Re: Solar Panels Cost of Ownership

Hi there solar stacks,

I hope you didn't misunderstand my point. First, I think that what you're doing is wonderful. You've clearly made a conscious decision to change your behavior and have shown the courage to stick to your convictions.

Unfortunately, most folks aren't like that. They make a New Years' Resolution, and by Jan 15 it's same-ol' same old habits.

Without getting too morbid, the miner death will be caught up to by guys falling off roofs, or being crushed by an improperly mounted array... It's just part of the equation.

Coal pollutes! You're 100% correct. PV factories require huge volumes of Chlorine, Phosphine, Silanes, water, heat, etc... Less to be sure, but look at the ratios.

Nuclear power *might * cost more to build today, what with all the insane regulations on the industry... However as one who keeps an eye on the rates, $35-$38 per megawatt-hour ($0.035-$0.038/kWh) is the going rate.

It's also very confusing when it comes to quoting a "money per energy" ratio. The lifetime of most plants is quoted as 25 years. The planners knew
that the plants would need to go 40years to make a profit. So if you're
patient a huge front load isn't a problem, Every US nuke has been paid
for... That's why the current energy cost is so low. We've sat on our
nuclear hands for 25 years...How stupid is that?

The 15 fold difference you're citing is what I call a fear-factor talking point. The only reason that number comes up is because building a reactor today has become the moral equivalent of... well you get my drift.

Back to the good stuff. In 2001 you were able to buy/build a 2500W system for $4.80/W Again, that's cool. But you were dedicated & committed to the goal. How many of your friends & neighbors were astonished by your dedication? (that's still a good thing) I'm still willing to bet you subsidised the cost by doing a lot of the labor yourselves.

The other thing you did which is probably the greater contributor to success was to make your home passively efficient. No BTU is cheaper than the one you conserve.

I'm here to plug my business... in a gradual sort of way. Eventually I'll even get around to telling folks the name of the company... But in the mean time, I'm here to build a little credibility, to see who's out there and what they've done, to smash a few myths too. I need to find out the spectrum of attitudes and commitment out there. It's easy to preach to the choir, but not very productive.

I see the challenges to the economy as the forces that will ultimately determine who we as a society do. People are creatures of habit. The only way I'm going to appeal to them is to offer a device that's set-it and forget-it reliable. I also have to be very conscious of the prices & costs.

When most people hear that a new coal plant will save them or cost them their first reaction is... anybody... NIMBY!

They don't care if their electric rate goes from $150 to $350... They whine and they pay it. In six months they've forgotten it was $150. There's my battlefield, that's who I'm fighting... That's who I'm fighting for? Too?

Anyway, I'm certain what you've accomplished is something you're proud of, and you should be. You've clearly beat the curve in most aspects. But let me ask you this. Could you or would you do what you did for a stranger for what you spent? I'm certain we both know the answer to that.

Don't get me wrong. I still want to do the right thing. There are enough SOB out there who will do of say anything to make a dime... I'm not one of them. I designed a system to be environmentally friendly, easy to use, clean, zero emission, long lived.

The Light is Green!