Just thought I'd give everyone an update on WHY solar energy is not feasible for the general public. Not unless you have nothing better to do with your money and can afford to spend it.

The portion of our roof that has a southern exposure AND no trees that would interfere is approximately 150 sq. ft. Each panel is 12 square feet, which means that we could install only 10 panels, since they can't be too close to the edge, etc. (although the idiot from the solar company said that he can install 18-20 panels, although where he could do it is beyond me). Maybe we could squeeze one or two more, but let's use 10, since the math is easier.

For each panel, you generate 175 watts, so we would generate 1750 watts. In the Northeast, they estimate that you will be able to generate energy 4 hours per day, on average. That means that we would be able to generate 7,000 watts per day, or 7 kwh. The electric company charges us .07244 per kwh. That means that we would generate approximately 50 cents worth of electricity per day.

The cost to install? 8 cents per watt or $14,000 dollars!!!!!!!!! The state would give us 4 cents per watt, plus 2 tax credits in the first year only. The tax credit is $2,000 deducted from your federal taxable income, and $3,000 deducted from on the state level. The out of pocket cost would be $7,000, and then we get the tax credits for the first year. In that case, it would take us over 38 YEARS to recoup the initial $7,000 investment.

It is so ridiculously out of the question for anyone with an average income!