2 • Oregon Solar Electric Guide Contents Introduction ….. 3 Why do people buy solar electric systems … … 4 How much does a PV system cost? ….. 5 How much energy is produced? ….. 6 Does Oregon get enough sun for a PV system? ….. 6 What happens at night? ….. 6 Can I install a PV system myself? …..

Solar electric power generated with “photovoltaics,” or “PVs,” is used in thousands of applications throughout the Northwest. These applications vary from road-side signs to high-mountain communications towers, and from hand-held calculators to entire ranches. This guide focuses on the use of solar electricity in homes and small businesses. It provides basic information about system components and what to expect when shopping for a solar electric system. This is not a technical guide. For information on designing or installing a solar electric system, contact your local solar electric installer or consultant, or check the Web sites listed on page 41. 4 • Oregon Solar Electric Guide Why do people buy solar electric systems? People buy solar electric (PV) systems for a variety of reasons. Some want to be good stewards of the Earth’s ecosystem by choosing a clean, renewable energy resource. Others believe that it makes more sense to invest their money in an energy-producing improvement to their property than to send their money off to a utility. Others seek the added security of a backup power system and consistently higher- quality power (more uniform voltage with less distortion). For homes located more than half a mile from existing electric utility power, a PV system generally costs less than running a generator or extending utility service to the property. Finally, some people just like the feeling of independence provided by a PV system. You don’t have to know quantum physics to understand the appeal of photovoltaics. PVs allow you to produce your own electricity with no noise, no air pollution and no moving parts while using a clean, renewable resource that comes free of charge to any location. A PV system will never run out of fuel, and it won’t increase oil imports. It might not even contribute to the trade deficit, because many PV system components are

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