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There is a group of islands in Lake Huron which is privy to what have been called the most beautiful sunsets in Ontario - perfect vacation property, but expensive to bring electricity to in the conventional way. Some people pay the outrageous cost, but Ontario Solar and Wind Inc.President, Stephen Quinlan, chose another route over 25 years ago.

As a young man in his twenties, he began researching with renewable energy sources to power his cottage, first experimenting with harnessing the wind and then choosing solar energy.

Now, propane runs stove and hot water heater, but each day the power of the sun charges batteries which provide enough energy to operate lighting, fridge,TV, microwave, furnace and the pumping system which brings water the 200 metres from the lake to supply two cottages.

Electricity supplied by the sun through 6 150 watt photovoltaic panels and a 400 Air-X wind generator with 8 Surrette 530 amp hour batteries for 24 volts DC, For those items for which 110 volt AC is necessary, Steve has installed a 4024 Trace inverters which do the necessary conversion.For late fall and winter use there is a 6500 watt Onan gas generator for the times there is not enough sun and wind.

Steve’s solar system has worked so successfully; neighboring cottagers are beginning to investigate installing systems to power their own cottages. Future plans for Steve includes a solar hot water heating system on the roof to augment or replace the wood and oil furnace now being used.