baha wrote:I waited until the Powerwall was ready because I will not "give" kw-hrs to Duke power. If they will pay me, fine. Otherwise I will set up a fountain in the front yard that burns any excess power I produce.
Finally my home is a showcase for solar power. I have solar hot water collectors on the roof, a solar air heater on the south wall, a solar 30 amp battery charger in my shop, and soon a ground mounted solar array out back. I also have 4 - 4x10 hot water collectors I am going to use to drive an underfloor radiant heating system. BTW - I have already renovated my house to passive house standards.
Very cool. Congrats on your success and example with this.
I hear you on not wanting to let your power utility have free power even while they shaft your community to the extent they can buy the laws to allow, while maximizing their profits.
One thought/suggestion. If you have lots of excess power sometimes which you can wall off or limit (i.e. a circuit to access only "reserve" batteries when the weather/forecast is good or something like that?) , perhaps you could let friendly neighbors charge an EV for free now and again? Favors build great neighbors. Having neighbors who actively support each other is a very nice thing. (This was common when I was a kid. In cities now, not so much).
My next door neighbor is leaving for a couple weeks. I suggested I park my car in his driveway frequently, to help make it look like someone is home to anyone who doesn't know my car (i.e. from outside the neighborhood). He appreciated it. (I stay up most of the night and am around a lot by day, so I'm not too concerned about it looking like I'm not home).
Several years ago when my water line broke, he insisted my plumber attach his water supply to my house via a washing machine hose so I could have water (It worked great. I had almost normal water pressure). Then he adamantly refused to let me pay him something for the water and said "Please just let me be a good neighbor".
As I get older, I find such friendly relationships increasingly nice to have.
Given the track record of the perma-doomer blogs, I wouldn't bet a fast crash doomer's money on their predictions.