Americans are installing rooftop solar power systems at an unprecedented rate thanks to plunging panel prices and growing concerns about climate change. But not everyone can partake in the boom. In many states, unfavorable rules still make it too hard or expensive for homeowners and companies to go solar, stunting clean-energy growth in even the sunniest neighborhoods.
Solar advocates say the utilities are largely to blame for the mismatch in policies. Giant electricity companies see privately owned rooftop systems as a threat to their bottom lines, and they’re fighting through regulation and legislation to maintain market share, solar groups argue. Utilities say their only interest is ensuring electricity remains affordable and reliable for all of their customers, regardless of the power source.
The policy battles are intensifying as solar adoption climbs. Nearly 200,000 homes and businesses added rooftop or on-site solar installations in 2014, bringing the total count to more than 600,000 nationwide, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research. The market for solar photovoltaics is now worth more than $13 billion, up from just $3 billion six years ago.
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5 comments:
i love how people think they can just slap some panels on their rooftops, tie into the existing multi-billion dollar power company infrastructure investment and expect the utility company to just let joe homeowner use that equipment for free.
Not only that, joe homeowner wants to charge the power companies back for the power their little solar panels generate.
but I guess that is to be expected from our current state of dumbed down societal misfits.
here's a tip: build your own power lines and generation systems and then you an use the equipment for free.
If i was to invent cheap solar roof shingles. ILL be a billionare!!! We gotta get off the grid somehow PEOPLE!! The further we end our reliance on big energy companies who suck us dry ..im all for it..i hate delmarva power got but have no choice???
4:58 you will require The equipment to tie to the grid. The power company provides nothing! you are generating power back onto the Grid .the rub is they wanna charge "FEES to connect ..OK as the backup but they also wanna erode the amount they have to pay you. and get out of paying you!
Solar is another scam. Taxpayers are what keeps it going with more than $500 per MW hour being paid by them.
Too bad the average taxpayer has no clue their hard earned income is being wasted on technology that can only generate a miniscule amount of energy.
Looking at an app on my phone, I can see that approximately 14kw of energy is being consumed right now. Even though it is overcast, my solar panels are producing over 16kw.
Come on summer, can't wait to see that meter spin backwards even faster!
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