Friday, August 28, 2009

The End is Nigh

In more ways than one.

But in the immediate sense, I am referring to utility company's stranglehold over the human race:

Taking a Dim View of Solar Energy


The disparity has utilities worried about loosing their grip on the country's energy industry, and the $130 billion residential electricity market. In some cases, utilities are actually taking direct steps to thwart rooftop solar. Two weeks ago in Colorado, the state's biggest utility, Xcel, tried passing a surcharge on homes and businesses using rooftop solar power. The public went ballistic, and with pressure from Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, the proposal was eventually shelved. In early July, New Mexico's biggest utility, PNM, filed an official request to dramatically reduce incentives for businesses and homeowners to install solar panels, and is now fighting with state lawmakers over whether it has the right to exclusively own solar panels systems hooked up to its grid. During California's last legislative session, Southern California Edison, which serves 13 million residents, successfully lobbied against a bill that would have allowed the city of Palm Desert to pay solar users for the excess power they generate.

Remember the power of going ballistic....I have a hunch we're going to be facing similar issues here. In the meantime...worship the sun:

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for pushing solar; look into small scale wind power, too.

A couple of great books written for sailors, "The 12 volt Bible" and its sequel might make you happy.

Anonymous said...

It is great that you are pushing solar.. but southcoast is not the only business in town...

or are you advertising for them?

Jason Brad Berry said...

No i'm not advertising for them...please submit any links which you think I should promote regarding solar. Thanks.

Jason Brad Berry said...

I didn't realize there was more than one solar company in town. sorry.

matter said...

Southcoast is very disorganized. They are unable to return calls or provide quotes. There are other companies, but they are equally difficult to deal with. All of the ones I've talked to have a "take it or leave it" attitude, and just say that their system costs $25,000. If you want someone to actually come out and give you a quote (like any normal contractor would) they want a $300 to $500 "engineering fee." Check the news: panel prices are dropping and will continue to drop. Pretty soon that $25k system will be a lot less.

Anonymous said...

I am glad that matter said it for me...
South Coast is very difficult.. they want to come to you and explain why their systems cost 3x what the total of the parts and labor are... and then explain all the tax credits that you will get.. basically stating that they inflate the price.. the state pays you back.. they get the bucks...

All the state and federal tax credits did was to set up businesses like southcoast who are in it for nothing more than to reap the $$$$$$$

Anonymous said...

I am glad that matter said it for me...
South Coast is very difficult.. they want to come to you and explain why their systems cost 3x what the total of the parts and labor are... and then explain all the tax credits that you will get.. basically stating that they inflate the price.. the state pays you back.. they get the bucks...

All the state and federal tax credits did was to set up businesses like southcoast who are in it for nothing more than to reap the $$$$$$$