[quote=Jacarandoso]An, if you add exceptional needs for generation to the equation you can quit talking about apples to apples altogether.

Sdduuuude, I saw what you were posting about the tiered costs on another thread. It’s also a good point. In my case I am thinking about deliberately increasing my energy needs in conjunction with a solar electricity installation. This would be for farming and perhaps other cottage industry purposes on the land. I am not sure I would consider solar just to run the house, because our energy use is low and there are actually a few ways to get it lower easily. Solar hot water heater and wood burning stove are first. We have tons of free wood,Olive and Oak.

What I would really like is if a utility wanted to put solar on my property on an easement and pay me to do it. Which brings up another question, when are the utilities going to start using fuel cell technology, or have they? If it’s good they will, right?[/quote]

This is why we’re looking at getting solar at the same time we get a plug in electric car. Our current usage is pretty low. But if we were charging up our commuter car, it would make more sense.

But since I’m in the drive-it-till-it-won’t-drive-anymore school of car purchasing… We’ve got a while… My husband’s 95 truck is still robust as ever.