Super excited about solar! Check out Solarize Southwest!

My husband and I attended a seminar about the Solarize Southwest campaign Monday evening at our local high school. OH. MY. GOSH! I'm so excited. There's a part of me that's always dreamed of going solar, but never thought we could afford it. But with the financial incentives available through this program (federal and state tax credits as well as a big cash incentive from Oregon Energy Trust) we'd be crazy not to do it! (OK, I know. I sound like used car salesman -- but I can't help it!) They had the contractor, Mr. Sun Solar, there to answer questions and gave some pricing scenarios for what some 2-4 kilowatt systems would look like, the average size installed here. There were some Solar World (made in Oregon!) panels on display and discussions on next steps. We plan to attend the next free seminar on April 29, a technical workshop on tax credits, incentives and financing. And hopefully, sometime soon, Mr. Sun Solar will come out to evaluate our roof and sun exposure to see if our house is a good candidate for a solar system. The way this program works is bulk buying: the more people in southwest Portland who sign on and contract with Mr. Sun Solar, the lower the price per kilowatt installed. And in case you have any doubts about Portland's solar potential. Ahem. We get more sun that Berlin and Tokyo, the current solar capitals of the world. So there!

As for now, I am spending a sick amount of time staring at my south-facing roof, wondering if it's big and sunny enough. Wondering if that giant deodora pine deodar cedar of the neighbor's is going to cast too many shadows. Glad we got that new roof last spring. Just dreaming of the day when I might see the electric meter going in reverse!!