Smart loan risk and pay back: One of the methods for repayment of the loans incurred for sloar, geothermo and wind installation into private homes is to sell the excess energy generated to the local utility companies.

Currently, most solar, wind and geo sellers know of the program and assist in helping homeowners do so.

The same program can be set up by individual homeowners who are using the Smart Loan program. To argue the program isn't sufficiently developed and will result in a boondoogle is a chicken-and-egg arugument, and not based on facts.

The program must have voter approval to move forward due to the TABOR Amendment to the Colorado Constitution. Secondly to claim homeowners will “over mortgage” their property is additionally a poor attack on 1A. This is an intelligent and reasonable way to allow homeowners to move to alternative sources of energy.

Addtionally, many homeowners may choose to pay back the loan quicker and not wait for the horrid tax day.

Further, once the program is voter-approved, we can move toward negotiating with the local utility companies for reverse meters and sell excess energy to the utility company, resulting in funding for loan payment.

It is time we caught up with the rest of the industrialized nations. For instance in Autralia, most suburban homes have solar for heating water and providing electricity.

It is nearly impractical right now to do so through a home equity loan. This is a creative and solid way to allow homeowners in Eagle County to achieve cleaner energy. Even if it reduces the number of “mortgage or home equity” loan sales.

Jill E. Kovacevich