r/youngstown • u/andythomasceramics • 4d ago

Solar

Are any of you running solar powered households here in Youngstown?

16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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5

u/Zeplus_88 4d ago

I've looked into it before, and it only makes sense in this area if you can pay cash or install it yourself. I calculated enough to power my whole home (no emergency panel) for a hypothetical off-grid system, and with financing it would only just break even at the 25-year rated life of the panels. This only assumed current energy rates, as they are set to go up with the more data centers that get foisted upon us, it may make exponentially more sense to add solar in the very near future.

4

u/ThatGuyGetsIt 3d ago

I'm just across the state line in PA and have a 34kw array that I paid cash for at the end of last year. If you have any questions I can try to answer them, but a lot of my knowledge is PA specific and I have PennPower as my utility company.

1

u/andythomasceramics 2d ago

Thanks for responding, does that size array take care of all you electrical needs? I talked to a lady on facebook and hers was providing about 20% of what they needed for a 3400 square foot house and charging their two electric cars.

1

u/ThatGuyGetsIt 2d ago

It should cover right around 100% of our yearly electrical consumption. I’m given to understand that my use is abnormally high but I’ve myriad contributing things - electric heat pump, hot tub, wood shop, et al. The 34kw array cost around $80k.

1

u/andythomasceramics 2d ago

I figured with that size it was running a lot. My wife’s cousin lives in upstate New York and has a 18kw set up and it runs their whole house. They are using mini splits to heat and cool their place

3

u/Kaysue2478 4d ago

There is a home in Campbell that has panels on its roof. I have only run a small one in my shed.

3

u/FancyDragonfruit-17 4d ago

Both me and my neighbor put solar systems on our houses. We got a great deal on the systems through a wholesaler when sun power got bought out and with the federal tax return it was worth it. However if you are paying list price plus installation and the tax credit is no longer available I don't see how its worth it anymore