Solar Puts the Power in the Hands of the People | CleanTechnica
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Last year, CAP found that in Arizona, California, and New Jersey – the three largest solar markets in the United States – the majority of solar panels being installed are in areas with median incomes ranging from $40,000 to $90,000. And this year, CAP found that emerging solar markets in Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York are following similar patterns. More than 80% of installations in New York and nearly 70% of installations in Massachusetts occur in areas with incomes ranging from $40,000 to $90,000. Interestingly, just 45% of Maryland’s rooftop solar installations occurred in middle-class neighborhoods — a lower percentage than New York and Massachusetts, but still a significant percentage.
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Koch brothers, big utilities attack solar, green energy policies*-*Los Angeles Times
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At the nub of the dispute are two policies found in dozens of states. One requires utilities to get a certain share of power from renewable sources. The other, known as net metering, guarantees homeowners or businesses with solar panels on their roofs the right to sell any excess electricity back into the power grid at attractive rates.
Net metering forms the linchpin of the solar-energy business model. Without it, firms say, solar power would be prohibitively expensive.
The power industry argues that net metering provides an unfair advantage to solar consumers, who don't pay to maintain the power grid although they draw money from it and rely on it for backup on cloudy days. The more people produce their own electricity through solar, the fewer are left being billed for the transmission lines, substations and computer systems that make up the grid, industry officials say.
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I find it pleasantly surprising that solar energy is starting to win on economics. I never expected it to happen so soon. Maybe about 5 years from now, but today?
European Wind Power: Denmark, Portugal, & Spain Leading the World | CleanTechnica
2013 figures for electricity generation:
- Denmark: 33.8%
- Portugal: 24.6%
- Spain: 20.9%
- Ireland: 17.3%
- Germany: 7.9%
- United Kingdom: 7.7%
- United States: 4.18%
(the US figure from Wikipedia)
Last year,
- Spain's wind turbines were just behind nuclear reactors at 22%.
- Ireland sometimes went above 50% from the wind, with its maximum being 56%.
- Four states in northern Germany got 50% or more from the wind.
- US states Iowa and South Dakota got over 25% from the wind.