Changing Public Perceptions of Renewables

The consumer is such an important driver for the renewable energy industry and it is very important to understand what is going through their minds when they are making a purchasing decision. The majority of consumers who have purchased a solar power for their home or business made a decision based on financial payback of the system first then considered the environmentally friendliness of a solar power system.

The lack of financing or up front cost as a barrier to the mainstream renewable energy power generation market. The American lifestyle revolves on purchasing items with credit and making monthly payments, even though there are financial companies helping consumers go solar, it is difficult for more financing companies to consider solar power financing because there is a lack of the secondary market for used RE equipment (tax credits / rebates don't apply to used equipment)

-Deep Patel
www.gogreensolar.com

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The subsidies that the government has given Big Oil is the reason renewables never became competitive to Oil in the first place.</p><p>My Response</p><p>That is exactly my point: That is part of the self interest I was talking about:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Last March, we looked at a hybrid Highlander and soon discovered that 3kW solar would be the better choice. Longer warranty, less maintenance and cheaper long term costs. Not to mention the value added to our home. With a few more efficiency upgrades, (insulation, tankless hot water, CFL's), our utility bills plus the loan for the system, ($300 a month) still barely exceed the price we were paying to the utility ($499 a month and sometimes more). Currently, the system will pay for itself in 9 years. If the home is brought up to a reasonable level of efficiency, a little solar can go a long way.
That' seven with no rebates other than the $2000 tax credit. All you need is a kwh of .10 or higher to make the solar a good idea.If the price goes higher, the system pays for itself faster.
If you could by a huge supply of gasoline upfront, would you?
If you did that last year you'd be smiling right now.

Willaim wrote:

"Unless and until the US Government takes the lead on Renewables Joe and Janet citizen will not stick their necks out and go it alone"

My Response:

Why is the government so involved in our "free markets"? The subsidies that the government has given Big Oil is the reason renewables never became competitive to Oil in the first place. The government is the reason for the creation of the power of Big Oil; they used our own tax money to create an oligopoly which is now controlling the most critical element to life, energy. If renewables had a fair environment to compete in, Big Oil would not be as powerful as they are at the current moment.

-Deep Patel
www.gogreensolar.com

<p>I think the better thing to do is write letters to legislators and utility oversight comissions demanding more renewables be required.&nbsp; Also conserve as much as you can.&nbsp; What the world needs more than renewables is to&nbsp;reverse the exponential increase in demand, and everyone has to do their part.&nbsp; Maybe someone can think of a way to get all these wasteful Americans to conserve - and I don't mean just screw in a couple CFLs.&nbsp; They won't even do that!!&nbsp; I'm out of ideas.</p><p>I might not help elucidate the issue of why the masses don't buy the green programs, because I consider myself much more well informed, but maybe someone will ask why well-informed environmentalists don't buy &quot;green&quot; electricity.&nbsp; I don't know why someone would ask that, though, because there aren't very many of us and we're already conserving.</p>

<p>Also, if that nuke plant becomes the boondogle they always do, you can bet the price of my &quot;green&quot; electricity is going to&nbsp;go up, because they'll need the money.&nbsp; &nbsp;I think the green rate is just a surcharge on the base rate.&nbsp; If the base rate goes up, so will the &quot;green&quot; rate.</p><p>Also, if I and a few people buy &quot;green&quot; electricity, that won't make much impact on anything.&nbsp; We'll still get the same athsma, etc. from the coal plant emissions as if we weren't buying &quot;green&quot; electricity.&nbsp; All it does is give us &quot;credit.&quot;&nbsp; Basically,&nbsp;we get bragging rights, and get to feel superior to all the non &quot;green&quot; electricity buyers.&nbsp; I don't feel a need for that.</p>

<p>Why I do not participate in my utility's &quot;green&quot; electricity program:</p><p>I don't trust it, and I don't get anything out of it.&nbsp; If I were to sign up, I'd get the same electricity from the same mix of sources, I'd just be paying more for it.&nbsp; Supposedly, I'd be helping the utility to construct more renewables, but who knows.&nbsp; They're trying to buy a large stake in a proposed nuke plant now instead.&nbsp; Why would I want to give them more money, when they do that sort of thing.&nbsp; Maybe they could say the dollars from my bill won't go to the nuke plant, but money is money and they can just shuffle it from somewhere else.</p>

<p>You can pay a solar company for something that pays for itself in about 10 years (on average, depending on your circumstances) and adds value to your home&nbsp;or you can pay a utility company, at increased rates forever with nothing to show for it. </p><p>There is no federal subsidy for solar (you're confusing this with the oil industry). The federal tax credit- $2,000&nbsp;(which runs out at the end of 2008), is a tax credit from yourself, the taxpayer.</p>

<p>Unless and until the US Government takes the lead on Renewables Joe and Janet citizen will not stick their necks out and go it alone: The US Government needs to do an in depth study into every aspect of renewables and then commit itself to the building and/or financing of a cost effective clean energy nation wide power policy which will give strength and confidence to the private and institutional investors and users: </p><p>If the will is weak at government level very little will be achieved, add to that the usual corruption and self interest which goes on amongst congressmen then dont be supprised if Government has to be dragged kicking and screaming into a bright future:</p><p>There was a time when the USA showed rhe world how to get things done, now we show the world how expert we are at knee jerk reactions and inaffectivness: We are a frightened nation and will go on paying the big buck for small returns:&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the east USA, it is tough to make a go of solar work vs.&nbsp;orther sources.&nbsp; Geothermal, etc. is normally a more financially viable way to go.&nbsp; We simply must keep pushing - there is no magic bullet.&nbsp; Normally (I am in DC) prevailing public pressure does make a difference.&nbsp; But - getting in to the weeds, there is more talking than action - unfortunately.&nbsp; I had a solar water heating system on my residence about 35 years ago, and it was newsworthy then.&nbsp; There was a substantial Federal incentive at the time - got it for half price.&nbsp; My&nbsp;previous wife has removed the system, c'est la vie.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;We will have to wait out unfriendly leadership for the time that new leadership is on top of the issue instead of the issue being on top of them.&nbsp; In the meantime, just keep pushing the glue uphill.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>Financing is part of the issue.&nbsp; The larger problem is the payback.&nbsp; Right now, the only ones taking part are doing it because of principles not as a financial&nbsp;investment.</p><p>I could not afford a solar system personally, and I wouldn't do it because it doesn't make financial sense (plus I don't want to cut down my trees).&nbsp; I don't want tax subsidies because I think it is wrong to have other tax payers pay for my system.</p><p>Until solar makes financial sense, it will never be a significant contributor.</p>

<p>Most Renewables are not econmical, so no one wants them without a welfare check.</p><p>&nbsp;Solar pv comes in at $.40 to $.21 per kwh (Solar Buzz, excludes interest on capital - that means you need to get an interest free loan from someone). In contrast my local electrical company sells power for as little as $.15 per kwh which is adnormally high (its California) and includes any loan repayment.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Everyone is going to choose the non-renewable energy. If they are enviromentally concern, they will plant a tree to offset (side joke) the carbon.</p><p>I will point out this is a good thing. People, most of whom aren't rich, are able to get by with less expensive electricity. They shouldn't be made to pay 5x the amount for normal power to satisfy someone else's political agenda.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When Jimmy Carter told us to turn the thermostat down and wear a sweater indoors, we&nbsp;started to equate alternative energy with uncomfortable living.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the same time we began to see alternative products that didn't&nbsp;live up to the hype.&nbsp; I don't think we've gotten over these perceptions, and we view new energy-saving products with skepticism.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those feelings are&nbsp;reinforced today by products such as&nbsp;CFL bulbs.&nbsp; They claim to have a life expectancy of&nbsp;5 to 10 years, but mine&nbsp;are burning out in one to two years.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;sj</p>