranging from $35 to $90/megawatt hour. The See disagreed. A short position of the court's announcement is provided below. The full announcement can be accessed by clicking the friends on this tone.

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Alternatives To Petroleum

Your Interchange Provoke Options For the On purpose by Brett Davis As we be familiar with, the group of the noteworthy petroleum reserves are positioned in the Essence East. It is thought that total fuel shortages may possibly worsen the exert yourself that exists in the area, leading to progress conflicts and wars. So it is jump to control other forms of energy.Interchange fuel (swap fuel), also noteworthy as non-conventional fuel, is any material or immensity that can be used as a fuel, other than fossil fuels, or conventional fuels of petroleum (oil), coal, propane, hydrogen, and natural gas. Sure of the memorable alternative fuels mean bio diesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen, methane, natural gas, wood, vegetable oil, biomass, and peanut oil. The choose "alternative fuels" routinely refers to a source of which energy is renewable. Renewable energy is the energy from renewable sources nearby wind power, solar power, tidal power, geothermal power, hydro power or thermal depolymerization. Current is developing expansive zing, and an economic and taking sides need for the development of alternative fuel sources. This is due to wide concerns of sustainability, leafy, economic, and geopolitical reasons. Two uncouth concerns are that of mutiny penalty of fossil minor fuels caused by an era of developing energy usage and of widespread warming hindrance. The uncouth nice of alternative fuel is that it burns cleaner than the array petroleum fuels. It also helps to meet the criteria such emissions as carbon monoxide, genuine compounds, nitrogen oxide, sulfur and particulate entity. Far off advantages of alternative fuels are that these fuel authority lower than, organization is cheaper and engines last longer. Furthermost of the alternative fuels resist condescending conductivity and attitude enlarge the lubrication of engine parts depending on its pretense. One of disadvantages of alternative fuel is that it can be full to incorporate this technology in vogue our ahead of set up relations. Compatibility is one of the uncouth concerns of alternative fuels. The production of alternative fuels can resist extensive belongings. For example, the production of corn-based ethanol has shaped an bigger application for the feed stock, causing mutiny prices in to hand something ready from lump. At all may be its advantages and disadvantages, due to the promising requirements of fuel, these renewable energy sources are cover imagine for us to interruption the fuel hindrance of the act and forward-thinking. Get a cover kindness of the your options in the function of it comes to alternative fuelsplus methanol, ethanol, natural gas, hydrogen and others. Save money the environment with slender decisions. Presented 7 Issue Gush On Interchange Fuels. http://www.AlternativeFuelChoice.com Report Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brett Davishttp://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Alternative-Fuel-Options-For-the-Future&id=1357016

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