Welcome!

Welcome to my blog describing the process of installing a solar photovoltaic array in the Sandia Mountains East of Albuquerque. Although it officially started today with a seminar at Better World Solar (http://www.betterworldsolar.com/), I have been interested in renewable energy for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Florida in the 60s and 70s, my Dad had one of the first prototype solar heaters for our pool. The company was Fafco (http://www.fafcosolar.com/), based in California. The system worked by circulating pool water through plastic capillaries on the roof. In the early days, chlorine in the pool water would attack the plastic and we would come home quite often to roof geysers from the leaks. They kept at it, though, eventually coming up with a formula that was resistant to chlorine. I understand the company is doing very well nearly 40 years later.

More recently, my wife Michelle's graduate class on environmental rhetoric at UNM (http://unmenvirorhetoric.blogspot.com/) hosted noted author Doug Fine (http://www.dougfine.com/) on November 10th, and his wholehearted endorsement of solar power (he lives off the grid) finally convinced Michelle that we should make the leap of faith and go solar. I have been campaigning for this addition to our home ever since we moved to New Mexico 6 years ago, but it took Doug's persuasive rhetoric to tip the scale with my wife.

The seminar that started it all (that's me in the yellow cap)

Just a week later, I was doing some internet research into solar power installers in Albuquerque when I happened upon an announcement of a seminar the very next day. I signed up and attended the meeting. I met Pat and Lee, owner and manager of Better World Solar, and listened for two hours as Pat described every aspect of the process of putting in a solar array. He fielded questions from the attendees and gave the impression that he was passionate about renewable energy and the promise it holds for the future. I was hooked and we set up a visit to my property to evaluate what I wanted to do.