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Fear of grid problems sparks huge demand for renewable energy By PAUL FATTIG Renewable energy specialist Robert "Bob-O" Schultze received the first call last summer. Someone moving to a remote area in the Upper Rogue region wanted his place plugged in to a renewable energy source. The reason? He didn't want to be "on the grid" -- that network of electrical lines and generators powering our society -- when Y2K hit, Schultze recalled. "It's been nuts ever since," said Schultze, 51, a licensed electrical contractor who installs renewable energy systems. Until last summer, Schultze, who has been evaluating, designing and installing renewable energy systems much of his adult life, could count on about 95 percent of his customers wanting a renewable energy system because they were in an area far from the grid. He serves mainly Southern Oregon and Northern California. "Now about 80 percent of them are already on the grid," he said. "These are people who are completely freaked out about Y2K." For nearly 30 years, Schultze has lived unplugged from the grid. He taps the sun, wind and water to power a comfortable but remote home a dozen miles east of Interstate 5 just south of the Oregon border. Schultze has been following the Y2K phenomenon closely. He is a contributor to Home Power magazine, a publication that bills itself as the "hands-on journal of home-made power." The magazine is published in Ashland. "I've tried to talk them out of it if their only concern is Y2K," he said. "My personal feeling is that while there are going be some problems, they will be relatively minor. I think it would be about the same as preparing for a winter storm." His advice isn't always taken, he acknowledged. "About 5 percent of the people I talk to say, `I hear what you are saying, but I think it's going to be worse,"' he said. "They are looking at it (renewable source) as insurance. They say they want a renewable source anyway, but that thing with the Y2K is just pushing them." While investing in a renewable source may be good for the environment as well as a strong political statement, it's not always good for the pocketbook, he said. A energy system can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 installed, depending on the location and type of system. "But at the end, you will have a renewable resource," he said. At the Schultze home, photovoltaic cells are employed and a small hydroelectric plant is powered by a seasonal stream. A wind machine towering over the main photovoltaic unit also produces power. Storing the power are 12 6-volt deep cycle industrial batteries designed for long life. The electrical bank can store up to 24 kilowatts of energy, enough to run computers, a washing machine, refrigerator, lights, microwave, electric stove and other appliances for about three days. Each appliance runs on 120-volt alternating current, thanks to an electronic converter. One of the three systems is almost always pouring power into storage batteries, Schultze said. "It's my job to look at what you have," he said of potential natural power. "Most people are looking at solar now. But, hey, how much solar do you get January 1 in Medford? Other people are looking at a battery-based backup system." Still others intend to use the grid as a backup, he said. "Most of the people I am working with are in Southern Oregon and Northern California," he said. "But this is happening all over. I distribute to other people who do what I do and they are reporting the same thing. "It seems like the people buying into this are pretty much Internet savvy," he added. "They are scoping everything out." Although his business is starting to level off, he figures things are not about to quiet down. "I'm guessing the last quarter will be wacko," he said. "I'm not convinced anything big is going to happen with Y2K, but no one can really tell us what will happen." And he notes a recent order from a fellow in Southern Oregon. "I'm working with one guy a couple of miles from downtown Medford who is putting some large photovoltaic cells on his roof," he said. "He's no dummy. He is retired after working on software for 25 years. "I've never worked on software," he added. "I'm wondering what he knows that I don't know." Schultze can be reached at www.electronconnection.com Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA