This thought has been kicking around in my head for awhile now. This country needs to do more about using solar for power. Solar will work anywhere as long as there is daylight (I have a little solar panel that plugs into the cigarette lighter and it produces power as long as there is daylight, even after sunset).
The problem seems to be that those with the resources to do more about solar aren't interested in doing so. They'd rather continue with the status quo. And those that would like to do more solar don't have the resources to do so. I would be interested in doing solar, but the upfront cost is too great. Several years ago I saw something about how there were companies that would put in solar systems and the homeowners would pay the company for the power generated by the solar panels. Haven't seen or heard anything about anything like that lately. Also one thing that may keep some people from putting in alternative power systems is in most states if you have an alternative power system and sell power back to the grid, you need a separate meter and you get paid a pittance instead of having a meter that would run backwards when you put power back on to the grid.
But if every home (or a large majority of them) were to have solar panels providing electricity, what would the power companies do?? They wouldn't be able to make lots of money producing and supplying power to homes and businesses (they're great at doing things like telling people to conserve energy and then jacking up the rates because people are using less energy). What if large businesses like the big-box stores were to put solar panels on their roofs and in their parking lots?? That would be a win-win, power for the store and shaded parking for the customers. In some areas the shaded parking would seem like manna from heaven, and in all areas would be welcome in the summer.
Seems like this country never thinks in terms of having a whole lot of little projects working together, instead they think in terms of doing a huge project or projects. Like the huge solar projects in the deserts in the Southwest.
Some of my thoughts on solar, which may or may not be coherent.
