BY DAVID NORTH
White Rock

Here’s another take on Steve Tobin’s excellent article on our current solar electric situation:

First, Los Alamos County, unlike the rest of the world, does not need any more solar electricity because we have signed a contract for a lot more than we expect to be able to use. Consequently, any further installed solar would be a problem for the county, since it would have to offloaded somehow.

Perhaps more troubling, current rooftop solar installations will become redundant.

Obviously in such a situation, it makes sense for the county to discourage rooftop solar, at least for now. Things may change, but probably not in the next few years.

The expected rooftop surplus is sometimes described as being sold to the county, but there’s another way to look at it. Most of it is just borrowed back and forth between the county and homeowners. The county wants to charge a fairly stiff rate for the temporary storage.

This brings to mind a few thoughts:

First, at least for now, those of us who are considering rooftop PV installations should take a look at whether to proceed.

Second, the simplest solution to the borrow/payback cost issue might be to take money out of the equation. Would it be possible to have solar customers get the same deal as everyone else? In other words, pay the fixed cost to be hooked up and for whatever electricity they use over their highest previous meter reading? If their reading goes lower, that’s just their electron piggy bank.

Third, I think the decision to sign this contract was a good one. It will cause complications, but some indigestion is inevitable as the world’s energy systems evolve. We need to try to be as fair as we can while getting the job done.

Because I name him specifically, I’ll apologize to Mr. Tobin in advance if I have misrepresented anything he wrote, and invite any corrections, clarifications or additions he or anyone else may wish to offer. This is obviously an issue close to many people’s hearts, and the more we understand it the better.