Future of U.S. solar threatened in nationwide fight over incentives

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Tue Mar 1, 2016 1:33pm EST

Future of U.S. solar threatened in nationwide fight over incentives

LOS ANGELES | BY NICHOLA GROOM

Two sun-drenched U.S. states have lately come to very different conclusions on a controversial solar power incentive essential to the industry's growth.

In California, regulators voted in January to preserve so-called net metering, which requires utilities to purchase surplus power generated by customers with rooftop solar panels. But neighboring Nevada scrapped the policy - prompting solar companies to flee the state.

The decisions foreshadow an intensifying national debate over public support that the rooftop solar industry says it can't live without.

"Without net metering, it just doesn't work," said Lyndon Rive, chief executive of top U.S. residential solar installer SolarCity Corp.

More than 25 of the 40 U.S. states with net metering policies are reconsidering them, according to the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center at North Carolina State University.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-solar-policy-states-insight-idUSKCN0W35CN

[Warren Stupidity]

1. We may be very stupid people but at least we are consistent.

[immoderate]

2. It seems like one part of the system, at least, is unsustainable.

With enough solar systems installed, the utility's inflow would exceed their sales.

I am for incentivizing solar, though. And collecting on externalized costs.

--imm