UPDATE: I have a dedicated blog for all my green/environment posts: check it out at http://www.hippygreen.com
I think everyone and their grandmother is thinking green. With all this talk of global warming and CO2 emissions, you would expect solar power to be the next hot topic. I previous posted about some solar panel kits that could be used to power your portal electronics, but the upfront cost of solar panels is HUGE. Well the people over at Citizenre would like you to think different.
They are offering a new program called REnU. This program is to have Citizenre come and install solar panels and all the equipment to your house and setup net metering (receives retail credit for the electricity the solar panels generates) There is no cost to you EXCEPT you sign an agreement to pay the current electricity price at or below cost. This means if your solar panels are creating 80% of your electricity usage, then 80% of the electricty bill goes towards Citizenre and the 20% goes towards the electricity company. The REnU program is basically setting up solar panels on your house, taking the upfront cost of free power, and net metering that power with the electricity company. They are then becoming the middle man selling power back to the company and making money through you.
This is a great idea for people who want clean “renewable” power, but can not afford the upfront cost of installing solar panels. The other current benefit of solar panels, is tax credit. In New Jersey you can take about $5 tax credit per watt for solar panels. So if you buy a 250 watt solar panel, you can deduct $1250 from your taxes. (Great model if your in the HIGH tax bracket.) I was also thinking about starting up a business using this model, target states like CT and NJ with “higher income housing” and selling them solar panels to “reduce the cost of their electricity bill” and stick it to the Government! These people are already going to have to pay this money to the Government, why not deduct it and get a gift that can keep on giving, FREE ELECTRICITY!
CitizenRe currently has no systems installed. They publicly state that they will not install any until September 2007 (date may have changed in the last few days). However, they also do not have a manufacturing plant (no date for ground breaking either), they have actually not raised the $650 million of capital they refer to, and their projected numbers of systems to be installed versus projected manufacturing capacity do not add up.
In short, there are a lot of promises, some conflicting, and no proof. CitizenRe has publicly been asked a series of not-too-difficult questions about their business. The replies to-date do not confirm a valid business. As the old saying goes, if it looks to good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
CitizenRe does an enormous disservice to the solar industry by promising what they apparently cannot deliver. The solar industry, just growing in many other states, needs customers. By diverting these potential customers to a product that probably cannot be delivered, CitizenRe is setting the entire industry back, as well as our goals for a clean and sustainable future.
More detailed information is available on http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=47419 and http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/podcast?id=47452
Thanks Jeff for the update and information about CitizenRe.
After reading about groSolar, I see you guys are up in White River Junction, but do installations all over the east coast. I know after going to the University of Vermont that many Vermonters are trying to live a Greener life with solar panels and wind turbines. The problem is the cost! NJ, CT, and NY have amazing tax breaks for energy alternatives, but Vermont has NOTHING! It’s almost sad because I know at least 1 person who has been building wind turbines for his home because its cheaper then buying one. But if he lived in NJ, CT, or NY he would be able to afford a professional one due to the tax breaks.
As for CitizenRE it sounds like a great idea that needs to get executed.
John, be very wary of that citizen RE / RENU setup, and take a look at some of the articles out there on their principal’s criminal background and ongoing investigations before you do more free advertising for them….
Hey WOV,
Thanks for the heads up, it looks like others have come to a similar conclusions.
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Please continue on with your investigation of the Company, its service, and its offering. If there are any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to contact me. I believe this is an opportune time to be involved in such a radically changing industry. And it would be my honor to assist you in becoming a part of the Powur team and reaping the benefits at this pivotal point in our history.
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I am from Haiti , there are many peoples do not have electricity. This really difficult for Haitian peoples to watch televisions , listen radios etc. I pray you to help my country and may God bless you.
I am sure you do a good job.
can you please help me, Recently on am radio I heard part of a radio ad for free installation for solar power panels similar to the program listed on your web site for my area riverside county, California but i can not find this company to get the facts, I am interested in installing solar power. The cost here in California is a small fortune, our county and city hall have not been helpful. if you know of any company or government agency that might be helpful in getting solar power in my home that won’t break the bank would be very helpful. thank-you for any suggession
Checkout my article on Free Solar Power
Howdy,
It has been a long time since I have hit the blogs about Citizenre and am happy to say there is some great news!
After a lot of passion and dedication of those of us who did not give up on the mission to bring renewable energy to the masses we have now got what we need to really make a difference.
We had a press Release this morning and I am happy to share three of the links where you can read about recent developments:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Citizenre-Signs-Development-Agreement-1392962.htm
http://newsblaze.com/story/2011020906124600002.mwir/topstory.html
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Citizenre-Signs-Development-iw-1095316263.html?x=0
We are finally doing what we started out to do even tho’ we had to make many changes.
Our plan is now even simpler… there is no longer a deposit required and all it takes to get a system is to be a home-owner in one of our service areas, have a home suitable for solar power, and the first month’s rent.
No credit checks and a fixed rate for 10-years so many citizens can produce their own clean green energy.
WE will be adding new service territories as time progresses.
Peace,
Frank Knight
P.S. I have literally over 400 blogs to post to that basically wanted not to hear from us until there was some serious action so you may see this same message repeated… I certainly don’t have time to make individual posts right now and will have many hours just copying and re-posting!