Once home batteries are available in the $200/kWh price range, the California home solar market will come back.
NEM 2.0 was a ridiculous transfer of wealth to rich households who could afford panels, and I'm glad it's over.
NEM 2.0 was a ridiculous transfer of wealth to rich households who could afford panels, and I'm glad it's over.
Poor folks don't have the capital to install solar or upgrade the insulation on their houses, and (in California) typically live in a much more hostile climate. They need to consume significant energy to live and end up paying for a significant portion of the NEM 2.0 "subsidies" as part of their power bill.
Government subsidies could come from the general revenue of the state, which is mostly fed by progressive taxes (poor folks contribute much less money than rich folks). It would be better to subsidize green energy directly from general revenues.
They helped hugely with bringing the cost of installation down and also creating a positive attitude to solar panels.
Sometimes giving free money to the rich means that it’s electorally popular enough that the right wing won’t roll it back when they get in.