Solar's "Silver Linings"? More Like Fool's Gold.
Alright, let's talk about solar. Again. Seems like every other week some "expert" is breathlessly telling us how it's going to save the planet, make us all rich, and cure baldness. Give me a break.
The "Rooftop Revolution" That Wasn't
So, this Durham, North Carolina, company, EnerWealth Solutions, thinks they've found some loophole to keep the rooftop solar dream alive. Their big idea? Buy up panels while the tax credits are still kicking around for commercial entities, then rent 'em out to homeowners. Passing along the savings, they say. Sounds almost… altruistic?
Right. Like these guys are running a charity. They're trying to make a buck, plain and simple. And who can blame them? But let's not pretend this is some kind of revolutionary act of green heroism. It's a business model, designed to exploit a temporary tax advantage before that gravy train inevitably derails.
And let's be real, this is all happening because the government giveth, and the government taketh away. Remember that sweet, sweet 30% federal tax credit for home solar? Trump and his cronies axed it way earlier than expected. Surprise, surprise. Now everyone's scrambling for scraps.
This leasing strategy? It might help in places like North Carolina, where they’re already middling when it comes to residential solar. Just over 55,000 homes have rooftop panels. Room to grow? Sure. But is renting the answer? I dunno... feels like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. One North Carolina company’s plan for keeping rooftop solar going.
The NCUC and Duke Energy's Double Game
And speaking of North Carolina, don't even get me started on Duke Energy. They dried up funding for a popular solar rebate program, then started slashing bill credits for folks who send their solar power back to the grid. Talk about a mixed message. Are they pro-solar, or are they just pretending to be?
Matt Abele from the NC Sustainable Energy Association is quoted saying, “It’s so imperative that we’re opening every avenue to get these technologies into the hands of as many North Carolinians as possible.” Sounds nice, Matt. But what are you actually doing about it? Advocacy is great, but it doesn't pay the bills.
Then there's Casey Gilley, the token "average Tar Heel" who works as a financial consultant for solar firms. He’s got solar panels on his roof because… well, “You can’t work in the business and not have solar, right?” Right. So, it's a status symbol now? Great.
What about the regular Joes and Janes who can't afford the upfront cost of a solar array? EnerWealth claims they're targeting those folks. But how much are they really saving with this rental scheme? And what happens when the tax credits disappear at the end of 2027? Poof.
Brian Liechti, director of solar leasing, puts it bluntly: “Make hay and electrons while the sun shines.” At least he's honest. It's a gold rush mentality, plain and simple.
Hawai'i's Solar Bloodbath
Offcourse, it's not just North Carolina. Hawai'i's in even worse shape. Trump yanked the federal solar tax credit early there, too, and now they're staring down a "bloodbath" for the solar industry. Nice visual, huh? Trump Killed Solar In Hawaiʻi. The Legislature Must Act Now
Hawaiian Electric Co. customers on Oʻahu are paying something like 43 cents per kilowatt hour. That's insane! Solar was supposed to be the escape hatch, but now that same system is gonna cost folks 75% more. Jobs are disappearing like morning mist.
The state Legislature needs to step up and protect the 35% state solar tax credit, but will they? Or will they cave to the utility companies and oil lobbyists? I'm not holding my breath.
It's All a Shell Game
So, what's the real takeaway here? Solar can be a good thing, I guess. But it's become a political football, a pawn in a larger game of tax credits, subsidies, and corporate maneuvering. The "silver linings" these companies are touting? More like fool's gold, designed to distract us from the bigger picture.
Give Me a Break...
Look, I'm not anti-solar. I'm anti-bullshit. And this whole song and dance about "saving the planet one rooftop panel at a time" is starting to sound awfully hollow. Wake me up when we have a real, sustainable energy policy that doesn't rely on temporary tax breaks and feel-good marketing.
