Tour offers look at solar power options

Even though thick cloud cover kept the sun from shining Saturday morning, about 30 people braved the rain to tour area solar-energy homes.

By KAYLEY MENDENHALL Chronicle Staff Writer

"Here in Southwest Montana, we get the equivalent of five peak sunlight hours a day," said Tony Boniface, owner of Bozeman-based Independent Power Systems and leader of the tour. "It is certainly feasible to install enough panels on the south side of a home to run the whole home."

Independent Power Systems and the Montana Environmental Information Center organized the tour to provide information to builders, architects and home owners about the potential for alternative energy sources. All systems viewed were installed by Independent Power Systems, including those at three homes and the Community Food Co-op.

"I’d like to do this in my current house or in a new house," tour participant Pat Simmons said. "Conservation is the way to go."

The tour began in the parking lot of the Community Food Co-op where new a $36,000 solar system was installed in August. The roof-panel system is tied to the main Northwestern Energy grid. So when the solar panels are producing more energy than the store is using, the excess power flows back to the grid.

"Your meter spins backwards in that situation," Boniface said.

Because of that function, solar-energy systems can reduce power bills, but Boniface said getting into alternative energy to save money is not a realistic idea. The technology is still so new that it takes 30 to 40 years before the investment pays for itself.

Motivation for installing alternative-energy systems varies from political and environmental concerns to economic incentives. Albert and Penelope Foster, Bozeman residents with a pole-mounted solar system on South Black Avenue, sold two vehicles and got a grant to pay the $17,000 up front cost.

"I feel like we’re going to war for oil in the Middle East and I’m tired of the oil industry," said Albert Foster, who owns a Costa Rican reforestation company. "After Sept. 11, that was our response. We’re going to reach as deep as we can and reduce the Bush family’s profits."

For rural residents, harnessing solar and wind energy can be less expensive than paying to expand the main grid. Boniface said two of his customers on Woodchuck Road, off of Jackson Creek, would have had to pay $50,000 to $60,000 for access to Northwestern Energy’s power supply.

Instead, he installed $35,000 wind and solar systems to make the homes self-sufficient. He encourages all of his customers to take steps to reduce energy consumption and design new homes to harness passive solar energy.

"The key is to reduce the amount of power you use in your home," Boniface said. "You have to feel your customer out and see if they are inclined to do this."

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