Mar 24 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Matt Robinson The Deming Headlight, N.M.



Solar energy producing technology has been around for quite awhile, but as two local families explained, timing is everything.

"Green Go," a division of Villarreal and Sons Electric, an Anthony, Texas-based company, has recently completed two residential projects for two Deming families. The key for the families involved was the increase in available federal and state tax incentives for installing systems.

"We've been interested in solar before," Mike Walsh said. The system installed for Walsh and his wife, Barbara, a Deming Headlight columnist, generates about 200 to 300 kilowatts over a week. For perspective, the average dishwasher uses about 30 kilowatts in a month. "We were waiting until the federal side and science side came together."

And come together it has, in the form of incentive and technology that makes the process more efficient, cheaper and depending on the system, more reliable. Regulations have also been passed which regulate how incentives are dispersed. Detailed information on incentives is available at www.energystar.gov.

 The Villarreals also installed an approximately six-kilowatt system for Don and Mary Lou Cameron. On an average day, as Don Cameron explained, the system can generate anywhere from 30 to 35 kilowatts.

"I've been interested since about 1970," Cameron said. "I built a little solar oven in El Paso.

His solar array consists of 27 panels that produce about 210 watts per panel, depending on the weather.

"I love it," he added.

Cameron noted that some systems, installed by a licensed contractor, run about $9.50 per watt. He, along with Mike and Barbara Walsh -- who have also had a system installed -- agree that the initial cost is worth it, considering the long-term payoff. Each have arrangements with PNM to feed produced power back into the grid for compensation.

"Our system went up on September 29 (2009) and we have not had a bill," Mike Walsh said.

Walsh explained the system qualified for a 30-percent tax credit from the federal government and 10-percent from the state.

"By my calculations, we are saving $175 to $200 per month between Department of Energy credits and electricity (costs)," he added.

Cameron, a retired mechanical engineer, says he should have his system paid off with his utility savings in about nine years. He advises folks to "get a good contractor" if they are interested and would like a good system.

Walsh's machine records how much carbon dioxide output is saved by using solar energy instead of other means. During the life of the system, about 7,700 pounds of carbon dioxide have been saved.

For more information, visit www.energy.gov.

Matt Robinson can be reached at mrobinson@demingheadlight.com

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