Take a good hard look at the requirements for selling power back to the utility company. It's not as simple as producing more than you use, it has to be conditioned and provided in very stringent methods as dictated by the utility. I had heard the same tales and did some research. It's quite complicated and there is additional expense involved, plus the regulations vary dramatically by region and utility provider.

The best alternative power systems in real-world use are very hybrid. Wind provides the bulk of the power as it provides the most output for the lowest cost. Solar usually augments systems as it is very cost prohibitive for the cells, so the setup is generally sized according to the wind availability at the site to pick up the slack for average windless days. All this feeds a battery storage bank that is in turn coupled with the distribution circuit that provide this green power to the whole house that's still grid-tied. The grid power handles the heavy loads such as major appliances and well pumps, while the batteries handle the rest. The control circuitry automatically shifts the load as needed when the batteries are low or the demand is high. This type of setup gives you the maximum flexibility and savings, plus you can scale the system up as you can afford additional green power generation (wind/solar/micro-hydro etc.). For totally off-grid use you really either have to do without a lot of conveniences or spend major money for ultra-efficient appliances and such. For example, they still haven't come up with a full-size 12V fridge that'll keep ice cream hard.

For some excellent information and reviews of in-use real world residential systems, and the different approaches people take, check out Home Power Magazine at your local book shop. It's a good read and will encourage you as much as ground you to reality and the true economics of being green.