I clicked on a Facebook post today promising me free solar under a supposed new Arkansas law.

I looked that up. It isn’t true. But now I have at least 10 messages from solar energy suppliers on Facebook wanting my business. Federal tax rebates are available for solar. Those cover about 30 percent of the costs. But there are no state rebates in this state.

And I’d love to have solar

It’s not that I don’t want solar. We have lots of sunlight and open ground so the panels probably wouldn’t even have to go on our roof. But with the price we now pay for power, it doesn’t make sense to spend thousands. That may be changing, though. And I wish the utility companies would hold hands with us through the changes.

Arkansas PSC resignation

Just this week, Arkansas Public Service Commission Chairman Ted Thomas said he is resigning his position. This in part is due to frustration by energy providers unwillingness to move toward more solar deployment. The problem he points out isn’t confined to Arkansas.

Higher gas prices predicted

Inactivity in addressing the increases in the price of natural gas may lead to higher bills for consumers this winter, Thomas said in a statement published by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “I am frustrated by the impact that high natural gas prices are having on both electric and natural gas bills,” he said. “It is going to be bad this winter when the first bills come out after the home heating season begins.”

We heat with wood

This likely won’t impact us much since we heat with wood in the winter. Our very efficient soapstone stove in the living room keeps the 1600-square-foot house cozy in winter. Our electric bills last year ran about $70 per month. We spent $700 last winter for wood. And we have $520 in wood stacked up outside, which we hope will see us through the coming winter. The highest bill we had this summer with air conditioning was $196.

Not confined to Arkansas

As noted, this problem isn’t confined to Arkansas. It’s just in the local news because this high-ranking official has placed it there. But aren’t many utilities behind when it comes to finding alternative energy sources? And aren’t there ways they can work with homeowners to make change possible?

Quarrels with electricity producers

Thomas has quarreled with the state’s top electricity providers over issues related to solar-energy policy. And solar deployment has been a contentious issue for years as utilities and solar installers and users have battled over how to compensate homeowners and businesses for excess power generated by solar facilities. The three-member Arkansas commission generally has ruled in favor of consumers, not utilities.

Letter from my electric cooperative

A few months ago, I received a letter from the president and CEO of Carroll County Electric Cooperative, our local energy provider. I thank him for his frank assessment of where we have been in the past year and where we need to go. The bulk of our relatively inexpensive power comes from coal and hydro-electric power.

More investment should be encouraged

But I’d love to see CCEC and other utilities encourage more investment in solar and wind power, including the installation of such resources at customers’ homes. Perhaps utilities could offer this as a side business, creating more jobs and helping more homeowners generate at least some of their own power. The excess then can go back to the local electric utilities. By law in Arkansas, they must give homeowners credit for any excess solar energy they produce, but that is credit only. No dollars exchange hands. Certainly investment in better storage for excess wind and solar power need to be part of the technology investment equation.

Leadership needed

Back to Thomas, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who would appoint Thomas’ successor, says he did not ask the chairman to resign and gave no indication of his plans for a replacement. But he needs to be replaced with a strong leader looking toward the future in a realistic way.

“Ted Thomas has been a national leader as chairman of the Public Service Commission,” the governor said in a statement. “In a time when the energy sector is undergoing change, Ted has continually worked with diligence for the people of Arkansas during a critical time.”

The clock is running out, folks

Individually, we need to do what we can to conserve. We collectively need to explore more sustainable and less damaging sources of energy. We’re starting slow by trying to install a solar system for our well pump. If our power goes out, say in an ice storm, we’ll at least have water and our wood stove. We’ll move on with more solar as we can. For all of us, though, the clock is nearing zero.