gnihcraes, looks to me like you're much, much better off than most.

I'm making a move to rural New Jersey pretty soon to a 5 acre farm. There is a huge propane tank there. I want a propane generator to go with the battery bank pretty quickly after we get there for the same reasons you run your generator.

But, I want renewable energy as well, both to keep our energy costs down and just in case things really fall apart. Solar will be a part of that, assuming we get enough sun exposure to make it worthwhile, but I would like another way to make energy as well. Wind is out due to town restrictions, but I'll have access to a lot of wood. Wood gas is looking pretty good to me as that alternate source of energy. And if I'm making heat anyway when I use the gasifier, why not add a Thermal Electric Generator into the mix?

Too bad a vehicle doesn't make enough to charge a deep cycle battery. Sounds really good to charge a battery or two on the way to and from work, but not doable.