Solar on EVERY house?

[Guest]

If Rep. Gene Ward has it his way this legislative session, we will soon be seeing solar on EVERY house.

[Fishboy]

I thought solar hot water was going to be a requirement on all new homes. Do you mean Rep. Ward wants to retrofit? That just wouldn't work.

Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[Jon]

Hmmm

I hate politicians and there dumb ideas...

But this one might have some possibilities...

If some investor is willing to set up panels on my roof, and take 50% of the savings and charge me no more than 25% more than the cost of panels over time. I might sign up.




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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.

[Kelena]

The City of San Diego has an unusual program to help people with the upfront costs of solar. They have arranged for financing through private companies. The average consumer would pay about $150 per month for $20 years. It is attractive to the lenders because it is secured in that it is paid through the property tax bill (an obligation that runs with the property if it is sold). There is zero costs through the city. I passed this on to some guy in Honolulu who was soliciting ideas about services that Government could provide to citizens at low cost or free. He said he would pass it on to the County rep (I have no idea who that is).

I am hoping that we will see some action on solar over the next few years. Hawaii and the West are so well suited for it.

[Jon]

Nope, no incentive for me to sigh up for that one.. and no risk for the investor.

we need a plan where the investor/bank installs the system, lets say for $10,000 for a round number and the home owner (me) pays a average bill of $300 a month to Helco at 30 cents a Kwh (round numbers remember). After the install the Helco bill drops to $200 a month. I pay $250 on that bill. The Investor/Bank gets $50 bucks and I save $50 bucks. this would go on until the system was paid for.
in this case you would have 2 meters, 1 for Helco and 1 for overall house usage. the home owner (me) would pay half of the difference to the investor/bank. No matter what happens the investor/bank get %50 of the Helco rate for every Kwh the system produces for the home.

This gives a real incentive for the home owner to sign up.
Saying you will save money in 5 to 10 years is not an incentive despite what some politicians will tell you.









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I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.

[David M]

My problem with this is it tends to skyrocket the price. Now if it could be done and we reap a cost savings due to volume..

David

Ninole Resident

[Kelena]

Here is more information about San Diego's program:

<<San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will today roll out one of the most aggressive plans in the nation to help homeowners and small businesses buy solar power systems.

The program, authorized in July by a new state law, would allow residents to pay for solar panels through their property tax bills over 20 years. The privately financed loans would carry a fixed interest rate and could be transferred when a property is sold, eliminating a common fear that homeowners have about paying for a system they no longer own.

“I don't see any barriers. It's the perfect solution,” said Irene Stillings, executive director of the nonprofit California Center for Sustainable Energy in San Diego, which coordinates financial incentives for solar installations.

“What this does is give an immediate positive cash flow to the homeowners because they are going to be able to see these incredibly lower utility bills,” she said.

Generally, federal and state tax benefits for solar power will apply to properties enrolled in the city's financing program, Stillings said.>>


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro...solar.html

[mella l]

Many parts of CA are approaching this the same way, the first I read about was Berkeley last spring. I think this is a viable option and will be successful in the long run to some of our energy concerns. Now when and if viable electric cars are produced they could be housed in their own carport roofed with solar panels and batterier for overnight recharge. It's getting interesting.

mella l

[StillHope]

quote:

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Originally posted by Glen

The City of San Diego has an unusual program to help people with the upfront costs of solar. They have arranged for financing through private companies. The average consumer would pay about $150 per month for $20 years.

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$150 for 20 years is good,but $20 for 150 years would be better.[]
Considering the cost of life in Hawaii,not particular affordable for the average household..

[Kelena]

You say that because you have not seen an electrical bill in Hawaii yet. Just wait!