Governor Schwarzenegger backs solar-panel plan

[BlueTarheel]

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/local/11030957.htm

snip

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week announced support for legislation that he hopes will add 1 million energy-generating solar panels to rooftops statewide, and move California toward greater energy self-sufficiency.

[slackmaster]

1. Still not quite worth it for me with a 25-year payback

If the payback (actually PROJECTED payback) gets down to about 10-12 years I'll do it in a heartbeat.

If only we could predict what future energy cost hikes will occur and when, then we could know the payback period with confidence. But no, we can't.

[Kolesar]

2. PVs make sense to me because their peak output meets the peak load in CA

The highest electricity loads are in the summer when the air conditioners are running. That is also the time when the sun provides the most photovoltaic electricity. Peak generation capacity is always the priciest electricity. So an expensive source like PVs make sense.

Don't ask me to run the numbers. I am just going by memory. I also lament that the PVs lose current capacity in about 20 years.

[slackmaster]

4. I ran the numbers after talking to some solar people at an Earth Fair

That was three years ago, and my out-of-pocket expense would have been about $25K with an estimated payback of 25-30 years. Definitely not worth it, even without considering additional expenses incurred when my roof comes due for replacement some time during that period. Or maybe the PV cells would extend the life of the roof by shading it from the sun and keeping some rain off, I really don't know.

The numbers are cold and hard. I think it would be great to be running on PV cells, but if it puts me in a worse financial position after my working years are over then it's not a prudent thing to do.

[mitchtv]

3. I investigated last year

with all the rebates and tax advantages (about 50%) it still costs 25k. I think I will be dead before it pays for itself

[msongs]

5. this is just a PR move by the austrian bully.....to wit >>>

makes him look good to the environmentalists and the gullible, look, Arnold is in favor of solar power. Just do not ask him about the details. It is all a PR stunt to counter his driving a HUMVEE, as he was shown plastered on the pages of the papers this week.

just PR. and more PR.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/liberaltshirts.htm