Bill Maher and his solar panels tirade

[edhopper]

He cries every week that he has tried for 3 years to solarize his house and "the State" won't let him.
This is curious since California leads the nation in Solar energy by a factor of 3 over the next State.
So I wonder what the hang up is. I suspect it's his local posh community and not California.
If you Google California Solar permits, it seems quite streamlined.
Wish he would elaborate or shut up about it.

[sarcasmo]

1. A young tech kid I follow on Youtube moved to Nevada for this reason.

Now he has a full solar charged house and a solar charged garage workshop for his Youtube videos.

[edhopper]

2. you mean

he could not get it done in CA?

[sarcasmo]

3. Exactly, so he moved to Nevada where there are less restrictions.

[tonedevil]

6. I live in Sacramento, CA...

and 6 of the houses on my block have solar electricity panels all of them and two more have solar water heaters. I don't know what stopped the person in your example especially since you just say it was "restrictions".

[snort]

11. Bet it's a matter of "Grid tied".

[tonedevil]

14. Without further evidence...

I would hesitate to take a bet, but you seem to have put forth a strong possibility.

[Mosby]

4. I looked around and found this.

https://usa-gce.com/do-i-need-permit-to-install-solar-panels-in-california/

You need permits, and have to use licensed contractors. There restrictions for size, height and other stuff.

[MicaelS]

5. Reads like a bunch of bureaucratic BS.

I am willing to bet contractor and utilities lobbies had something to do with this.

[Mosby]

9. Maybe, but there is a lot of wattage involved

A bad install could result in fires. Its prudent for the regulatory authorities to inspect the work and approve the system design in advance.

[GeorgeGist]

19. Reads simple to me ...

To comply, you must ensure that your solar panel system meets the following criteria.

1. Are no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal

2. Conform to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical and other building codes as adopted or amended by the city, county or city and county and paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 714 of the Civil Code

3. Are installed on a single-family or duplex family dwelling

4. Do not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Permits! And a licensed contractor!

What tyranny!

As if it's a bad idea to make sure it's done correctly. I hope I don't need the sarcasm thingy here.

I got solar panels a couple of years ago, even though it may not have been the wisest financial choice, simply because my electric bill was only about $50.00/month to begin with. (I live alone, small house, gas stove and furnace) But I'm glad I did so. I now pay about 8 bucks a month for electric, and some day when this place goes to be sold, it will sell that much faster.

[Hotler]

18. I don't need a permit, said the landord that owned the house across the street.

Remodeled the house and finished out the basement. Crews in and out for days and not a single permit. Dug up the basement slab to run sewer and water to a new bathroom. Only to find out they didn't run a water line to the new toilet. He was pissed when I suggest that a plumbing inspection for code might have brought that to his attention. I'm thinking the down stair sewer is giving them trouble. The roto-rooter is over there once a month.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. Gosh.

I'd be inclined to go ahead and call City Hall about the non-permitted stuff.

I have zero patience for those who piss and moan about the need for things like permits and inspections. Really? There is a reason for those things, and it has to do with making sure things are done right.

I watch various home remodelling shows, and it's astonishing how often non-permitted things have taken place. Honestly, if you buy a home, an inspection ought to uncover that stuff. All too often people are so anxious to buy they don't require an inspection,. Huge mistake.

[Sympthsical]

7. It's harder than you think

Been trying to get solar since I bought my house in CA. It’s this whole, long thing.

I honestly want to stop bothering. A lot more red tape than you’d think.

When people hear the word, “regulations,” they always assume it’s a good thing. When they hear California has too many regulations, they think it’s just Republicans grousing.

It’s not. We have regulations on some of the silliest shit. You’d think they’d want to make getting solar easy. It’s just not.

Maher is right to complain on that one.

[edhopper]

8. Thank you all

for the illuminating answers.

[Montauk6]

12. Speaking of which...

You folks think Joe and Jill will bring back the solar panels for the White House?

[Johnny2X2X]

13. If the state was smart they'd make a point to help him

He’s not going to let it go, someone watching just be able to get it down for him.

[OAITW r.2.0]

15. I just went "live" this week with a 16 panel/battery back-up system.

Central Maine. Any generated power not needed for the batteries or core circuits that consume power via the panel/back-up system gets dumped back into the grid.

The install engineer was here yesterday and he was telling me it is getting more difficult to get Central Maine Power to do the review and approve residential installs. And CMP is now in the news about wanting to revisit commercial solar power tie-ins to the grid, even after applications have paid the costs and done the review.

The Governor weighed in this week and suddenly, CMP has figured a way to do it, and their solution will even be more cost effective than previous tie-in plans.

[OnDoutside]

23. Are they the photovoltaic panels ?

I'm getting 12 panels/battery back-up system May, here in Ireland. Thankfully we can get over $3,500 in grants for it, plus more for installing an electric car charging unit, which can be charged from the battery pack rather than mains electricity.

[OAITW r.2.0]

25. Very similar set-up here, 16 Panel with battery back-up. Installing the EV station in the garage as

well. We get a $2500 federal tax credit....I will get 1/3 this year and hopefully, the balance 2/3 credit in my 2021 tax return.

I couldn't justify the cost, based on my present monthly rate.....except (1) it sucks to go 2-5 days without power (2) it's about the future and won't hurt the property value should I ever decide to sell. Doubt I will, but, then, my kids will benefit.

Btw, I'm on the 45th parallel here in Maine (45.02N / 69.15W). I believe you are due East of me.

[OnDoutside]

27. I really think we are at the point where it actually makes sense to go this direction, and

thankfully I have a good friend who runs a Solar Installation company advising me. It's even worth it in wet Ireland !

We usually get your weather a few days later

[OAITW r.2.0]

29. My system's been running for about a week, but now the Cell/Wifi interface is in place.

The installer can monitor my system performance, as I can, once I set-up the monitoring app on my phone.

Not tonight, as I am tipping a couple of a few Allagash White beers ......in fact,tipping one to you now!

[USALiberal]

16. You obviously have not researched this at all! Nt

[edhopper]

17. Minimal googling

I confess.

Do you have a link to give more info?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. Fuck Bill Maher.

[moondust]

24. +1

This was the first one I watched in ages. After he ranted about TV networks demanding lockstep political persuasion I turned it off because that's not what it is. Some networks just don't invite propagandists to get on and spew lies and bullshit.

Fuck him.

[Yeehah]

26. Well said.

Maher is a gutless coward who makes me puke.

[Drahthaardogs]

28. Sorry. I worked FEMA responses for years

California sucks when it comes to regulations. You know how frustrating it is to try to help and you can’t do anything because of all the regulations?