The Skystream,Backyard Wind Generator, Awarded 2006 Best of What's New Award Popular Science

[jpak]

The Skystream,Backyard Wind Generator, Awarded 2006 Best of What's New Award Popular Science

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,17412.shtml

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Southwest Windpower announced its newest product, the Skystream 3.7(TM), has been awarded a 2006 Best of What's New Award from Popular Science in the Home category. Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations and includes the top 100 winners in its annual Best of What's New issue. To win, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category.

Best of What's New is the ultimate Popular Science accolade, representing a year's worth of work evaluating thousands of projects," says Mark Jannot, editor of Popular Science. "These awards honor innovations that not only influence the way we live today, but that change the way we think about the future."

Skystream is a next-generation residential power appliance that hooks up to the home to help reduce or eliminate monthly electricity costs. Skystream is the first compact, user-friendly, all-inclusive wind generator (with controls and inverter built in) designed to provide quiet, clean electricity in very low winds. With Skystream, homeowners and small business owners now have the power to choose their electricity source.

"Skystream will change how Americans power their homes with clean wind energy," said Andy Kruse, co-founder of Southwest Windpower. "This is a dream our company has had for twenty years. Now, with Skystream, grid-connected residential wind energy is finally mainstream."

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(more about Skystream 3.7 here http://www.windenergy.com/index_wind.htm)

[skids]

1. Getting better.

At $2 and change per peak watt rating, that is indeed within the "realm" of affordability/payback. I think they can do better, but it's a good deal on the current market for sure.

[phantom power]

2. That's pretty cool, but...

there aren't all that many people who's property meets the operational requirements:

http://www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/will-skystream-work/

[jpak]

3. There are lots of homes in rural America that can meet these requirements

and - they aren't all show stoppers in urban and suburban America either...

:hi:

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Skystream's URL

http://www.skystreamenergy.com/skystream/

It looks like it's mainly a newer, better design. The overall problem of getting more of these into use remains.

Maybe with a Democratic Congress, we can get some tax credit legislation passed.

--p!