Well, since we are at it, you want a clear cogent message. When I speak to reporters, I write down my messages and keep them in front of me and make sure I say my important messages at least twice. This is an advantage for me as if the reporter sees it, I don't appear like a professional, but I am organized and my words are cogent so it works. Now. So for this topic, the message is maybe something like: The intent of the bill is a noble one: to protect our food supply. But the text of the bill, as worded, is unnecessarily burdensome to family farmers. Especially in these economic times. So the important points above: intent is noble protect food supply text needs revision Family farmers will be burdened So much so we don't want to risk any more jobs These 5 bullets show that you get it and are concerned about the consequences, but support the intent. Family Farmers is a powerful metaphor. You want action in this case. Education is for another time. Lawmakers get it. Tell them you want some revisions so Family Farmers are protected. Note also how the OCA text I linked to above is written. And how I differed the style of my sentences in this comment and above. Short sentences for the message. But, you can also use commas for when you explain a topic, so that the tone changes. Commas change voice tone. Short sentences convey a message, something you want to keep in mind, just in case you get an audience. Dan

Yes - you're right. When you pull off the grid, you first use up your credits. Then you either buy additional power from the electric company. Or, if you generate more power than you use, you get paid for the excess by the electric company. I'd have to check my notes - I think it may be annually. If you think about it - the days are longer in summer, so you will generate more power. Days are shorter in winter, you generate less power. So you most likely will pull more power off the grid in winter, pull less power in summer. So things would even out over a year. The SRECs are completely different. And I still don't have my head completely wrapped around them. They are Solar Renewable Energy Credits. The utility companies are required by law to generate a certain portion of their electricity by solar. They buy these SRECs to comply with this requirement. If they don't have enough SRECs they are fined. From srectrade.com In SREC states, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires electricity suppliers to secure a portion of their electricity from solar generators. The SREC program provides a means for Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) to be created for every megawatt-hour of solar electricity created. 1 SREC = 1,000 kWh of solar electricity = 1 MWh of solar electricity 10 kW solar capacity = ~12 SRECs per year The SREC is sold separately from the electricity and represents the "solar" aspect of the electricity that was produced. The value of an SREC is determined by the market subject to supply and demand constraints. SRECs can be sold to electricity suppliers needing to meet their solar RPS requirement. The market is typically capped by a fine or solar alternative compliance payment (SACP) paid by any electricity suppliers for every SREC they fall short of the requirement. The sale of SRECs is intended to promote the growth of distributed solar by shortening the time it takes to earn a return on the investment. Once the installation of a solar system is complete, the system must then be certified by the state(s) in which it is eligible to sell SRECs and then must create an account with the tracking platform used by that state. Once registered, every month, the tracking platform will issue SRECs based on the generation of your system. In some states, estimated generation is used for systems under 10kW, while all other systems are required to submit generation on a monthly basis. One SREC is created for every 1000kWh of electricity created. For example, a 10kW system can generate approximately 1 SREC per month. However, it is up to the solar installation owner to decide how to manage the SRECs that are produced. Some states will certify solar electric systems from out-of-state and allow the SRECs from those facilities to count towards the RPS. The map above shows what state individuals can sell their SRECs into. Here is a link that might be useful: srec trade dot com

You're kidding? Did you report it?

I still like to see the paper bills. I want to be able to review them and see how many kilowatt hours of electricity I used,how much I spent at Macy's, etc. I then use my free on-line bank account to make the payments. My bank will arrange payments up to 60 days in the future, or a set amount each month if you prefer. For example, I locked in a contract with my heating oil company to deliver home heating oil for $2.49 a gallon until May 2008. Then I go back to regular billing. I save 41 cents postage with each payment. The only bills I still pay with paper checks are my medical bills. Unfortunately, both huuby and I have chronic illnesses , so we have a lot of medical bills. I want those cancelled checks as a permanent record for tax return purposes.