Grand Junction, Colorado
Organic Farm & Wildlife Refuge
Who knows what lies at the end of the trail for our future sources of energy?
Can we just wait and see or should one become part of the solution?
Earth Day 2008 in Grand Junction
The GJct Sentinel takes the lead with Green Information.
Listen to the Clark Howard radio show for more Green Information.
For us, Why Solar?
From the first immigrants to America thousands of years ago to the ones that join us today, one principle has always been clear. Independence in America comes from first being independent. Striving to live on our own skills and talents has been greatly valued. This high value of independence did not come with isolation nor intolerance. Indeed, we sought out partners that we valued for their independence and their differences.
Currently solar energy cost more, but the value of the added independence makes the cost worth while. Solar photovoltaic panels might not make sense for many people, but anything we each can do to strengthen our independence makes us all stronger. Like all such adventures, The Second War of American Independence will be won in small steps by many people. Join this army. Be able to tell your grandchildren how you fought for their future - energy independence and a better planet.
Xcel's Solar Energy Reward Program
More Rebates Soon? Governor’s Energy Office Idea (More Details)
Phase 1 of our solar system was professionally installed by
Atlasta Solar and Energy Products, Virgil Boggess: Complete solar retail store providing photovoltaics, solar hot water, wind energy, and generators for powering remote homes, 2923 North Avenue, 8A, Grand Junction, CO 81504, (970) 248-0057, toll free: (877) 464-8264, Atlastasolar@yahoo.com, www.atlastasolarstore.com
Other Local Solar Companies:
High Noon Solar, Cory Sullivan: 21441 Little Park Road, Grand Junction, CO 81503, (970) 208-6614, highnoonsolar@yahoo.com, www.highnoonsolar.com
Tomorrow Hill Farm's
Photo Voltaic Solar Construction - Phase 1 - August 2006
Watch the Flash Movie and see how the PV Panels make our electric meter run backwards!
Make Hay Electricity when the sun shines?
Although Colorado often brags about 300 sunny days a year, in Grand Junction we really get about 137. This is still one of the higher number of days in Colorado, but the term sunny day seems to have several interpretations. One calculation would have Colorado have as much as 80% sunny days with Arizona taking first place at about 85%. With global warming some areas may improve their scores - good or bad.
More Information on Solar at:
Renewable Resource Data Center RReDC
The American Solar Energy Society ASES
National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL
Solar Radiation Data For Grand Junction
Thanks to High Noon Solar in August of 2007 a self guided tour of some local homes and business were open to the public.
Here the solar panels offer a dpuble function -provide electricity to the home and shade tour members as a guide describes the installation, function and cost savings. These panels are adjustable to the suns angle for the different season a year. This can make the system up to 5% more efficient.
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You may notice that some of your neighbors are getting both electricity and hot water from their roof tops.
Many businesses are helping offset their energy costs...
...and some are striving to be self sufficient.
One major stumbling block for many Grand Valley residents is that Excel Energy offer rebates for solar installation, but GVP continues to feel that few if any Grand Valley residents are interested. Please contact them and let them know your interest. We have only one planet and we need to protect it while becoming energy independent. As humans we almost always continue doing the same things only until we have no other choices. We cannot wait that long.
"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."
Winston Churchill
Please Contact:
Grand Valley Power
2727 Grand Ave.
PO Box 190
Grand Junction, Co. 81502
Phone: 970-242-0040
Fax: 970-242-0612
E-mail:
info@gvp.org
1890's Styled Farmhouse
Although Tomorrow Hill Farm has been designed to appear as a farm from the 1890's, almost every tree, plant, structure has been added since July 5, 1990. The windmill construction was a family project and its mechanical design has changed little in the last 135 years. In future years, its pump will aerate water in a large pond. Most of the wildlife is also new to the farm since there was only one tree and little other vegetation on the property before the transformation began. To protect the wildlife, clean air and blue sky, we have planted hundreds of trees, make our electricity with PV Panels and buy our electricity from modern wind turbines. Molly insists that we use biodiesel in our tractor, but biodiesel is hard to find in many places - including Colorado's Western Slope. If you need a regular supply of biodiesel you can make your own.
Wind Powered
THF construction April 1995
email: info[at]tomorrowhillfarm[dot]com
Live simply, so that others may simply live.
