Public Speaking

David Ritz is regarding as both an informative and entertaining speaker

Are you ready to try solar?
Many of us have thought about putting solar panels on our roof. But where do you begin? Will putting panels on roof make our roof less sturdy in a storm? What is the return on investment? Can we sell electricity back to the electric co-op? How much does it cost?
All good questions! The good news is the Florida Keys Electric Co-op (FKEC) is very solar friendly. They have experts on staff that will help walk you through the entire process. In addition they encourage the use of solar with two major programs.
The first one is called Simple Solar. FKEC has a solar farm in Marathon with solar panels installed in a large field. You can “buy” a solar panel from FKEC by simply writing them a check and all electricity generated from that panel gets deducted from your electric bill each month. You reduce your carbon footprint and get the good feeling by helping the environment with very little effort.
The second FKEC program is the Solar Loan program. In the event you want to install solar panels on your home, FKEC can make it easier to pay for the system. FKEC offers competitively priced, simple interest rate loans up to $20,000 for the purchase and installation of solar panels and battery storage systems. The monthly loan payment is conveniently included on your electric bill each month.
Solar in hurricane prone areas is always a concern, however some people view it as a benefit. When you install solar panels on your roof you end up putting more screws into the roof and rafters. This actually holds roof down tighter. (The more screws holding the roof down the better.) In addition, some people pay quite a bit of money for gas powered generators to power their home in times of electrical disruption from FKEC. Instead of paying for generators, which may be used once in a blue moon, that same amount of money can go towards a solar system which is used on a daily basis.
In summary, there are many pros and cons to installing solar panels on your home and each of us has a unique situation. The easiest way to start is to call your local electric company and ask for free advice.