Solar Power Can Translate into Big Cost Savings
The cost of electricity is high here in Hawaii because the fuel to run our power plants — mostly oil, but also coal — has to be shipped in from at least 2300 miles away. Our electric bills were running between $240 and $260 a month, and we have neither heating or air conditioning … we just don’t need it.
A little over a year ago, we installed a solar water heating system, the two large panels in the photo, and a photovoltaic system to generate electricity from 13 smaller panels on the lower section of the roof.
During the day, assuming there’s some sunshine, the system provides power to our home, usually more than we actually require. When that happens, the excess power is fed back into Maui Electric’s grid and our electric meter literally spins backwards, deducting kilowatts (and dollars) from our electric bill.
Our latest bill arrived yesterday. It was $14.56.
With tax credits and those kinds of cost savings, it’s a pretty good way to save serious money and, at the same time, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, not to mention foreign oil.
I confess I don’t have a good answer for that. There is an active volcano on just one of the eight islands and there have been several attempts to produce power, but none have been economically feasible. At least not so far.
Hawaii has got active volcanos. Why no geothermal power?
There should be enough geothermal capacity to supply 100% of your electricity needs very cheaply.