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StumbleNevada utilities to offer wind power incentives
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008 | 9:39 a.m.
Nevada's main electric utilities are extending financial incentives now offered to homeowners with solar power systems to customers installing wind turbines.
Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas and affiliate Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno plan to begin a program Monday offering rebates of $2.50 per watt for wind turbines, based on the turbine's electricity production capacity. The maximum rebate per customer will be $25,000.
Officials said wind turbines can be used to generate electricity at homes, businesses, farms, schools and public buildings. Systems that generate more than 10,000 watts of power qualify for a $1.50 per watt rebate, but officials expect that most home wind turbines will be smaller and will qualify for the $2.50 rebate.
"I believe (wind turbines) will get pretty popular," said John Hargrove, RenewableGenerations program manager for the two electric companies. "People want choice. They want the opportunity to be as green as they can."
The wind and solar rebates are expected to cost Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power up to $23.3 million. Hargrove said officials expect rebates to go quickly, perhaps in the first day.
Customers with solar panels and wind turbines can get credit feeding kilowatt hours of excess electricity back into the regional electric grid.
Questions remain about whether wind turbines will be permitted in urban locations, and about whether they are economically viable in southern Nevada. Officials say some homeowner associations may object to tall or noisy turbines.
Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said county codes allow wind turbines in all zones, and the Las Vegas City Council in January 2007 approved small wind turbines in some residential zones.
Reno has adopted a wind turbine ordinance, and Washoe County is reviewing a draft of a wind turbine ordinance.
Chris Brooks, renewable energy director at Bombard Electric LLC, said height and space demands eliminate many urban sites. Turbines should be about 30 feet high and have no obstacles within a 300-foot radius, he said.
Mike Hess, chief executive officer of Mariah Power, a Reno-based wind turbine maker, said he hopes to get approval to put wind turbines on street lights.
He said his company offers a 1,200-watt wind turbine that costs $5,000 and works well with winds averaging 12 mph, and an $8,000 unit that works with average wind speeds of 8 mph.
Officials say rural areas and public buildings, including schools, may make better sites for wind turbines.
Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power are required by state law to continue their solar power rebate programs. The companies also are accepting applications for rebates on hydroelectric power projects on farms and ranches.
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On the Net:
Nevada Power Co., Sierra Pacific Power Co. SolarGenerations program: http://www.solargenerations.com
Mariah Power: http://www.mariahpower.com
Bombard Electric LLC: http://www.bombardelectric.com/
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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com
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If wind power is a good alternative, why does it have to be subsidised? I thought a good alternative was one that was cheaper. Sorry, it want a stupid economics teachers that told me that, I guess I should have been in political science, the science with NO rules.
I bet $23.3 million that the power company does not remove one inch of power from other power sources for each watt that it receives from this program.
It is all a PR game.
Neiman- You must have missed class when the teacher discussed oil and gas subsidies?
There is growing awareness in this country that the full cost of using oil for transportation is "subsidized" -- that is, gasoline prices paid by consumers do not reflect the full economic cost to society. The true cost is hidden by myriad direct and indirect public subsidies, which include
****reduced corporate income taxes for the oil industry
****lower than average sales taxes on gasoline
****government funding of programs that primarily benefit the oil industry and motorists
"hidden" environmental costs caused by motor vehicles, namely air, water, and noise pollution
"reduced corporate income taxes for the oil industry"
Last year Exxon paid 67% of its profit in Federal Corporate tax.
"lower than average sales taxes on gasoline"
Las Vegas people pay 61 cents per gallon in total sales tax on gas. That current is
16% of the price of gas.
I think nearly all of that goes to roads.
If we went electric cars then they would raise a similar tax on electricty for somehow they will have to still build and maintain roads. Unless we use the magic beans that liberals often believe in.
I think 67% is very high corporate tax rate.
I think the sales tax argument is total BS.
jnance - you must have missed class on oil and gas economics as well.
Corporations do not pay taxes!!!
We pay their taxes every time we purchase products from them.
Exxon, Chevron, Texaco etc. pass these taxes on to us. Do you live under a rock on on a different planet? The cost of taxation is a cost of doing business so they just pass it on. Why do the Chinese manufacture almost everything we use. US corporations are not stuck with all of the employment taxes and so they can pass the "savings" to the consumer.
The gasoline (excise) taxes are set in stone and not adjusted on the actual price of a gallon of gas. Gasoline could go to $20.00 per gallon, but the state and federal taxes collected would stay at 61 cents. The "sales" tax on fuel actually goes down as the price of fuel goes up. Try selling this idea to the state when you purchase any other commodity.
Example below
$10,000 car = sales taxes of $700.00 if the tax rate is 7%
$40,000 car = sales taxes of $2,800.00 if the tax rate is 7%.
$ 1.00/gallon = taxes of .61 cents
$100.00/gallon = taxes of .61 cents
I think your attack on the sales tax argument is total BS. Voting for McCain I see.
"Corporations do not pay taxes!!!
We pay their taxes every time we purchase products from them."
So Obama wants to increase taxes on corporations.
Therefore, according to you statement, Obama wants to increases taxes on you and me.
Jfnance-
Basically yes- every tax increase has to be paid by someone!
I have yet to decide if Obama gets my vote or not. Businesses will increase the cost of goods if Obama is elected. That you can bank on.
Have you ever owned a business Mr. Nance? I have owned 5 different operations, and when my taxes for employees, property, water, sewer, gas, and or income tax goes up, I have to charge more for my services. If you don't, you won't survive- it is that simple. Their is no "tax fairy" that leaves money under your pillow.
The McCains and Bushes just borrow the money from China and you think it is better than paying additional taxes. Money comes from somewhere Nance, you either earn it(create wealth), or take it (taxes), or borrow it (China and Bahrain).
If McCain doesn't tax us, then he will borrow it and your kids and grandkids, and their grandkids will pay for it. The US had a 100 Billion dollar deficit last month alone. Is that great gover"nance"?