Quote Originally Posted by samurai64 View Post
Ok I understand some of the arguments about the lack of transparency with solar (or wind for that matter). No one shows the land getting slagged to mine the rare earth metals. No one shows the pollution from the production facilities in China nor do they take into account the coal fired plants producing the energy to make the solar panels. The alternative energy side just sees the production of clean energy without acknowledging the "carbon footprint" of the manufacturing process.

On the other side part of the argument makes sense from a standpoint of energy independence (if only our energy policy were so and we were drilling for all the gas and oil Colorado could produce). Instead of building more energy production plants either natural gas or coal we can turn suburbia into a daytime producing plant by sending back energy espcially during peak hours in the day time. Our gas and oil could be better spent moving us from point A to B without having to be beholden to people who fund others who hate us and want to do us ill will. Solar is an integral part of any person trying to get "off grid" but I would also utilize wind if availble, wood gasification (there is a new company just moved into Douglas county that builds large generators that are super efficient and also produces electricity from the heat production, a smaller version is the Biolite stove where you can heat up your meal and charge your phone or other electronic device at the same time). Think about how much water we have to send downstream in the Colorado just for energy production to keep Las Vegas, Phoenix and So Cal cool in the summer.

I see the spending to incentivise solar purchases just like any other infrastructure spending project for local, city or state good. I am not a big Gov believer and we would have more purchases outright on new homes but I have been told the language does not account as an upgrade that can be rolled into the value of the home and therefore allowed in the loan. Again if it was tied to a real energy policy that moved the US to be energy independent of middle east oil then this makes sense. And I firmly believe in fracking for all the oil and natural gas our reserves will produce.

So if I was not under IREA I would have a system installed. Part for "what if" scenarios I would have my own energy if the power did go off during the day and I would not have to run my generator all day, just at night. I could opt to add battery banks at some time later to store first then sell back the extra.

Just my $0.02 worth.
I believe under the new laws IREA will have to allow solar on their grid.

I looked into solar last year and didn't do it because of IREA. I could have installed a system and used battery banks to store the reserve power but the added cost eliminated any real benefit. I'm planning to go solar as soon as IREA starts permitting it, I can't stand IREA and greatly look forward to no longer shelling out money to them.