Solar Gardens??

Xringer · 02-14-15, 09:05 AM

I had never heard about Solar Gardens until yesterday..

Harvard Solar Garden

Community Solar Gardens | Clean Energy Resource Teams

Community solar farm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This seems like a great idea for us guys with a wife who thinks panels are too ugly for the roof..

Anyone here check out these projects in their areas?

Thanks,

where2 · 02-14-15, 10:46 AM

No PV garden projects near me, but I've seen some creative incorporations into the surrounding landscape. A PV installer down the canal from me installed a terraced seawall and put his 8.6kW PV system on the two terraces in the wall with a walkway to the dock down the middle. Looking out from the house, you look over the wall toward the water and likely wouldn't even notice the PV array. If I ever do a ground mount array in my backyard, I plan to install a landscaped berm with a low retaining wall to disguise the array from the neighbors view.

Quite frankly, it's rare that anyone looks UP and notices the PV array on my roof, but it doesn't face the street either... I'm blessed with a 300' canal right of way abutting my south property line, so the nearest neighbors to the south cannot see my array through the oak trees and mangroves.

Mikesolar · 02-14-15, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by where2

No PV garden projects near me, but I've seen some creative incorporations into the surrounding landscape. A PV installer down the canal from me installed a terraced seawall and put his 8.6kW PV system on the two terraces in the wall with a walkway to the dock down the middle. Looking out from the house, you look over the wall toward the water and likely wouldn't even notice the PV array. If I ever do a ground mount array in my backyard, I plan to install a landscaped berm with a low retaining wall to disguise the array from the neighbors view.

Quite frankly, it's rare that anyone looks UP and notices the PV array on my roof, but it doesn't face the street either... I'm blessed with a 300' canal right of way abutting my south property line, so the nearest neighbors to the south cannot see my array through the oak trees and mangroves.

That's because they are constantly on the look out for alligators. No time to look at solar panels, haha.

where2 · 02-14-15, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikesolar

That's because they are constantly on the look out for alligators. No time to look at solar panels, haha.

Nice thought, but the canal I live on is ocean access salt water. I've lived on this same canal for 40+ years, haven't seen a gator in it yet, other than the kind from UF.

Considering what vacant lots are appraised at locally, I don't think I'll be seeing community solar gardens springing up any time soon. I believe the state power company monopoly rules explicitly forbid competition in the electricity supply market. That's why Solar City hasn't come to Florida. (See LA Times article: "Rules prevent solar panels in many states with abundant sunlight" August 9, 2014.) There's no push for those rules to change when the power companies are installing their own solar farms and selling the electricity to the public including a fuel charge.

pinballlooking · 02-15-15, 12:03 AM

They do not allow you the share solar here. They wrote that into law last year. Two people that live beside each other and not even go together and split the solar. They now allow leasing solar but not sharing what is up with that.

Mikesolar · 02-15-15, 09:05 AM

Your state legislators are in the pocket of big business, no question.

Xringer · 02-15-15, 09:19 AM

Time to get out the tar and feathers?

pinballlooking · 02-16-15, 08:18 AM

Yes it is sad to say Duke Power’s millions spent on elections has had a very good return on investment.

Mikesolar · 02-16-15, 08:23 AM

Those things are all illegal here. Relatively strict election spending, which is why most of our politicians are still regular folk (sort of, haha).

Xringer · 02-16-15, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by where2

There's no push for those rules to change when the power companies are installing their own solar farms and selling the electricity to the public including a fuel charge.

How do they justify a fuel charge? Are they charging up batteries and
hauling them to the power station on trucks?

~~
Is it all just pay-offs under the table? I find that hard to believe.
With the progressive trend in America's goverment,
it seems like a solar 'commune' or 'collective' would be an important goal for the leftist.
Maybe they haven't made up their minds on solar just yet.?.
Greed trumps political ideology?

Maybe the masterminds don't think they can get away with charging
Americans state and federal income taxes on the kWh we capture with PV??

They could be looking at solar PV like it's some kind of 'perk' for rich fatcats?
On real sunny days, 'The Rich get Richer'?

That's it! Or, maybe I've got EOG (early onset grumpiness) triggered
by being cooped up on these unbelievably cold days..

02-14-15, 09:05 AM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Solar Gardens?? I had never heard about Solar Gardens until yesterday.. Harvard Solar Garden Community Solar Gardens \| Clean Energy Resource Teams Community solar farm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This seems like a great idea for us guys with a wife who thinks panels are too ugly for the roof.. Anyone here check out these projects in their areas? Thanks, __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

02-15-15, 09:19 AM	#7
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Time to get out the tar and feathers? __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

02-14-15, 10:46 AM	#2
where2 DIY Geek Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 401 Thanks: 74 Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts	No PV garden projects near me, but I've seen some creative incorporations into the surrounding landscape. A PV installer down the canal from me installed a terraced seawall and put his 8.6kW PV system on the two terraces in the wall with a walkway to the dock down the middle. Looking out from the house, you look over the wall toward the water and likely wouldn't even notice the PV array. If I ever do a ground mount array in my backyard, I plan to install a landscaped berm with a low retaining wall to disguise the array from the neighbors view. Quite frankly, it's rare that anyone looks UP and notices the PV array on my roof, but it doesn't face the street either... I'm blessed with a 300' canal right of way abutting my south property line, so the nearest neighbors to the south cannot see my array through the oak trees and mangroves.

02-15-15, 12:03 AM	#5
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	They do not allow you the share solar here. They wrote that into law last year. Two people that live beside each other and not even go together and split the solar. They now allow leasing solar but not sharing what is up with that.

02-15-15, 09:05 AM	#6
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	Your state legislators are in the pocket of big business, no question.

02-16-15, 08:18 AM	#8
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Yes it is sad to say Duke Power’s millions spent on elections has had a very good return on investment.

02-16-15, 08:23 AM	#9
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	Those things are all illegal here. Relatively strict election spending, which is why most of our politicians are still regular folk (sort of, haha).