Thread: Free solar panels for your home

Unless things have changed, solar panels have a very inconvenient problem.

They are a net energy loser. Meaning, the amount of energy that goes into making them is not realized in power generation before the device wears out.

The company hopes to make back its investment with those monthly payments, augmented by federal tax credits and rebates

And this is the problem I have. The only reason this business model MAY work is the welfare system the government has set up.

This company sucks. Their idea sucks. I hope he goes bankrupt.

He should be a bit more careful about that government handout too. My uncle lost a huge amount of money a couple of decades ago when the government decided they no longer wanted to give tax breaks to the guys running the wind project he'd invested in.

You gotta give them credit for at least trying. If people want to reduce dependency on foreign energy sources like oil it's gotta start somewhere.

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

You gotta give them credit for at least trying. If people want to reduce dependency on foreign energy sources like oil it's gotta start somewhere.

Kinda like biodisiel......

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

You gotta give them credit for at least trying. If people want to reduce dependency on foreign energy sources like oil it's gotta start somewhere.

+1.

We can build Aston Martins today because a few years ago someone built a steam powered vehicle.

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

You gotta give them credit for at least trying. If people want to reduce dependency on foreign energy sources like oil it's gotta start somewhere.

People already are doing the solar research without this welfare based company.

This guy is out for the government dole.

Just a more sophisticated version of having multiple SSN to collect multiple welfare checks.

Only this guy will sell morons that he is saving the planet.

Originally Posted by ONEvcs

+1.

We can build Aston Martins today because a few years ago someone built a steam powered vehicle.

And they built that steam powered vehicle without the government paying them to do it.

I'm all for alternative energy. But make it stand on it's own, so the technology is forced to evolve to the point it is profitable.

Anything less is taking the market forces out of free market economics, and this is not a good thing. It leads to inefficiencies.

Do you guys hear what I am saying? Solar panels are terrible for the environment! They are wasteful. They require nasty fab processes. And they wear out before they add more energy than they took to make.

Making this waste possible with the government dole on a large scale is nothing but all kinds of stupid.

Originally Posted by Purpdust

I think that any system that uses taxes as a means to reduce foreign reliance will fail. Only a free market will work

Exactly.

Just like government funded, or higher priced biodiesel.

It's a MLM, so that's another negative right there.
While the consumer won't be paying for the equipment and won't be stuck holding a bill if/when the gubmint takes the tax breaks away, it still doesn't sound viable for anyone other than those that think using these things will make some kind of difference to Global Warming™.
This company will also make money by the double dipping. The consumer is signing a contract to buy all power generated by the panels for a certain period of time at a predetermined rate. Not just the power consumed, but all power generated. This company can then sell all power generated but not consumed back to the local utility at their purchase rate.
That is one of the things that has piqued my interest in solar. Living in the state with the second most sunny days per year, certain solar systems can be viable economically, especially with an energy efficient home (ICF construction, triple windows, sunfilm, urethane attic insulation, etc.). The panels generate enough surlpus power that you sell back to the utility so that on days when your system isn't generating enough, you can go to utility power and still either be in a plus situation or at worst even.
We're talking about a ten or so year break even on systems I've looked at, but technology in solar is still improving.

At any rate, this business model sucks. For everyone. The consumers aren't saving anything by using it, in fact they are generating money for the company. Then they are also paying the company to use them through taxes as well.
Stupid.

I just find it funny that I had no idea about this, but i suggested Ed Begley Jr. as a name for TB's unborn child...good timing I have.