Silence the EV critics with the 2.5 kW solar pledge

[txlibdem]

7. While I agree that some of the small wind turbines are good

the majority of the ones on the market are not as you describe.

1. They rate their power output at 28 to 30 mph. How often do you get 30 mile per hour winds? Not very often.

2. Many of them cut off at wind speeds as low as 40 mph although some have a higher tolerance for high winds.

3. Most people cannot install one due to restrictions imposed by the city, county or Home Owners Association.

4. When you get any significant amounts of power out of a small wind turbine you should send it all back to the grid so none is wasted (as is the case if you have an off-grid setup with a bank of batteries).

Refs:
http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp
http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp - scroll down for chart
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/downloads/climate/windrose/

Example wind power output (watch out for m/s, meters per second instead of mph)
http://www.windenergy.com/sites/all/files/3-CMLT-1338-01_REV_J_Skystream_spec.pdf - shows you don't get any power until the wind gets above 12 mph and it rates its output at 29 mph wind speeds.

Not that I'm against wind turbines. I'm not. I just want realistic expectations and the industry needs to stop diddling with the numbers and tell you how many kWh you're actually going to get.

Solar, on the other hand, is rated by a scientific testing lab so every solar panel is accurate in how much power it's going to output. You know how many hours of sunshine you get and if not just google solar power maps USA. Therefore, you can calculate how many panels you're likely to need.

Now, all that being said, if you've got the money then get both the solar and the wind. Missouri Wind and Solar makes a great (and inexpensive) wind turbine: http://www.mwands.com