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small wind Success StoriesCustomer Interviews Tracy, CA - Steve and Kathy Nelson, who live five miles from one of the world’s largest wind developments at the Altamont Pass, didn’t have to worry about tower height restrictions when they put up a small turbine on their rural property. But they learned that it can still take some time and patience to install a turbine, especially if you do it yourself rather than contract with a turbine supplier. The Nelsons began looking into small wind energy systems well before their monthly electricity bill reached an all-time high of $800 in January 2001. “Then came the rolling blackouts.” Beginning with information supplied by the California Energy Commission, the Nelsons began contacting small wind energy system manufacturers. After one company backed out of a scheduled installation, Steve Nelson decided to purchase directly from the manufacturer and install the system himself. Local permitting officials required two sets of plans for the Nelsons’ installation — one from a civil engineer, and another from a structural engineer. Local inspectors were sometimes too busy to sign off on plans right away and asked for revisions. The Nelsons waited three months just for utility staff to approve the interconnection. (Other utility customers, however, have not encountered such lengthy delays.) The system became operational in August 2001. Fortunately for the Nelsons, the California Energy Commission had not yet changed the rules of its Emerging Renewables Program to discount the rebate awarded to owner-installed systems. The new rules, which took effect in 2003, now reduce the rebate by 15% for systems not installed professionally. So a prospective turbine owner should carefully consider whether self-installation will save money once the reduced rebate is calculated in. For the Nelsons, the do-it-yourself ethic did pay off. Their wind turbine has been performing well, reducing monthly bills on their 3,000 square-foot home from nearly $300 to under $100. The Nelsons expect their turbine to pay for itself in six to seven years. Success Stories Home | Small Wind Home _______________________________________________________________
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