Originally published April 21 2005
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters in Minnesota uses solar panels for all its power needs
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In Minnesota, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters has plenty of electricity despite the fact that they are not attached to the power grid. Rather, they are using solar panels to produce all the power that they need. In fact, they have 72 panels on their property, allowing them to power everything from refrigerators to WiFi. After an initial experiment with a wind turbine, which simply needed too much maintenance, Sawbill's Bill Hansen put in solar panels. Since they are all but indestructible, the panels provide consistent power for all their electrical needs while requiring almost no maintenance. However, for heat, they turn to good old-fashioned wood.
On the roof are solar panels, satellite dishes for TV and WiFi, a weather station and an FM broadcast station.
Joan Farnam/Staff writer Sawbill Canoe Outfitters might be off the grid, but that doesn't mean the award-winning family business doesn't have modern amenities like lights and running water.
Bill Hansen says Sawbill Canoe Outfitters has a total of 72 solar panels on the property, including this array set on poles which follow the sun during the day.
On cloudy days, powerful generators provide energy as well and act as back-ups for the system.
When Frank and Mary Alice first set up the outfitter station at the end of the Sawbill Trail, the only source of power they used was a diesel generator.
When wind power came on the market, they jumped on the idea, and ordered a powerful windmill from Australia.
But the U.S. Forest Service refused to grant them permission to put up the windmill, citing visual pollution, Frank said.
"It was on the 6 and 10 p.m. news in Minneapolis," Frank said.
"The next week, we got a letter from the supervisor's office in Duluth saying we could install it."
The Hansens use a super-efficient furnace/boiler developed in Denmark.
In the process, the boiler extracts about 85 percent of the heat from the unit as compared to most wood stoves, which transfer about 17 percent, he said.
Not only does it have access to WiFi, it also has satellite TV and a complex telephone system.
Solar is the way to go At least 100 solar homes in county Staff reports There are at least 100 homes and cabins in Cook County which are off the grid and use solar panels to power their utilities.
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