solar

if you've been thinking about installing either solar electric panels or solar hot water heaters now might be the time to do it, especially if you live in vermont. my farmer friend, chuck wooster, of the sunrise organic farm, wrote to his subscribers today and let us know that new federal and restored vermont incentives can cut your cost substantially. i'm definitely going to think about it for the tip top and my other building.

here's what chuck wrote: The Feds have a 30% tax credit (up to $2,000) for PV or H2O systems installed in 2006 and 2007. (This was part of the recent energy bill, the main feature of which was giving production tax incentives to the oil companies that are currently enjoying the greatest profits that the world has ever seen. But I digress.) VT is also back in the game, offering the same 30% capital cost share that led us to electrify Sunrise in '04. This time, there's $800K in the matching pool, meaning it will probably last until summer, at the latest. In general, new H20 systems cost $6K. After using both credits, your cost would be $2K. New grid-connected PV will run you $22K or so. After credits, you're at $13K.