Large Energy Spill in Vermont

No, this isn’t a post about Vermont Yankee (Vermont’s only nuclear power plant) and its recent leaks of radioactive materials. It’s a post about my growing awareness of a missed opportunity.

This year the month of May brought exceptionally pleasant weather. The sun has been bright most days, and this past week the temperatures were unseasonably warm. While sitting outside at a favorite eatery, I realized I envied those with solar power.

A recent tongue-in-cheek posting on Redit: Large air spill at windfarm made me think about the sunshine that often eludes Vermont, but has been “spilling” across the state this month. Whatever the vagaries of the weather in a particular year, we still have the potential for producing solar electricity in Vermont without the potential destruction of wildlife habitats and environmental resources.

So it was an uneasy feeling to admit my dependence on oil and therefore my contribution to the recent oil spill disaster. Not only do I use oil for wintertime heating (as a supplement to our wood pellet stove), and use gasoline for transportation, but I’m also dependent on oil for the food I eat and the goods I purchase.

Recently, NRG Systems (a Marketing Partners’ client) completed the install of 36 additional solar trackers, making their LEED-certified production facility practically net-zero — producing as much energy as the facility uses. I say practically because there are always fluctuations in energy produced compared to energy used. Over the course of a year it all balances out.

I’d like to install renewable energy systems at my home, but find the costs and conditions are prohibitive, especially when there are other opportunities for conservation.

So for now, I’ll enjoy sitting in the sun and planning my next home project to reduce my oil consumption: the garden.