QuietNoiseDec 29, 2023
AI6YR Ben
LA Times editorial: Solar installations are plummeting and California regulators are to blame #climate #solar #energy https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-12-28/editorial-solar-installations-are-plummeting-and-california-regulators-are-to-blame
Editorial: Solar installations are plummeting and California regulators are to blame

State regulators gutted the incentive programs for rooftop solar earlier this year. And now, as feared, the solar industry is contracting. This is the opposite of what we need to fight climate change.

Los Angeles Times
Dec 29, 2023 at 12:11amWeb
Show threadDinCA 🏳️‍🌈 🎾 🐶 🖖🥄Dec 29, 2023
@ai6yr I so agree with this. We got our solar just before the change. I don't think I would have gotten new solar now.
Show threadFreddyB Aviation PhotographyDec 29, 2023

@ai6yr Well we are now into our 8th year of solar having installed our system in the summer of 2014. It has saved us quite a bit however, its not as straightforward as many claim.

For sure the rebates etc which we took advantage of was our biggest reason. Why? Our city has its own utility thus electricity until 2019 was essentially locked in at $0.11 kWh. Without the rebates we may have balked at a system that would have taken us 16 years at those rates. With the rebates it was closer to 10 and while that does not seem like a lot, it made a difference in our thought process about going with solar. We may have passed had it not been for the rebates Increases the last 5 years means we broke even in 2021 ahead of schedule.

Also, the turnover for homes can be such that many simply do not bother. Or leased solar can be an issue when selling.

While dealing with our city utility was fine, you hear horror stories about PG&E etc that also make it harder to pull the trigger

Show threadAI6YR BenDec 29, 2023
@cvvhrn Most certainly. We installed ages ago... 2013? Probably before that. Has more than paid for itself now, but it was a lot upfront since I paid for it in cash. Leasing is a much harder thing, and more value goes to the leasing companies than you.
Show threadFreddyB Aviation PhotographyDec 29, 2023
@ai6yr For sure. We paid for our system upfront as well.