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New Jersey Outshines Most Others In Solar Energy

Posted by timothy on from the cutting-through-the-haze dept.

An anonymous reader points out this CNBC story which says that "New Jersey—known more for its turnpike, shopping malls and industrial sprawl—has become a solar energy powerhouse, outshining sunnier states like Hawaii and Nevada. And it's largely because of incentives that make it cheaper for residents and businesses to buy and install solar power systems."

6 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. Carbon emissions sleep with the fishes by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously, it would be nice if my state had something like this. The crazy high upfront costs are the only thing keeping me from installing solar panels myself.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Carbon emissions sleep with the fishes by MyLongNickName · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is the kind of thinking that has gotten this country in the mess it is in. Everyone from the poor to the rich looking for a way to take a swig from the trough and not worrying about putting it back in. Want a new car? Go to the government. Screwed up your bank? Go to the government.

      I think we have abstracted money (which in itself is an abstract concept) to the point that no one gets that resources are not infinite. If a project is not worth doing without government subsidy, then it is economically not viable. Sometimes, gov't should offer subsidies to kick start a program. But solar is far past that point.

      The bottom line is that practically everyone is looking to someone else to pay for their wants, needs and desires. That is no sustainable. I fear that my children will be the first generation to inherit a country that is in worse condition than the one I inherited.

      --
      See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  2. 2% by 2012? by andy1307 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously...WTF is wrong with people...why don't they consider nuclear power?

    1. Re:2% by 2012? by characterZer0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because they do not understand it, and people are scared by things they do not understand.

      --
      Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
  3. No, it's very, very expensive... by tomhath · · Score: 5, Insightful
    FTA:

    The savings is what got New Jerseyans Bob and Mary Keppel to install a 6-kilowatt solar system on the roof of their Cinnaminson, N.J. home this past summer.... The full price of the project, including installation, came to $48,000. Right away, the state sent a subsidy check for $10,500 that the Keppel’s signed over to the contractors to buy supplies. Using computer software, their contractor estimates that they will get a $11,250 federal tax credit this year. That would cut the total cost to $26,250, a 45-percent reduction.

    How do rebates "cut the total cost"? The system cost was $48,000 for a mere 6kw of capacity. It doesn't matter if the homeowners or the taxpayers foot the bill, it's still $48,000, that's not cheap by any measure.

  4. Re:So it's cheap... by NoYob · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Solar panels on roofs is an easier sell than big ugly windmills obscuring people's view of the ocean and lakes.

    Now, ask yourself, who are the people that live on the ocean and lakes? What kind of political power they have?

    Sounds absurd? See "Windmills Ocean Massachusetts Kennedy Martha's Vineyard"

    Big ugly industrial infrastructure that benefits society has a place: near poor people.

    --
    It's NOT me! It's the meds! I'm on 1000mg of Fukitol.