I am pro solar and other renewable energy sources, but in a reasonable and honest way. The hype in the renewable energy area is tremendous, even among those who claim to be professional municipal planners. We need to look at what can be done reasonably and practically. That is what I advocate and at times it infuriates the true believers. Not a week goes by without some new PR release being breathlessly posted here without critical review or thought. Someone has to stand up for what is rational.
kristopher has raised the question: Why are not household generation systems paid at the same rate that commerical plants are for power during peak hours. The knee jerk answer is that they should. The thoughtful answer is probably not.
Those with small independent PV installations with surplus power are generally well off enough to afford a substantive upfront investment. The rate scheme he advocates would pay them more in the aggregate than they get today. That money would have to come from those without PV systems, i.e.: those less well off or otherwise unable to do PV.
Furthermore such a scheme to be fair would have to bill all users at peak/off peak rates. That would require enhancements to the meters beyond those currently being installed, another cost passed on to everyone.
Oddly enough, he and I share the same long term vision. The centralized system will change over time to be more distributed based more and more on renewables. The argument is timeline and requirements.
Some background on my solar plant: I live out in the Socal desert in prime solar country. I am out on acreage, and the place came with a small array that I have expanded. By watching the secondary market for used hardware, I have maxed out my installation to what utility will allow due to line size.
Moving to renewable power is critical. However it has to be done in a way that does not disrupt availability nor unduly burden those who cannot afford to have their own generation capacity. It will take time to be done responsibly and when we get there, things will be dramatically different than what they are today.
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