[familyop]

Ping of interest?

There are many good, independent people invested in energy. But many of your local regulatory/education/social employees are also invested in every kind of local energy. Both electricity and gas can go way up (each to shore the other up).

There are a lot of ways to save money and become more independent. Play with LED lighting. The lights for replacing incandescent bulbs aren't cheap (even at Walmart at around $30 and up), but they should work in cold temperatures (unlike the fluorescents) and last much longer. Get the ones that have the most LEDs and use the most power for enough brightness.

Those of us in the north should be hard at work on heating completely with solar (radiant, with collectors) and/or wood stoves and plenty of wood storage (check flues and clearances from flammables in code, other safety precautions). Using gas for only cooking can allow for long term storage of one tankful, BTW (e.g., 1000 gal. of propane only for cooking, check fittings, shield fittings from climate elements, etc.). ...and maybe a propane backup generator, if it's not used except in emergency. Propane lasts virtually indefinitely, but remember that propane generators need maintenance like gasoline generators.

[familyop]

BTW, if any of you are interested in PV solar power for electricity, are not getting tax credits or other subsidies and are building something for yourself, some study is a good idea first.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/PV/pv.htm