Taking a Dim View of Solar Energy

[Jason]

Not long ago, most homeowners saw their roofs as simply something to keep the rain out. Now they seem them as a source of electricity. Despite the bad economy, or maybe because of it, the rooftop-solar industry is booming, as Americans become increasingly intrigued by the idea of turning their roofs into mini power plants and cutting their electric bills. In 2008, 33,500 rooftop solar systems were installed in the United States, a 63 percent increase over the amount of capacity installed in 2007. In California, the solar capital of country, the increase was 95 percent.


Meanwhile, the outlook for the other side of the solar industry—the large, centralized power plants—isn't so sunny. These megaprojects—think acres of desert landscape covered in thousands of solar panels sending electricity through transmission lines—controlled mostly by utility companies that have had a monopoly over the country’s electricity grid since the turn of the last century, were supposed to be the key to the future of the solar industry. So far, they're getting vastly outpaced by the decentralized rooftop approach. According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's 2006-08 count, consumers added 522 megawatts to the grid; whereas utility generated sites added just 96 megawatts.

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 rate hike would've generated $180 million, $55 million of which was slated to help fund Xcel's newest coal-fired power plant, the Comanche Unit 3, due to come online this fall. 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, pressured a Palm Springs assemblyman to pull a bill he'd introduced that would allow the city of Palm Desert to pay solar users for the excess power they generate.


Continue Here: http://www.newsweek.com/id/213468

[russ]

Shyster Capitalism

I really hate to read about what both extremes do - it is rather sickening.

The utilities do their best to keep the little guy out while the little guy would like a very high price per kWh for anything they feed into the grid. The FIT of 60 US cents in Germany (24 hours a day) does not make a whole lot of sense. Now that the greens are not a member of the government it will no doubt go away.

I think it should be a wash - you get what you would have been charged less some 'use of line' charge and probably a systems maintenance fee.

The utilities have always had the habit of 'spreading the pain' - they want to screw everyone more or less equally to the maximum extent possible all the time.
I liked it in Oregon years back - the Public Utilities Commissioner was a non-political appointment with great power. Somehow they managed to pick good people for it who had the power to keep the utilities 'honest'.

[Aussie Bob]

Not long ago, most homeowners saw their roofs as simply something to keep the rain out. Now they seem them as a source of electricity.

Not only does our roof keep the rain out, and have solar panels, but it acts as a catchment area for our water supply. My goal was for our home to be self sufficient for water and energy. Our 32,000 litre underground concrete tank supplies the home with water, and the solar panels supply the home with power.

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.

Yep, that makes sense. They really don't want their consumers to make their own power and buy less power from them.

Two weeks ago in Colorado, the state's biggest utility, Xcel, tried passing a surcharge on homes and businesses using rooftop solar power. The rate hike would've generated $180 million, $55 million of which was slated to help fund Xcel's newest coal-fired power plant, the Comanche Unit 3, due to come online this fall. The public went ballistic, and with pressure from Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, the proposal was eventually shelved.

Yep, that sounds like something a utility company would try and pull.

[ChrisPSolar]

Saw This Firsthand

I live in Colorado and not only am horrified by what Xcel is trying to do, but can see that damn Comanche 3 monstrosity from my parent's doorstep. Shameful. There is a big fight coming, as public utilities are not going to fade into the sunset, so to speak, or give up major market share quietly.

[ChrisPSolar]

@AussieBob

And on top of that its illegal in Colorado to catch and reuse your rainwater!

[Jason]

And on top of that its illegal in Colorado to catch and reuse your rainwater!

wow...that's outright ridiculous.

edit: just read it's illegal in Washington state and Utah as well.

insane.

[Aussie Bob]

And on top of that its illegal in Colorado to catch and reuse your rainwater!

Ack! That's so ridiculous it's comedic.

[Aussie Bob]

It really paints a broader picture of how the powers that be do not want the public to be self sufficient, for power, water or food. They want us to be reliant on them and not reliant on ourselves.

[isisdave]

Well, mostly they want to make money.

The problem with big solar systems out in the desert is the loss experienced moving the energy to the point of consumption. It will always require more generation to deliver a watt from a long distance than it will if it comes from your rooftop.

This is one reason for the development of the "rooftop leasing" business, which developed to overcome the installation costs of solar power. You lease your roof space to a business, either the local utility or some middleman. They pay you rent for the space, but they own the equipment and the power it produces. You can buy the power from them, or they'll sell it back to the utility. It's not quite as good a deal as owning your own installation, but avoids the up-front costs.

[Aussie Bob]

Well, mostly they want to make money.

Yep, and we the public want to save money.

The problem with big solar systems out in the desert is the loss experienced moving the energy to the point of consumption. It will always require more generation to deliver a watt from a long distance than it will if it comes from your rooftop.

That's why I love panels on roofs where the power is being used, with the excess power feeding back onto the grid. No inefficient high voltage transmission lines to transport your power to your home. Straight off the panels into the home. Sweet as.

[Blackman]

It really paints a broader picture of how the powers that be do not want the public to be self sufficient, for power, water or food. They want us to be reliant on them and not reliant on ourselves.

Well look what nearly happened to us in Brisbane. They wanted all of us to install water tanks + wanted them connected to the house for toilet usage + Goverment gave incentives, Plenty installed water tanks over 3 years, Councils lose revenue because were saving to much water, Councils want to introduce a new TAX to cover loses to people that have there own tanks.
I will never trust any Government never ever again.

[russ]

San Fransisco

Years back San Fransisco was in a drought and the were begging and forcing everyone to consume less water. Some clown at the water department told the press they would have to raise rates to cover the shortfall.

He was in deep doodoo after that hit the news stands!

[Aussie Bob]

Well look what nearly happened to us in Brisbane. They wanted all of us to install water tanks + wanted them connected to the house for toilet usage + Goverment gave incentives, Plenty installed water tanks over 3 years, Councils lose revenue because were saving to much water, Councils want to introduce a new TAX to cover loses to people that have there own tanks.

Yeah, look what they did in Toowoomba. They doubled the water service charge and have doubled the cost of the actual water. We're on tank water, but we still pay the $640.00/yr water service charge, because the water runs past our house and we have a meter. There's no way for us to get disconnected from that. They claim this is for the new pipeline that was connected to Wivenho dam, but I think it's because nearly every 2nd home in Toowoomba now has a water tank. They're everywhere up here, and for good reason - we don't trust the local council to deliver us water so we have to take matters into our own hands with tanks. Turns out because of the ooodles of tanks, the council are losing revenues from water, so they double the price. Nice.

I will never trust any Government never ever again.

I knew they would pull this kind of crap given half a chance. You watch the same thing happen with energy companies too, and solar panels. They'll say they have to increase the price of power because too many folks have solar panels on their homes. It's going to happen. Watch them slip in a "power access fee" that will hit those with solar panels.

[Mike90250]

Watch them slip in a "power access fee" that will hit those with solar panels.

If they do, I wonder if i can rescind the 1,400 foot of easement they have on my property?
A dozen poles on my land, and they say the only one suitable to supply me with power, is after the lines cross the street. $50-75K to bring power back to my place. SOB's.

[Blackman]

I knew they would pull this kind of crap given half a chance. You watch the same thing happen with energy companies too, and solar panels. They'll say they have to increase the price of power because too many folks have solar panels on their homes. It's going to happen. Watch them slip in a "power access fee" that will hit those with solar panels.

Well Bob if this rubbish ever come to our door step it will be up to us the public to stop it.
You know here in Brisbane the Hot Potato for the moment is "BULLYING" and trying to stop children bullying each other at school. Why don't they look where all this bulling starts, it starts from the Top, yes the very top (Governments, Councils, Police) bullying us the parents and eventually ends up with our children.