Solar campaign fuels interest in Louisville

[A Little Weird]

Imagine a solar city in a leading coal state.

Increasingly, advocates and some public officials are doing just that in Louisville, as the price of using the sun to keep the lights on continues to fall.

While solar power is still a tiny fraction of the region’s energy mix, solar panels on rooftops are no longer an extreme rarity. More people are calculating a solar bottom line in the black, for their household or business finances, as well as for Mother Nature. LG&E shows a 70 percent increase in homes and small businesses hooked up to solar since 2012, from 111 homes to 189.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/08/28/solar-campaign-fuels-interest-louisville/32417531/

I'm glad to see a growing interest in solar in my neck of the woods. Even if it's still just a tiny blip.

[RiverLover]

1. A blip of hope!

That's really great. Who'd have thought it, in Kentucky?! Thanks for sharing. Every bit of good news helps!

[A Little Weird]

2. I agree!

Even many republicans I've talked to have expressed an interest in going solar. You just have to approach the topic the right way (don't mention climate change, don't mention reducing coal extraction, do mention selling energy back to the power company, increasing the value of their home, or reducing dependence on the middle east).

[Finishline42]

3. Some problems in KY with Solar

The problems in KY with Solar - no PPA allowed and with regards to net metering - 30 kw max limit per site and a limit of 1% of peak generation per utility. Should definitely be changed.

The main thing about solar to me is the 25 yr warranty. With a break even point in something less than half of that (under current rates) and a useful service life of twice that - that's a lot of free electricity.

NYC Mayor said that NYC spent over $600 million on electricity in 2014. To me that means we as a country should embark on a program at all government levels of installing solar panels for governmental needs. Start slowly and as the numbers start showing up on spreadsheets on the long term savings in tax dollars the conclusions are obvious - it would reduce the cost of government. Freeing money to spend on things other than enrichment of the utilities.

[A Little Weird]

4. Yes - I think solar would really take off if the legislators would make some improvements

They seem to be hesitant to do anything that might upset the coal industry. But coal is declining here and will continue to do so with or without alternative energy thrown in the mix.

I completely agree with you about increasing government solar installations. That $600 million figure is pretty shocking to me. They would probably save a lot if they would work on improving efficiency in some of the older buildings and just by reducing use. I'm surprised by how many places leave their lights and equipment on all the time.

[Finishline42]

5. I've been looking for that number for a long time

Not specifically the cost the NYC is paying for electricity but anything so I could have an idea of the savings that could be had. I've asked US Rep's office what the US pays yearly, state Rep and Senator, I've asked my Metro district rep and nobody came back with an answer. But de Blasio had it in a press release a little while ago. No wonder multiple military bases have installed solar systems - they know that the less the pay for utilities the more they have for things they want/need.

The key number is the 25 yr warranty - on a system with no moving parts and that is manufactured. The more you make, the cheaper it is, the more money is available for research to make it better (which is why we should start slow - say 1% of what the govt spends yearly on electricity?)

Most schools in the US are on campuses with plenty of roofs and space to have solar installed. Louisville Public schools have over a 150 buildings so start with a couple and go from there. Once you show the savings and you project them for the next 40 years - it's a clear choice - even for a coal state.