Originally published July 3 2005
Despite benefits, most still wary of expensive solar power units
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Although Suzanne Johnson's solar-powered Gardnerville, Nev., home makes so much excess energy that she returns it to the power company, The Reno Gazette-Journal reports the prohibitive costs of solar systems are keeping most people -- even in sunny Nevada -- from making the switch.
Suzanne Johnson designed her Gardnerville home to take advantage of Nevada's nearly ubiquitous sunshine, installing equipment to convert the sun's rays into electricity to light and heat her home.
Despite the potential for solar power to replace expensive and dwindling fossil fuels as a source of energy, it has failed to heat up among homeowners even in some of the nation's sunniest regions.
In Nevada, where there are more than 150 clear days a year, fewer than 100 homes connected to the state's large power companies operate photovoltaic systems, which chemically convert sunlight to electricity, according to Sierra Pacific Power officials.
Since most people aren't making that choice, many states and the federal government are considering bigger tax incentives and rebates to subsidize the costs of solar power for the home.
While California leads the nation in the number of home solar electricity systems, only about 12,800 homes --- about 0.1 percent --- have installed photovoltaic systems to date, according to the California Energy Commission.
Nevada is one of a handful of states that is subsidizing the cost of installing solar power systems in homes.
Costs are going up for solar panels --- the square plates that sit on the roof, collect sunlight and convert it into electricity --- because of huge demand in Germany and Japan, said Les Nelson, president of the California Solar Energy Industries Association.
New Jersey electric companies, required to use increasing amounts of solar power, can meet this mandate by buying green energy certificates from consumers and businesses that produce solar power.
Utilities bid to buy green certificates, which can earn homeowners several hundred dollars a year in addition to the money they save using solar power.
Nevada is trying to establish a market to sell these green certificates, which could be purchased by utilities to satisfy requirements to use more green power.
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