| Although it is much less expensive to | | | | rebates or tax breaks from the state |
| initially get hooked into the local electric | | | | governments that end up paying for as much as |
| company's grid than it is to set up and hook | | | | 50% of their total green energy systems |
| into wind turbines, in the long run one saves | | | | costs. |
| money by utilizing the wind for one's energy | | | | |
| needs while also becoming more independent. | | | | In addition, there are 35 states at the time |
| Not receiving an electric bill while enjoying | | | | of this writing where these homeowners are |
| the advantages of the modern | | | | allowed to sell their excess energy back to |
| electrically-driven lifestyle is a wondrous | | | | the power company under what are called net |
| feeling. | | | | metering laws. The rates that they are being |
| | | | paid by the local power companies for this |
| Electric bills and fuel bills are rising | | | | energy are standard retail rates in other |
| steadily but the cost of wind turbine energy | | | | words, the homeowners are actually profiting |
| is zero, and the cost of installing and | | | | from their own energy production. |
| hooking up a turbine is steadily coming down | | | | |
| as demand rises and more commercial success | | | | Some federal lawmakers are pushing to get the |
| is realized by various companies producing | | | | federal government to mandate these tax |
| the turbines and researching technologies to | | | | breaks and other wind power incentives in all |
| make them ever more efficient. | | | | 50 states. Japan and Germany already have |
| | | | national incentive programs in place. |
| In addition, people are moving away from the | | | | However, A lot of this is handled regionally |
| traditional electric grids and the fossil | | | | by state law. There wouldn't really be a role |
| fuels for personal reasons including desire | | | | for the federal government, the Energy |
| for greater independence, the desire to live | | | | Department's Craig Stevens says. |
| remotely or rurally without having to go | | | | |
| primitive, political concerns such as fears | | | | And as might be imagined, there are power |
| of terrorist strikes on oil fields or power | | | | companies who feel that it's unfair that they |
| grids, or concerns about the environment. | | | | should have to pay retail rates to private |
| | | | individuals. We should [only have to] pay you |
| Again, this motivation to get away from the | | | | the wholesale rate for ... your electricity, |
| traditional energy sources is the same one | | | | according to Bruce Bowen, Pacific Gas & |
| that causes people to seek the power of the | | | | Electric's director of regulatory policy. |
| wind for their energy, giving more business | | | | |
| opportunities to profit from wind turbine | | | | However, the companies seem to be more |
| production and maintenance, which drives | | | | worried about losing short term profits than |
| their costs down for the consumers. | | | | about the benefits, especially in the long |
| | | | run, of the increased use of wind turbines or |
| In nearly thirty states at the time of this | | | | wind farms. Head of the Center for Energy |
| writing, homeowners who remain on the grid | | | | Efficiency and Renewable Technologies of |
| but who still choose to use wind energy (or | | | | California V. John White points out, It's |
| other alternative forms) are eligible for | | | | quality power that strengthens the grid. |