Hope you have fruit trees planted
I would like to encourage everyone who can, to get some kind of solar cell system. No matter how small, a solar cell can power a radio, charge batteries or your cell phone, laptop, provide LED lighting and etc for years. I've got a 3KW grid-tie system that produces more electricity than we consume during the spring and fall months and the state and federal government paid for 80% of it. How's that for unsustainable governance?
Can you post here the figures on your solar system as far as state and federal subsidies? Or freepmail me what the numbers are. Do you have a propane refrigerator? Do you use propane? I once visited a family who had a solar house. They used 12 volt electric to run a TV, lighting and other things. RVs use 12 volts to power things and so do boats
Thirty minutes from where I live (I live on 5 acres near a small city), I have a 50 acre farm with 2 acre pond and separate from that a 72 acre woodland that borders a small river. I have a small 12V ice chest that works on 45W plus a lance truck camper with solar. It has a 12v/110v/propane refrigerator freezer. The lighting consists of about 6-1W LED lights the solar cell produces 130 Watts. I have a 4x4 F-250 to carry it with 2" receivers front and rear to attach storage boxes, winch, or trailer.
Finally, if things get really out of hand, I have a small plane hangered at the local airport for a quick getaway... :)
Everything belongs to us and not the bank. It took a lot of hard work and budgeting to get it done. Who's that who said "live like no one else so you can live like no one else"? One of my main goals in life was to become financially independent. We pretty well succeeded in that from VERY humble beginnings. That's what America offers anyone willing to work, or did at one time at least.
On the energy subsidies, the state I live in offers a 50% credit on the costs up to 25K. If the credit exceeds the tax liability, the state refunds the difference. Not a sustainable program IMO. On the federal side, the credit is 35% and the system cost is unlimited or may be limited to a 250K system. The feds also offer a significant credit for road capable electric vehicles. I think it is/was about 6K.