Local Projects

We had a good meeting earlier today. At the meeting I get the idea that everybody is
itching to do something rather than just talk.

So let's talk about some local projects we can get involved with together. Here are a couple ideas and you may want to add your own or contribute to one's being discussed.

1) Set up an operational wind sphere.

2) Plant Mangrove samplings on spoil islands in the Banana River.

Reply to this message and tell us what you would like to see. Perhaps someone could visit some of the other groups here and see what they are doing.

Tags: experiments, hands, on, project, sphere, wind

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Colin Mckinney on September 11, 2008 at 4:14pm: How about a 100,000 watt solar PV challenge. Sounds like a lot at first, but if you included some commercial applications it is not that much. Find 20 households or businesses that would like to install 5KW of PV (some households installing less, a few businesses installing more). Gather the needed skills among the beneficiaries; installers, electricians, paper work to get permits and rebates, etc. Pool the resources to purchase the panels, invertors, and misc electrical components at reduced costs. This would kick off PV interest, possibly bring a local solar installer into the limelight, and provide quite a bit of renewable energy interest. - No, I am not a solar installer, but I would provide labor, skills, and my portion of the funds required to put a system up - so only 19 more needed.

Colin; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ray Osborne on September 11, 2008 at 10:18pm: Thanks for posting your thoughts on this.

Yes, this idea may have merit. I imagine someone would have to write a good faith agreement between all parties involved. Take bids from several contractors.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ray Osborne on September 11, 2008 at 11:32pm: I would like to repost this in my new "Local Projects" group here.

Unless you would do me the honor and post it yourself.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gary Munson on September 12, 2008 at 3:58am: Colin, Let's pick a project that would be economically practical. Solar PV is still too expensive compared to the energy it captures. See www.nanosolar.com to see the tech that will change solar PV's ROI into something viable. Until the cost of the equipment falls, spending $40K to get $40 worth of electricity a month just doesn't make sense. All the tax credits and rebates that come and go have made many think that solar PV is 'ready for prime time'. It's not.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Colin Mckinney on September 13, 2008 at 7:34am: Although it is disheartening that any ideas are discounted so quickly, I would point out that I would agree that if you take the going rate for a PV installation, it would not make sense. Out of the box price per watt for installation – which is between $8 and $9, a typical 5Kw system will cost $40 - $45K and will produce at best $90/mth based on 30 days x 6 hrs x $.1 per kilowatt hour. However, the purpose of my suggestion was to enlist ideas, suggestions, and alternative avenues to accomplish meaningful alternative energy production, while benefiting those involved.
For starters, the cost breakdown includes factors that can be negotiated – the labor involved accounts between $1 and $2 per watt, the material cost is based on small quantity plus installer mark-up, it may be possible to negotiate a little marketing into lower prices, these are just examples off the top of my head. It is inconceivable to me that federal tax rebates will not be extended, and possibly increased if the $2k cap is lifted. Businesses are not subjected to this cap, and since the cost can be depreciated the ROI is much better. Low interest loans can be investigated; funds for adding alternative energy to low income housing or other options may come to light.
My idea also has potential for more but smaller and faster ROI projects – 1-2Kw PV systems combined with a solar water heater can reduce household energy use by 30% to 50%, other ideas are possible.
Ideas that bring about substantial change are not usually simple to imagine or implement at first glance, however, it is amazing how obstacles are removed with an influx of ideas.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ray Osborne on September 15, 2008 at 7:05pm: For any project to work it needs to have interested people who are
local. So here is an idea.

Would you like to find more people in your area that are
involved in the Picken's Plan here? It is simple, go the to right
side of the screen, where it says Go to "Find Members Near You"
choose search by town and put in your town. Do search then
Invite them to be friends and then copy and paste this
in their comments field.

"We are having a local luncheon this Saturday that I'd like to invite you to."

It is time sensitive so either they will do something or not.

Just an idea if you want to try it.; ▶ Reply to This