Thursday, June 16, 2011

Amber Waves of Solar Panels? The Turbined Plain?

There was an interesting letter in the Inquirer today, written by Matthew Blake, the Manager of Delaware Bay Program.

Matthew Blake Letter Here!

Although I'm a solar/wind advocate I kinda' see his point here. There are plenty of suitable places for wind and solar facilities to be developed. I'm not in favor of encouraging farmers to plow under their fields and replace them with these contraptions (which, while they might not look as ugly as a conventional power plant or electrical substation, are not as striking as a field of corn, a cranberry bog or a grove of peach trees). Of course, Blake is smarter than me and raises more substantial points than I'm going for, so by all means, read his letter!


"...would undermind the rural character of South Jersey's farm belt and many other communities along the Delaware Bay located within a high wind-generation zone." **

It's an interesting debate, one in which I agree with Blake. We haven't reached a renewable energy gold rush. Why waste the best land for this stuff when it can go anywhere?



** Yeah, I included that quote for you non-Jerseyans who think there's nothing here but the turnpike. And I was one of you before I came here!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

May: 1 SREC Sold / Wonky Meter?

I'm seeing a pattern here.

For May we sold 1 SREC for $640.

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Whenever I pass by the electric meter I glance at it, hoping to see it spinning backwards. For the past few weeks I've noticed many times that it's spinning neither forward nor backward. It's conceivable that at these times, power being generated is equal to power being consumed. It sure seems like I've noticed that a lot recently, though.

It's not every time. Sometimes it is moving in one direction or the other. I'm not sure what to do. I feel like if I call the power company they'll come out, replace it, bill me for past usage ("Aha, no wonder you've had negative electric bills!") I'm kidding, I think...

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Negative

Latest electricity bill.

Thank you for participating in Paperless Billing. Your current PSE&G bill statement is now available for online viewing. Your current balance is a credit of $90.55 and no payment is required.