Solar power - California

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Hey Honey I said. Let's get solar power I said. It will be a good thing I said. Oh. Wait.  From Bloomberg:

Californians Learning That Solar Panels Don’t Work in Blackouts
Californians have embraced rooftop solar panels more than anyone in the U.S., but many are learning the hard way the systems won’t keep the lights on during blackouts.

That’s because most panels are designed to supply power to the grid -- not directly to houses. During the heat of the day, solar systems can crank out more juice than a home can handle. Conversely, they don’t produce power at all at night.

So systems are tied into the grid, and the vast majority aren’t working this week as PG&E Corp. cuts power to much of Northern California to prevent wildfires.

So you spend $20,000 or more on a solar installation, get $40 off each months' power bill and a couple K-bucks deductible on your taxes for that year when the system is installed. Alternative Energy - Right Baby?

Problem is that the installers also get some sweet kickbacks from the government so they will sell you the largest system that you can afford. What they are not selling you is the local storage required to hold the energy when the power grid is down. That is another $20K at least - at the very minimum. $40K for something that will last more than a week of normal use (refrigeration, computers and lighting and HVAC).

Grids go down - not if, when. Plan accordingly. Also, preparedness is your own personal responsibility. The people involved in emergency services are going to have their hands full taking care of legitimate cases (handicapped, elderly, ill and injured) to deal with the dumb fuckheads who do not assume the responsibility for the well being of themselves and their families.

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This page contains a single entry by DaveH published on October 14, 2019 8:00 PM.

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