Write your local politicans for a green cheque.

[Desperate Measures]

I live in the suburbs of NY. There's simply no room for them. They're also *still* fixing Gulotta's mess

Wondering if the roofs of buildings would would work...

[Galloism]

I was just wondering what kind of appetites those motors have, versus the amount of power the panels are pulling in. You have to assume there's a substantial margin, but it would be comical if it was breaking even.

He told me what the margin was, but I don't remember exactly what it was off the top of my head. It was good size.

[Pope Joan]

In NY, you are required by law to give to the grid your energy that you produce yourself, and then buy it back.

I'm not kidding; just ask the operators of Gore Mountain ski resort who sank a lot of money into wind turbines for use on their mountain.

[Vault 10]

So, you can see that there is strong capacity for solar panel technology to improve, but you can't see the strategic advantage in 'holding the terrain'?

Only for concentrated solar power. Simple direct solar panels are not a very efficient way to collect energy.

I think I talked to you about solar panels before, and I pointed out THAT time that you were talking about 1990's technology, too. I've seen 4kW systems for close to the 16 grand price you suggest.

These are the ones I'm talking about now. The 1990s ones were even worse.

You see, the only time it will produce 4kW is on a particularly sunny summer day on the very equator during the moment the Sun is directly perpendicular to that panel.

If you just live in a hot part of the US, and didn't build your house just to make the best out of that solar panel, it will top out at 2kW. And since half the day the Sun rays are barely if at all touching the panel (say when it's on the other side of the roof), that goes down to under 1000W on sunny days in the summer, or a 500W year-round. Just during the day.

[Gift-of-god]

I don't know about economic return on investment, but in terms of an energy ROI, wind power compares favourably with other energy harvesting technologies.

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_r ... ment_(EROI)_for_wind_energy