09/24/2013
Leif Knutsen
I originally purchased Silicon Energy panels because of the government tested longevity which reported zero defects after a 60 year stress test. Also because they were produced here in Washington they qualified for the voter approved production credit. A very nice add on that made the instillation very investment friendly for early investors. Couple that with the fact that I used a local installer means that I receive $0.54/kWh above me production savings. That program sunsets in 2020 at which point my investment will be ~= to what latter investors will be charged but in the interim I have helped build Green Distributed Energy that brings those costs down for later investors as well as employing WA labor and business. A Win -Win. I love that system and with the production credit I receive ~10% ROI. Do that on Wall Street if you are not an inside trader.<br /><br />My production credit and 2.25 kW array pays for all my modest electrical expenses including my ductless heat pump for the year. In addition it covers all my gas for hot water and stove as well as all the yearly gas for my Honda FIT! I still have a couple of hundred $$$ sitting on the table. What is not to like. I do live a modest life stile in a 1300 sq. ft passive solar well insulated home and I am energy conscious.