darth_nadoma OP t1_iw2i21t wrote on November 12, 2022 at 1:24 PM

The Berkeley lab study finds that one of the factors that has helped to
expand access to rooftop solar is the use of leasing and other
third-party ownership models. By leasing panels or subscribing to a
local community solar project, a customer can use solar without having
to pay high upfront costs. The main drawback is that third-party
ownership usually means less savings for the consumer.

SNRatio t1_iw5hl8f wrote on November 13, 2022 at 2:47 AM

Which kind of gets to the heart of the problem: putting solar on dwellings is inefficient and really expensive. We provide incentives to make it profitable for some, but the benefits go to the people who need it the least. Why not just let any household invest up to $20k into a solar farm instead while getting the same incentives, etc? We would get ~3x more solar capacity for the money that way, and wouldn't discriminate against renters. Interest rates have gone up, but loans to cover the investment could be available the same as now.

Phssthp0kThePak t1_iw85kjk wrote on November 13, 2022 at 6:22 PM

This is right on. We are told we are in an existential crisis, and yet the policies everyone wants are so inefficient and backwards.