Chesapeake home among first to install wind power

It's a great way to produce clean electricity and has a very rapid payback IF it's installed in a windy location. Which is limited to most coastal communities and some inland areas. I'd do it if I had more wind. If I had listened to all the naysayers 5 years ago when I was considering a solar electric system installation, I would have missed out on a great thing. Only 5 years of operation in NJ, and I've gotten my initial investment back, thanks to NJ rebates and now Renewable Energy Credit trades/sales. Now on top of $500/year in direct savings at today's electric rates, and $1500/year + in Renewable Energy Credit income, I have a net zero annual utility bill. Please tell me where I can do better investing in something else.

The government, and therefore we taxpayers, have been subsidizing oil exploration and coal has been removed from state/federal land for zero royalties, so it's cheaper because of amazing tax breaks for decades. Not to mention the communities in complete ruin from coal dust and other hazardous environmental conditions created from coal harvesting. Let's remove tax breaks at all levels and see how "cheap" fossil fuels really are compared to renewables.

Well, I wonder how the state and the city of Chesapeake will collect taxes and fees on electricity when the public can unplug Dominion Power and everyone has the capability to be self sufficient for their electricity? I would love to be self sufficient for everything. Fuel for my car, natural gas, and electricity. Not that I care about reducing my "foot print" on the environment and all that rubbish, but to save money for myself.

Dr. Tabor you rock!
Thank for the view from space.

Power costs are going to go UP. You can be certain they're not going to go down. We are already seeing the price for gasoline rising again. There's a good chance that in a few years these investments in alternative energy generation are going to start looking very good. Then we'll have to see how the horse and buggy/kerosene lighting crowd react.

To the members of the “Flat Earth Society” who are posting here, the first consumer tape recorders sold for around $5,000 and the first dvd recorders around $2,300. Use common sense; the cost of these things will drop appreciably as the region progresses. The exception being Chesapeake, who still studying the problem of letting horseless buggies drive on the dirt roads

and they are free to spend it any way they see fit. It's debatable that they'll ever break even, their present $300 monthly bill will no doubt go up in time, so whatever savings they realize will still mean that their break even point keeps getting pushed farther and farther into the future. Plus, they don't know yet what any repair costs may be if these things should require them. But, good for them, let them have at it!

By buying the 'beaters, the money is spent now so it cannot be invested in an income producing manner. Thus he is losing in investment income about the same amount he is saving, unless maintenance is required in which probable case he is even worse off.

Invest the money now and spend it when technology provides better solutions.

Obviously, the guy didn't have a financial hardship when deciding on this venture. He's making an effort to reduce his footprint and reliance on the grid. Why not applaud him for his efforts. If I could afford it, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Sometimes it's about critical mass and less about the almighty dollar.

Hyperion Power Module. $25M for the unit powering 10k households = $250 for 7-10 years worth of power. Now that's affordable power!
Research the units construction and safety before replying please.

The average home owner would not be able to do what George Bates did; dig, prepare, and pour the concrete foundations, dig the trenches for the wiring, and raise the windspires. The average home owner would probably have to add another $10,000 to the cost for having a contractor come in and do all that work, and now you have a $25,000 investment to save $60 a month. If the objective of the was to be the first to have windspires in your neighborhood, why the info about their $300 a month electric bill and paltry savings expected? I'd like to be the first on my block to own a new Rolls Royce Phantom, but, much like the windspires, it just isn't practical. And unless jwb is privy to a technology breakthrough on storing electricity, when the wind doesn't blow, the electricity doesn't flow. George Bates will confirm that.

Most of the comments from Poster, do not seem to get it. Like the guy said, "it is NOT all about the money. He stated he is the first, and this is the essence of the article. Eventually others will get the idea and hopefully the idea will get generated.(no pun intended) Once that happens, these windmills will get advanced in technology and will start the saving of electricity and gas at a even greater level and cost could go way down for the equipment and installation.
As far as the poster that made the comment that the wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine, is ignorant to the technology.

Bravo for a job well done.

just investing that money would have given a better net return over time.

Maybe it's just me, but since I'm only paying around half that much in electricity, I wonder if there wouldn't have been other ways of saving that money, by making the house more energy efficient.

Well, anyhow, have fun with the eggbeaters.

I ran into the same obstacle when I investigated solar panels. It would take 640 sq/ft of solar panels to generate 50% of my electrical usage at an installed cost of $44,000. Keep in mind I also would still be paying Dominion Power the other 50% at their current rates.

There is no rational justification in spending this amount of money unless one is well off financially and wants to impress their neighbors.

with todays electricity rates, but after commodities take off again electricity rates will skyrocket, increasing the return on investment.

Everyone knows that the energy of the future lies wihin the oceans currents. Thats right ocean currents they never stop flowing!

I changed out my old electric A/C - natural gas heat system with a Hybrid heatpump/gas heat system. It was about $8900 including using a electronic controlled louver system to control 3 zones in what was a single zone house. This has reduced my electricity consumption an average of 350KW (18% reduction) a month and my natural gas usage by 24 CCF/month (57% reductio). All told I am saving over $100/month on utilities based on paying by the budget plan. My payback period is significantly shorter than this system for about the same results.

I wanted so badly to think this was a good idea. It would help promote alternative energy to homeowners. But, from this article at least, NO ONE is going to spend $15K to save $60 or so a month? That price is un-attainable for the average homeowner, esp.. with property dropping in value everyday. I agree with mopar, there are several ways to easily cut 20% off of an electric bill. With no where near the cost? And if you want to drop some money like that, let me be the first to suggest geo-thermal. I do believe that will save well over 20% on your bill and you still helping the environment by using LESS electric. Even installing a simple solar powered system to run just the geo-thermal unit would be a better investment. I hope to see better reporting then this when it comes to motivating people to be energy conscious. This article did just the opposite!