| Here's a good battle that needs to be fought. Let's | | | | wind just to get the blades spinning, and anywhere |
| allow the two most common forms of alternative | | | | from 10 to 20 miles per hour wind for optimal |
| energy to face off, hand to hand, technology to | | | | electricity production. It is calculated that over the |
| technology, and see which one is better for you. | | | | course of one 24 hour period, a consumer wind |
| These are the types of solar panels available to | | | | turbine will produce only 10% of it's rated power. |
| anyone, and small consumer wind turbines, not the | | | | Winner to solar panels. |
| big wind farm types. So folks, put on your gloves | | | | Cost - Right now, 600 watts of solar panel power will |
| and let's get ready to rumble. | | | | run about $6000 dollars. That comes complete with |
| Placement - Solar panels will fit on any roof, but it | | | | an inverter, hardware and everything. A 600 watt |
| has to be south facing. There are no local laws or | | | | wind turbine will run about $1000 dollars, and that's |
| ordinances that will not allow solar to be put up. Wind | | | | just the turbine and nothing else. You'll need to add a |
| turbines generally need to be mounted high off the | | | | tower-which can cost thousands-and an inverter etc |
| ground for optimal efficiency. Many local laws prohibit | | | | etc. Remember, your 600 watt rated windmill will |
| towers or structures in cities or suburban | | | | only, on an average, be putting out 60 watts per |
| neighborhoods. Solar wins hands down and is perfect | | | | day. When the sun shines, your solar panels are |
| for city dwellings. | | | | putting out 600 watts, period. You would need 6 |
| Performance - Solar panels need sunlight to work | | | | wind turbines to equal the performance of one 600 |
| efficiently, although the newer panels produce | | | | watt solar panel, on a daily basis, plus tower costs |
| useable electricity on cloudy days as well. Windmills | | | | and all the other costs. Winner, once again, solar |
| need wind, so in theory, they could produce | | | | panels. |
| electricity 24/7, BUT that just doesn't happen. The | | | | Overall - Solar wins, and it's not even close. Couple |
| reality is, both technologies are dependent on mother | | | | that with your 30% tax credit and other state |
| nature, so we have to call this one a draw, although | | | | incentives, and solar wins going away, no doubt, stick |
| in naturally sunnier climes, solar has an advantage. | | | | a fork in it, game over! Leave the windmills for the |
| Efficiency - When the sun shines, your solar panels | | | | wind farms, but for consumers, there's only one way |
| are producing 100% of their rated power output. | | | | to go, and that's solar all the way! |
| Wind power needs a minimum of 5 mile per hour | | | | |