Walt BaldwinCan rooftop solar alone solve climate change?
Mike Parr@waltbaldwin The LA basin is very roughly 260km2. If we assume that 50% can take PV (not unreasonable) then that is about 48TWh/yr. But it is exactly where you want it - next to the A/C & it would reduce the need to build RES a long way away. This begs the question: hom much PV on roofs now? Close to zero if Santa Monica is to be a guide. Lost opportunity, but I guess the power companies are unhappy people taking a DIY approach to elec.
@waltbaldwin Great article
It makes two arguments that need to be kept in mind together:
1. Residential solar is important: it can provide up to 1/3 of future U.S. electric needs, and doesn't destroy natural areas or require expensive transmission.
(This reminder is important, given recent utility policies that undercut the economics of rooftop solar.)
2. Residential solar is not sufficient to meet future energy needs -- that other two thirds has to come from utility or community scale.