Residential Wind Power

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After seeing my electric bill lately, I am seriously looking at installing a wind turbine at my house. If they are going to put the wind farm in Nantucket Sound, they should allow any Cape Cod resident to install a “wind mill” at their residence. The price for a residential wind turbine rages from about $2000-$18000 depending on AC or DC power and output.

A couple hundred years ago the Cape was home to over 700 windmills. The state has a consumer guide to wind power that is loaded with information on wind turbines and incentives. The commonwealth of Massachusetts offers a number of tax incentives that are designed to promote the development and use of renewable energy resources.

State Income Tax Credit Massachusetts provides an income tax credit for individuals who install renewable energy systems (solar or wind-powered) in their residences. The credit is 15% of the net expenditure (including installation) for the system, or $1,000, whichever is less. The credit does not apply to commercial users.) Massachusetts Tax Form Schedule EC
State Sales Tax Exemption State law exempts from the state sales tax, the sale of equipment directly relating to any solar, wind, or heat pump system to be used as a primary or auxiliary power system for heating or otherwise supplying the energy needs of a person’s principal residence in the state. The exemption does not apply to commercial users (M.G.L. c. 64H, sec. 6(dd). Massachusetts Tax Form ST-12.
Local Property Tax Exemption A taxpayer who installs a solar or wind-powered system for heating or otherwise supplying the energy needs of his/her residence or business is eligible for an exemption from local property tax. The exemption is good for twenty years from the date of installation. (M.G.L. ch. 59, sec. 5, cl. 45).

Please note that this exemption applies to the value-added to the property by the system and is not an exemption for the full amount of the property tax bill.

The one I have been looking at is the Whisper Link (Whisper200 And Windyboy). (unit $4,500 + tower $300-$700 based on height needed + install $0 if DIY)

The Whisper Link 1 Kilowatt wind system will reduce or even eliminate your monthly electric bill. Based on proven technology with thousands in the field, the Whisper wind turbine can now be directly connected to the electrical grid through the SMA Windy Boy inverter. Depending on your location and energy consumption, a single Whisper Link system will reduce or even eliminate your monthly electrical expense, and in certain areas, generate revenue.

The Whisper 200 is designed for easy installation, even for the novice. The Whisper can be installed in just a few hours with no welding, no concrete or cranes. Here is a video of one being assembled.

The fact sheets for the Whisper Link are here and here.

Click Here for More Information...

(2 comments) What do you think about Residential Wind Power? Leave a comment

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Posted by capelinks - (website) on 02/07/06
Categories: Issues
Keywords: wind farm, residential wind turbines, small windpower, windmills
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Comments:

Hi,

I also am interested in putting up a wind turbine on my property. In fact, I’m in the process of getting a permit for it right now. It’s been interesing seeing the response from my neighbors. It runs the gamut from “dead set against” to “I’d like to put one in, too!”.

I don’t have the best site for it, but I’m sure it will generate some power. I believe that some is better than none, and this is a lower cost system, I’m sure it will pay back fairly quickly.

Hopefully I will get the permitting completed succesfully and get this installed this summer. Any ideas for ensuring the permitting?

Kevin

Posted by kburgess on 05/06/06 at 11:36 PM | #

the permitting? I guess that depends on the town where you live and stuff like historic districts, zoning, etc…

They recommend that the wind turbine be at least 20 feet above anything within a 250 foot radius. They also recommend that you have at least 1/2 acre of property. The guy wires on the tower take up some square footage but this will largely depend on how high the “windmill” needs to be. The blades on this model are 9 feet in diameter, so you are talking around 29 feet above anything within 250 feet.

Around here the trees (mostly pines) are only around 30 feet high so I need a 60 foot tower. You can also get a freestanding tower, which would take up hardly any room, but these are more expensive.

freestanding-wind-tower.jpg height=147 width=184