Solar City

[SanDiego_installer]

Hey Dave, even if Elon Musk offers to install your panels personally........DO NOT pay $5/Watt for solar. Shop around and look for a local company with 5+ years of experience and nearby references that you can check out. On a system of this size, you should be at $3/Watt. Good luck.

[russ]

I think it has something to do with Musk. Seems to me he can't build anything cheap and he's not real forthcoming with details that help to make an informed choice about his products.

It has to do with his business attitude - gouge as hard as you can!

[rhedayi]

I would figure out a way to reduce electricity usage then go from there

[gene1138]

For SC I think Musk is taking a page out of the Apple playbook. Take a commodity product, put some heavy marketing spin on it, tout how special they are, charge a premium and get the customer to feel thankful for getting charged that premium.

Tesla on the other hand LI batteries aren't down to commodity pricing so he can still charge a premium and his cars do have performance stats that rival some really top end cars.

But anywho. Back to talking about choosing a solar install.

[J.P.M.]

I would figure out a way to reduce electricity usage then go from there

Big +1 on that one.

[oilerlord]

The system they'll sell me costs $86,000 per their report.

I get a $26,000 credit when I file tax return for 2015, so net cost is $60,000

I'm just starting to look at this, but this sounds like a pretty good deal.

Any feedback?

Since you're looking for "any" feedback...I continue to be amazed at how much of a sales racket that renewable energy has become. Solar city bills $86,000 and pockets a huge profit while taxpayers subsidize $26,000; and we generally accept this as normal. I'm not at all judging anyone, or inviting a political rant because I'd also take advantage of tax credits if they were available in my area. I'm only making an observation about how solar providers are gaming the system in what has become a solar power gold rush. Because I don't have those subsidies (or a $60,000 budget), I was forced to research / procure a system I could afford. I bought 9.4kW of pre-owned 5-year old Sunpower modules. Including new micros, mounts, racking, labor (including some of my own DIY), etc, my project is going to come in under $15,000.

All the best, and good luck with your installation.

[russ]

Solar city bills $86,000 and pockets a huge profit while taxpayers subsidize $26,000;

The great Musk stealing public funds

[J.P.M.]

Since you're looking for "any" feedback...I continue to be amazed at how much of a sales racket that renewable energy has become. Solar city bills $86,000 and pockets a huge profit while taxpayers subsidize $26,000; and we generally accept this as normal. I'm not at all judging anyone, or inviting a political rant because I'd also take advantage of tax credits if they were available in my area. I'm only making an observation about how solar providers are gaming the system in what has become a solar power gold rush. Because I don't have those subsidies (or a $60,000 budget), I was forced to research / procure a system I could afford. I bought 9.4kW of pre-owned 5-year old Sunpower modules. Including new micros, mounts, racking, labor (including some of my own DIY), etc, my project is going to come in under $15,000.

All the best, and good luck with your installation.

To some extent, it probably has always been a racket much like for-profit diploma mills that prey, build and survive on the ignorant belief of the self perceived undereducated that a magic bullet exists for their perceived shortcomings. Both solar frauds and diploma mills may be examples of unscrupulous peddlers sucking up public (and private) funds, and harming what they purportedly are there to improve by using lies, half truths and false hopes to overcharge for what may well be an inferior product.

[oilerlord]

To some extent, it probably has always been a racket much like for-profit diploma mills that prey, build and survive on the ignorant belief of the self perceived undereducated that a magic bullet exists for their perceived shortcomings. Both solar frauds and diploma mills may be examples of unscrupulous peddlers sucking up public (and private) funds, and harming what they purportedly are there to improve by using lies, half truths and false hopes to overcharge for what may well be an inferior product.

To your point, google "Solyndra" and how they stuck taxpayers with a $535M bill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/specialreports/solyndra-scandal/

[bberry]

Since you're looking for "any" feedback...I continue to be amazed at how much of a sales racket that renewable energy has become.

Meh. Look at the mortgage interest deduction. Welfare for the affluent. Like many people I get all kinds of tax breaks that lower income people can't access. I even get farm subsidies and I'm not a farmer.

The question is whether incentivizing certain activities with tax dollars is in the public interest.

Solar leasing is a competitive market. No one "pockets huge profits" for long in any easy to enter business. Other peoples businesses are viewed as easy, while one's own area of expertise is difficult and competitive.

[J.P.M.]

To your point, google "Solyndra" and how they stuck taxpayers with a $535M bill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...yndra-scandal/

I was citing 2 of many examples. There are as many as there are people with opinions to not like something they feel is B.S.

[russ]

Meh. Look at the mortgage interest deduction. Welfare for the affluent. Like many people I get all kinds of tax breaks that lower income people can't access. I even get farm subsidies and I'm not a farmer.

The question is whether incentivizing certain activities with tax dollars is in the public interest.

Solar leasing is a competitive market. No one "pockets huge profits" for long in any easy to enter business. Other peoples businesses are viewed as easy, while one's own area of expertise is difficult and competitive.

Again, BS - Leasing is a business - whether it is solar or anything other product it changes little. These guys are claiming a benefit that really should go to the buyer.

[Ian S]

Again, BS - Leasing is a business - whether it is solar or anything other product it changes little. These guys are claiming a benefit that really should go to the buyer.

The lessor IS the buyer.

[Ian S]

Meh. Look at the mortgage interest deduction. Welfare for the affluent. Like many people I get all kinds of tax breaks that lower income people can't access. I even get farm subsidies and I'm not a farmer.

The question is whether incentivizing certain activities with tax dollars is in the public interest.

Solar leasing is a competitive market. No one "pockets huge profits" for long in any easy to enter business. Other peoples businesses are viewed as easy, while one's own area of expertise is difficult and competitive.

I agree with you. Those complaining the loudest about solar incentives seem to clam up when it comes to the myriad other tax incentives. As for the mortgage interest tax deduction, I suppose an argument - not very string IMHO - can be made that incentivizing home ownership is in the public interest but what on earth is the public interest in the mortgage interest deduction for a vacation home?!!!

[J.P.M.]

I agree with you. Those complaining the loudest about solar incentives seem to clam up when it comes to the myriad other tax incentives. As for the mortgage interest tax deduction, I suppose an argument - not very string IMHO - can be made that incentivizing home ownership is in the public interest but what on earth is the public interest in the mortgage interest deduction for a vacation home?!!!

As in subsidizing breeding via the personal exemption ?