Solar Power Cost - What If it Was Free?

It is early 2010 and neighbor Jim has not paid a pennyenvironmental impact, happy about his savings and
for any electricity since 2009. He used to pay oversmarter for using green power options that were
$250 per month during the summers and in the coldavailable to him.
Cleveland winters his bills easily topped $300 perBack in 2008, Jim thought about some day in the
month and the anticipation was that they would climbfuture not worrying about energy bills or leaving lights
over $500 per month soon. Jim seems to be happieron and burning energy but until he had the knowledge
these days putting that extra $3350 a year in hisabout free energy he had no idea how to change that.
pocket for other things like his new jet ski and his son'sThe information he discovered gave him the
education. How in the world did he manage to eliminateknowledge and ability to envision a future free from
his power bill?the grid and the monthly payment. He finally learned
Just like most of us Jim had always sent his monthlythat solar power cost was much less than his monthly
check to the local power company. He had neverpayments and once he invested the time to learn and
even conceived of doing anything different and figuredunderstand how solar alternatives and other green
he would do that his entire life. He certainly neverenergy possibilities could end his dependence on the
thought solar power cost was less than what he paidpower company he completely changed his mind and
monthly if it was even possible. The only thing he knewhis life.
about solar panels is that they were used by people inHow different would life be for everyone if we never
California and the desert and he really did not knowhad an energy bill to pay or if we never worried about
anything about alternative energy.nuclear waste, oil spills, strip mining coal or the other
Then one day Jim read a special report about how toenvironmental problems caused by using so much of
use homemade electricity to power his home and getour planets natural resources? Moreover, how much
solar power cost for free. He stopped thinkingwould every families lives change if they knew that
negatively and decided just to go ahead and do it.solar power cost was much less than paying our local
Looking back it turned out to be a great decision.energy companies for the rest of our existence?
So many things in Jim's life have changed since he firstAsk yourselves what if solar power was free. Would
learned how to generate free energy. Jim used to feelyou use it? What if you could have all your electricity
like he was not an environmentally minded personfor free would you want that? That is a pretty
because he liked using lots of power for his fun toysinteresting question to think about. Would having the
like his big screen television, his computers, and all kindsextra money that you now pay for electricity help you
of power tools in his garage. He loved modernout? Now you know that creating your own energy is
technological advancements but knew that they allpossible and that solar power cost is very reasonable
required lots of power and he felt guilty for wasting alland will easily pay for itself if you do it right. The choice
that electricity. Now he feels good about his reducedis up to you.