California just hit an incredible solar power milestone
 

Congrats California!

https://thinkprogress.org/for-a-mome...ae4#.4itpxjejz

This might seem impressive, but it's not. It's fucking Californians.

In the 1990's we had a problem where we couldn't generate enough power. So the power companies went all out building energy plants. This went on for the past twenty years. Now we are paying for power plants that we will most likely not use.

Not a problem you say because everyone is on solar? Not so. I would love to get solar power, and looked into a number of times - meaning salesmen have come to my house to explain to me what I need. In order for me to get solar panels on my hosue it will cost me $350 a month... Which is more than twice my average power bill.

I am a "green" person, I recycle, and we've gone so far as to change out ALL of our lighbulbs with energy saving lightbulbs (at $30 a pop and six bulbs in each room, that cost a lot). But I am not about to pay twice as much for solar energy.

Why does it cost you $350/month?

I bought

8 x 6v AGM Batteries (224Ah) = $2000
4 x 100W Monocrystalline solar panels = $800
1 x MPPT charge controller = $400
1 x 3000W pure sine wave inverter = $1200

So around $4400 for my setup (plus wires + stuff, and 4/0 is expensive), but you'd need a lot more panels than I can fit on my roof.

"U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once described the states as laboratories of democracy. They are also laboratories for energy innovation. As the federal government lurches backwards on renewable energy and climate, California and other progressive states are pushing ahead, providing a model for the rest of country."

I never really considered myself green but by your standards I'm Ed Begley Jr. Lmao I'm bustin ya. But yea, the lady and I are pretty conscious. Not to mention I have a trout stream on my property and my town has mad regulations of what I can and cannot do. Basically 2 acres can't be touched because of the trout. But we went smart home and all leds and I have the heat and ac controlable from my phone so if i'm going to be away for a few hours I kill it. We were paying 500 for gas and 500 for electricity on a 6000 sw ft house. I cut that in 1/2. The only thing I'm not green about is my hellcat but that gets 60% better gas mileage than my 2005 f150. Go figure. 707 horses and 22.5'mpg. That's pretty green.

I hope they still keep enough power generation on standby or can develop infrastructure to get it from elsewhere. Germany when overboard and relied on it too much and are experience blackouts when there isn't enough sun.

There are too many people in the fossil fuel energy industry making sure Solar is kept to a minimum.

There's enough desert in the US to fuel most of America's daytime power needs.

As for Rochard's $350 a month, find another salesman.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...hreaten-birds/

Migrating birds are very grateful