RE on grid [RE-wrenches]

[Steve Willey - Backwoods Solar Electric]

Well I think Y2K gave that affluent market a big kick, and its still rolling
along. But personally I am sticking to the customers who need solar energy
because they have no other possibility at their site.  I have a fear of the
others, one that has not come round to bite yet, but I hear them saying
"Gosh, now that I have lived with solar for a year, its a neat idea and all,
but I never realized how variable the weather would be.  Back on the old
grid we could use all we wanted to without a thought, but this thing keeps
demanding attention to what I use, what I buy, and what my guests do with
their light switches.  And when something goes wrong I don't always have
time to figure it out, but I can't just run that generator all night in this
neighborhood. I am going to have my lawyer look into that guy who told me I
could live normally with independent power"

There are really big bucks out there, but often in the wallet of people who
have no idea electricity is even measured as a quantity. I am so thankful
there are all the ambitious new solar businesses out there to "mainstream"
PV, because it SHOULD be done.  But I feel very fortunate that there are
still so many remote home solar folks who already know how to conserve and
really need solar as their least cost alternative, and that I can still
focus on them.

I know the "mainstream" market is growing fast because I get more of those
inquiries every year, and usually refer them to someone in their area who
can give local service and analysis. There will be growing opportunities for
people to sell solar into mainstream America, but please be sure those
customers get educated along the way and know exactly what they are getting
into before taking their bucks.

Steve Willey   www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
From: Wes Kennedy <wkennedy at jademountain.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2000 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: RE on grid [RE-wrenches]


> I agree.  Imagine the classic New Yorker cartoon:  The cocktail
> party, the fur coats, the butlers.  We overhear one snooty lady say
> to the other..... "Oh, the Johnsons still use grid power...How
> Gauche!"
>
> >So what I've been imaging these last few weeks is some kind of ad
> >campaign (local I
> >assumed, but...) That targets the folks with disposable income and
> >the fancy homes and
> >cars.  You know, the ones that flaunt their wealth, and pay dearly
> >for the perception of
> >security .  They've got alarm systems in their McMansions, drive the
> >big SUVs  for the
> >improved survivability, and , well, they've got bucks.
>
>
> Wes Kennedy
> Evolutionary Technologist
>
> "Your philosophy is not what you believe, it's how you live!"
> -j rubin
>
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