SolarBoy's comments:

on Solar Power

This is exactly the type of program the state/ city could step in and help on.  Why not help finance home and community projects?

posted 1 year, 10 months ago
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on Solar Power

Agreed that Solar remains in the domain of the 'early adopters' for many markets.  $8.50 for a fully burdened system is on the high end, I think.  The price tends to drop off with larger systems since installation cost, integration to the home, and even inverters will drop on a per watt basis.

posted 1 year, 10 months ago
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on Solar Power

Two-year payback on a device that runs for 25 years?!  Calculating economic break even is significantly more complex than a two-year rule of thumb.  I'd wager the Bonneville Dam didn't pay for itself in two years...

posted 1 year, 10 months ago
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on Solar Power

The primary reasons that Solar companies are heading to Oregon are: cheap electricity, a receptive nearby market, strong incentives, and a low-cost semi-technical labor market.  This is another example of Oregon acting as the manufacturing arm of California. 

Why doesn't the state incentivize technology development?  All the solar success stories in Oregon are based on technologies developed outside the state.  The state is paying up to $200k per manufacturing job (paying $60k per year) while technologists are heading out of the state due to inadequate funding and support for the solar entreprenuers in the state.  Seems to be an example of politicians grabbing headlines rather than planting seeds for sustainable (pun intended) growth.

posted 1 year, 10 months ago
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