Why not take a look at Solar Energy?

Why not take a look at a Solar Energy Station on the roof of your home?  The last rate increase from Ameren (January 2, 2013) caused me to start thinking about it.  I dismissed the thought soon enough.  Afterall, I'm semi-retired, sixty five years old.  My wife and I have a small house in the "Indian Streets", Cheyenne, Shawnee, Apache, etc., of Florissant.  I 'm too old to put Solar on my roof.  It won't pay for itself in my lifetime. Solar panels are fragile and we have lots of hail and foul weather, anymore.  There's a litany of problems with Solar Energy.  Right?

Then, last month, I read yet another article, this time about global warming.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm concerned about the environment.  I've got five grandchildren.  Still, I'm no fanatic.  Anyway, I visited a few websites to learn more about Solar Energy, carbon footprints, fossil fuels, and nuclear reactors.  The first thing that I learned was that I didn't have anything right the first time Solar Energy crossed my mind.  Solar Energy Stations can pay for themselves in as little as five years.  With utility rebates and federal tax credits, they are very affordable.  Finally, Solar panels and inverters come with twenty-five year warranties.  I've been told that a solar panel can take a piece of one inch hail traveling at fifty miles an hour.  There's little reason not to consider Solar panels on your roof.