American Thinker:
A modest proposal:
We’ve all heard about “shop local” and “get your food from local farmers, not distant corporate farms.” Lots of people have apple trees in their backyards. Often they can’t begin to eat or give away all the apples. In the meantime, big supermarkets sell corporate apples for one dollar a pound and up. I propose that people with backyard apples be able to take them to the supermarket and sell them to the supermarket for the same price at which the supermarket is selling apples. Furthermore, they should be able to take them at any time and receive payment. If the store gets too many local apples, it can reduce its purchase of corporate apples.
My apple proposal may seem ill advised, but that is exactly how rooftop solar power works. The homeowner gets to displace power from the power company, and if the homeowner has more power than he needs, the power company is obligated to purchase it, often for the same retail price at which it sells electricity. That policy is called net metering. In order to accommodate the homeowner’s electric power, the utility has to throttle down some other power plant that produces power at a lower wholesale price.
The exact arrangements for accepting rooftop solar vary by jurisdiction. In some places, net metering is restricted in one way or another. more here
Here in AZ we have lots of abundant sunshine (obviously) so solar is popular. We can only sell the power to power company at the wholesale price. To put it on my commercial building I would sell all my power to the company at wholesale, and buy all my power at retail. The net effect is that I would get a discount, not free electric power. I don’t know how residential solar works. Also, you don’t always buy the equipment, you lease it. So now you’re trying to sell your property but someone controls the rooftop so buyers aren’t interested. The companies want to lease it to you so they get the gov’t incentives, not you.
Bottom line: Complete scam
“Also, you don’t always buy the equipment, you lease it. So now you’re trying to sell your property but someone controls the rooftop so buyers aren’t interested.”
YES! That’s exactly it. Some of the Las Vegas homes that have that mess all over their roof cannot sell. They are NOT incentives, they are burdens. Not only that, they don’t lower the price of electricity much, either. Especially when you still have to use the electric company to get your power!
A triple threat infrequently mentioned involves fire, firemen, and fire insurance.
● Solar panel electrical systems are another potential fire source.
● Fire fighters will not go up on a panel-encrusted roof to cut holes for water spray until a certified specialist says it’s safe. Even then, an isolated panel can deliver a nasty shock.
● Insurance companies are acutely aware of the complications and delays associated with putting out a fire on a building with solar panels. Insurance premiums are quite a bit higher.
Good points, Uncle Al. I remember reading about that.
Someday, I’ll be on a sub 40ft boat with solar panels all over every flat top surface. The irony will be that I have solar panels because there are lieberals. Because, if there were no lieberals, I’d feel no need to escape.
We once had an HONEST (as in he told the truth!) conservative President.
In the ’82 SotU he said, ” the government will NEVER be able to solve our problems … THE GOVERNMENT IS OUR PROBLEM!”!@#!$%?^. This man beat Krauthamer’s man Frizt 49:1!
Look up the ’84 election if you doubt my honesty!
In ’18 THE GOVERNMENT STILL IS THE PROBLEM!
Solar panel salesmen are the new Tin Men. This scam will only be stopped when ratepayers throw out the idiot legislators and congressmen that enabled it.
Photovoltaic panels deteriorate as soon as they are manufactured, some more than others. The panels also need to be cleaned regularly, which I have never seen done by anyone around here. Most installations on homes are not even close to an ideal direction and angle. There is no way those installations get even close to what the salesman promised (always with the mumbled caveat, “under ideal conditions”.
Forcing utilities to take electricity, in the wrong form and when they don’t need it, puts a tremendous and costly burden on the grid. A proper installation should require sufficient onsite storage to assure as much of the home-generated electricity stays there. If there is still surplus and the utility can use it, it needs to be properly conditioned so as not to add unneeded stress to the grid; so add to a solar installation line conditioners and transformers.
Forcing utilities to buy energy from individual customers at above wholesale is insane. Ratepayers should be suing states, counties and municipalities that force that. Subsidizing solar panel installations (or the purchase of a Tesla) is insane and patently unfair.
We cannot afford to continue spending money we don’t have to pay sin tax for an imagined sin.
The only deal I ever saw from a power company was that you – obviously – get “full retail value” for every Kw you are making and using, but AREN’T BUYING. Otherwise known as your savings from reducing the electric bill.
As for what the company actually pays for – when you get any actual money – is if you produce more than you used during the last month. That is credited to your account at the same rate they pay anyone they are buying power from – wholesale.
I’d like to know the numbers on how much power is actually added to the grid.