(April 13, 2007

So, you say you're fed-up with the skyrocketing cost of energy? But there are those who are doing something about it. 3News Manuel De La Rosa found a homeowner outside of Orange Grove today, who's taking full advantage of two of the most abundant resources here in South Texas:  sun and wind.

David Potter owns a wind turbine on his Orange Grove property. He can convert wind into power. He also has 16 solar panels on top of his mobile home that convert sunlight into power. The best part of this. It's all free. Potter told 3News, "There are millions of people just like me who do that. They make their energy everyday and that energy is from a free source."

8 years ago Potter invested about 20 thousand dollars in his system. So far, it's a worthwhile investment. "The difference is my is power is already paid for and will be for 20 to 50 years, but everybody else is renting their power and they pay for it monthly." 

Potter stores his energy in 16 batteries, similar to those found in a car. "If I was to turn off all the energy sources, I can run things normally for four days before I would have to start up an emergency generator or hope for wind or sun."

Potter is a unique person using sustainable energy. He says free electricity is one incentive, but he also says it protects the environment.  Why don't more people use sustainable energy? Potter says it's because there are few incentives or tax credits to encourage people to invest in it. "If the incentives came along to make it more beneficial for them to do it, they would be more likely to do it."  That's what potter hopes will change in the future so less people would be reliant on power energy companies.