A Florida couple installed a 90-foot wind turbine surrounded by 81 solar panels, and now they've almost forgotten they even have a power company

Florida is a mixed bag, known for sunshine and hurricanes. And also for high power bills.

One couple in Lake Wales decided that they weren’t going to accept it. They assembled a stormproof electricity system that’s designed to handle all kinds of conditions.

They have no reliance on any power utility company. 

But translating their plan into reality in such a heavily regulated state was a battle from the get-go. What did it take to pull off this home clean-energy setup?

How one Florida couple designed the ideal hybrid home power system

Most homes in Florida are made from concrete and stucco. But Dr. Maurice Ramirez and Allison Sakara went a completely different route. 

They built their Lake Wales home and business with structural, insulated panels. It’s surprising that this is not a mainstream idea, considering that they can handle hurricane-force winds.

The couple then covered the exterior in a specialized ceramic-acrylic coating that reflects the heat, which is a bonus in Florida.

The result is not simply a house. It’s also a functioning, efficient laboratory designed for survival. 

But it doesn’t come easy. It takes a lot of clean energy to run their business and home. They went way beyond installing solar panels on the roof like most people do.

The system that Ramirez and Sakara designed is a hybrid solar-wind setup. It powers a high-demand office and medical practice, and they’re now completely independent from the electricity grid.

But the planning was the easy part. What did it take to turn a standard-sized five-acre plot into a self-sufficient mini power station?

Go big or go home: 81 panels plus a backyard turbine

Ramirez and Sakara went all-out with 81 solar panels spread across their five acres of land. They deliver an impressive 21 kilowatts of solar power. 

But that’s not the end. The couple felt that wind power had to enter the equation. 

The plan was to build a 91-foot turbine for the backyard. And this is where things got complicated.

Polk County didn’t have zoning laws or ordinances for residential wind power. Probably because it seemed unlikely that anyone would consider putting a giant turbine in the garden.

Neighbors started raising concerns before the turbine went up, so the county commission had to get involved.

Eventually, the couple had solar and wind power, and the clean energy started flowing. But what did it take to get there?

Rewriting ordinances and laying out compliance standards

In Florida, the afternoon clouds are a relief from the sun’s heat. But they also mean thunderstorms and gusty winds.

This is where Ramirez’s and Sakara’s smart thinking really came to the fore, says the Des Moines University Medicine and Health Center.

When there isn’t enough light for solar power, the wind turbine kicks in. There’s never a break in the delivery of clean power for their business.

This self-sufficiency came with a mountain of legal hurdles to jump. Yet, their efforts have paved the way for other homeowners to benefit from residential wind turbines.

A legal battle just to leave the grid

The real work to generate clean home power wasn’t in the planning and installation. It was a legal to-and-fro with the county to move with the renewable energy times. 

When Allison and Maurice started out, Polk County had nothing to stipulate for residential wind energy. Zoning laws and ordinances were non-existent. 

The complexities began when neighbors raised concerns about bird safety, noise, and the blight on their view. Sakara and Ramirez didn’t back down, taking the route of collaboration. 

They worked together with county planners to write a new county ordinance. There was a Board of Adjustments hearing to get through.

A height variance was worked out. Safety standards were set, including stipulations on manual braking systems, low-noise requirements, and bird deterrents.

The couple’s endurance has paved the way for county neighbors to become grid-independent. 

Are we going to see similar moves in other counties that haven’t kept up with the clean energy boom?