Conservative heavyweights have solar industry in their sights

[unhappycamper]

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-solar-kochs-20140420,0,2718030,full.story



The Koch brothers and large utilities have allied to reverse state policies that favor renewable energy. Environmentalists are pushing back, but the fight is spreading and intensifying.

Conservative heavyweights have solar industry in their sights
By Evan Halper
April 19, 2014, 9:00 p.m.

WASHINGTON — The political attack ad that ran recently in Arizona had some familiar hallmarks of the genre, including a greedy villain who hogged sweets for himself and made children cry.

But the bad guy, in this case, wasn't a fat-cat lobbyist or someone's political opponent.

He was a solar-energy consumer.

Solar, once almost universally regarded as a virtuous, if perhaps over-hyped, energy alternative, has now grown big enough to have enemies.

[Demeter]

1. Koch Bros. can kiss my solar assets

This is one battle they can't afford to win.

[WillyT]

2. Chris Hayes Just Talked About This !!! - K & R !!!

[WillyT]

3. And Again....

[Finishline42]

4. Oklahoma monthly fee on Solar or Wind net meter customers?

Last night Rachel Maddow was talking about Oklahoma Senate bill 1456 signed into law Monday that gives utility companies the ability to charge customers with Solar or Wind systems a fee. The amount of the fee is important - if it reasonable to cover line maintenance etc, say $5 - $10 a month - it won't have a major impact. But I think if it's in the $50 to $100 range it could backfire.

The opponents of Solar & Windmills systems for individual homes (ALEC) would think it would discourage people from installing these systems but what I think would happen is that large fees would justify the investment in batteries to store the excess electricity! Especially if you look long term.
$100/ month
x 12 months
x 30 years

That pays for a lot of batteries!

Or worse - it might be cheaper to just dump what you don't use and not connect the system to the grid...