True.....here you can hook up to the Rural coop grid. The best you can do is what they call net meter. They buy back what you produce, but you will NEVER receive anything more than a zero balance on your monthy statement. BUT you must carry at least 1 million in liability insurance to protect against any damges to THEIR system.
A few years ago, my brother was merely investiagting average wind temps here at the farm, for the possibility of a wind turbine.The word got out to our local cooperative. They then done a wind study, and done a big story about it in the Coop monthly circular. After a year of testing the Elec. coop. deduced that wind generation was absolutely not feasible in this area.
Later.....Lo and behold, with political persuasion, our local coop announced the great benifits of wind power.They also announced the bveginning of a decent sized wind farm. A friend of mine, who lives in the very close proximity of the wind farm claims that everyone who got a turbine on their land (which comes with monthly lease payments)happened to be big political supporters of the party of the ones building the wind farm.........
Sure it's all political, everything else is, why wouldnt this be?
The interesting aspect, is it's my understanding that a privately owned electric provider,which operates in the area, has been encouraging industrial sized users of electricity, to actually install power generation which can be used during times of peak demand, to not only supply their own facility, but to sell the excess to the power company.They actally offer financial incentives to do so. The same company offers enough money in many instances, to relamp facilties. Energy consumption is greatly reduced. And the electric provider almost pays for the entire project.
Call Rural coops what you wish, but they are definitely in MY OPINION, nothing more than a government agency. I better stop now, I've already said too much. Will probably get moderated!
