Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire ANYONE have any positive experiences with alternative energy?

We installed a 6.6 kw ground mount solar system at our home in 2013. We took advantage of federal, state and utility incentives to cover 2/3s of the cost of the install. We have a great solar site with 98% solar availability, but even with that it will take about 10 years to pay off what we invested. Not a great return, but not bad either. We are on a net metering program where the utility pays us the retail rate (about $.10/kWh). Some utilities are looking to slow down solar installations by paying market prices (about $.003)/kWh and that would change our payback picture.

Pima County owns a ranch, well they own several, but this one in particular is pretty remote. The foremans house is on solar panels. County paid for it so it is a first class system. Cost was not a factor. Has a 10' long storage container for the battery back up. Probably fifty lead acid batteries. No a/c or evap cooling. Can't run anything that uses resistive heat like an iron, electric skillet, electric space heater, toaster, etc. Stove is propane and propane space heaters in each room. Lots of limitations.