The primary reason Stan Temple is installing a large solar-panel unit outside his home is environmental.
"It's the right thing to do," Temple said.
But after that, it's all about the green - and he doesn't mean energy.
Originally, Temple and his wife, Jane Rundell, were going to install the panels before Dec. 31 when a federal tax credit for solar energy was scheduled to expire.
But when Congress passed the Wall Street bailout package last month a rider was added that extended the 30 percent tax credit for eight years and removed its 2,000 cap.
"If your tax burden don't exceed that amount, you'll get a refund," Temple said.
Now Temple is waiting to activate his solar panels until Jan. 1 in order to take advantage of the new legislation.
After the federal tax credit, Temple also will receive a credit from Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program that provides financial incentives for installing renewable energy sources.
And because of a deal he struck with Alliant Energy, he won't even be using the panels to power his home.
"Alliant will buy my solar power for 25 cents per kilowatt hour, and I pay 11," Temple said.Alliant now joins MG&E and We Energies in paying a premium rate for customer-generated solar electricity.
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