Homeowners, and Now, Skystream Enthusiasts
Drew and Rena Jonez of Urbana, IL, installed a Skystream 3.7® and solar panels last month and now reap the rewards: lower electric bills and the satisfaction of generating their own clean power.
This couple is so enthusiastic, they started a blog to share their experience with others. Check out their posts and videos at www.sicudrew.blogspot.com.
Read a local newspaper article about them (PDF).
City Installs Its First Small-Scale Wind Turbine
On September 10, the City of Berkeley, CA, installed its first small-scale wind turbine, a Skystream 3.7, to power the city's Shorebird Park Nature Center at the Berkeley Marina. The turbine will power the Center's Green Classroom.
The turbine is expected to produce between 60 to 80% of the building's electrical needs, based on wind studies at the site. Heating and hot water for the new classroom building will be provided by a solar hot water system, which also currently serves the City's straw bale building at the Nature Center.
Scott Jackson, principal of Chico, CA-based Evergreen Development, the installer for this project, expects to see Skystreams dotting the California skies within the next few months. "Now that homeowners will get cash back from the state, we'll see a lot of these pop up across California," said Jackson.
Small Wind Tax Credit - We Still Need Your Help
If you have not already, please submit an easy electronic letter to support a Small Wind Tax Credit.Click here to send a letter to your Congressperson today
Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Chairman of the tax-writing House Ways & Means Committee, has voiced his support of small wind and has included an incentive for small-wind customers in the recently-passed House energy tax bill (HR 3221). However, the provision in this bill is drastically different than the 30% investment tax credit for residential and business uses proposed in the original bill, HR 1772 - the Rural Wind Energy Development Act introduced by Reps. Blumenauer (D-OR) and Cole (R-OK).
The new small wind provision in HR 3221 would create a highly complex - and far less effective - system of state-level loans, which would not necessarily be dedicated to small wind technologies, and which would only apply to residential applications (not business). Furthermore, HR 3221 would likely delay any tax provisions for at least three years.
Please send a letter to your Representative asking him or her to sign the letter from Rep. Blumenauer's office asking that Chairman Rangel advocate for a 30% investment tax credit for both residential and business small wind turbine applications.
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