Solar Installers

[patric]

Ive been in the habit now of doing laundry and dishes in the middle of the day when the sun is brightest because the electricity is free, and noticed my generation was a bit lower than normal...

TULSA, Okla. — In the aftermath of Sunday's severe weather, many people woke up to vehicles covered in dirt.
FOX23's certified meteorologist Mike Grogan said this is due to a dust storm from new Mexico mixing in with Sunday night's weather creating a mud rain.

So yeah, when it rains mud you have to rinse off the solar panels, too.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

No kidding. Yeah, we get something like that everey now and then.



https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/07/11/arizona-resembles-mars-as-mile-high-wall-of-dust-barrels-through-phoenix/?sh=2286ddff5687

[patric]

No kidding. Yeah, we get something like that everey now and then.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/07/11/arizona-resembles-mars-as-mile-high-wall-of-dust-barrels-through-phoenix/?sh=2286ddff5687[/url]

A window cleaning mop on a long pole is a necessity... I almost doubled my output just cleaning today (was kind of dirty).


Been looking for those 20' telescoping mops where the telescoping part carries water to the mop.

[patric]

With demand being so high, you dont expect to see this:

"Dear Valued Customer,

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to provide an important update regarding the status of Solar Power of Oklahoma (SPO) and your ongoing project.

SPO has proudly served over 5,000 customers during our 7 years in business, always holding the highest regard for our customers. Unfortunately, due to the impact of rising interest rates and inflationary costs, we have encountered significant financial challenges. Despite our best efforts, we have come to the difficult decision that SPO will no longer be able to continue operations.

Our immediate priority is to ensure that all customers who have made down payments for their systems receive their installations without any loss of their down payments. To facilitate this, we must revise our payment structure to protect both our customers and the subcontractors completing these projects.

Moving forward, once your installation is scheduled, we will provide you with a quote for the necessary equipment. You will be required to make a payment directly to the supplier for the equipment one week prior to installation, with the remaining balance due at the time of installation. This approach will allow us to retain subcontracted labor to complete all outstanding contracts."

I know that Tesla solar has been having a lot of problems finding battery suppliers, but they are just one player in a big field.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

With demand being so high, you dont expect to see this:

"Dear Valued Customer,

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to provide an important update regarding the status of Solar Power of Oklahoma (SPO) and your ongoing project.

SPO has proudly served over 5,000 customers during our 7 years in business, always holding the highest regard for our customers. Unfortunately, due to the impact of rising interest rates and inflationary costs, we have encountered significant financial challenges. Despite our best efforts, we have come to the difficult decision that SPO will no longer be able to continue operations.

Our immediate priority is to ensure that all customers who have made down payments for their systems receive their installations without any loss of their down payments. To facilitate this, we must revise our payment structure to protect both our customers and the subcontractors completing these projects.

Moving forward, once your installation is scheduled, we will provide you with a quote for the necessary equipment. You will be required to make a payment directly to the supplier for the equipment one week prior to installation, with the remaining balance due at the time of installation. This approach will allow us to retain subcontracted labor to complete all outstanding contracts."

I know that Tesla solar has been having a lot of problems finding battery suppliers, but they are just one player in a big field.

There have been two residential installers close up since January this year citing similar issues.

https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/titan-solar-to-close-arizona-operations,517446#:~:text=Titan%20Solar%2C%20a%20one%2Dtime,according%20to%20multiple%20media%20reports.

https://www.abc15.com/news/business/phoenix-solar-company-ceases-operations-files-for-bankruptcy#:~:text=PHOENIX%20%E2%80%94%20A%20Phoenix%2Dbased%20solar,and%20filed%20for%20bankruptcy%20protection.

[patric]

There have been two residential installers close up since January this year citing similar issues.

https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/titan-solar-to-close-arizona-operations,517446#:~:text=Titan%20Solar%2C%20a%20one%2Dtime,according%20to%20multiple%20media%20reports.

https://www.abc15.com/news/business/phoenix-solar-company-ceases-operations-files-for-bankruptcy#:~:text=PHOENIX%20%E2%80%94%20A%20Phoenix%2Dbased%20solar,and%20filed%20for%20bankruptcy%20protection.

Looking at the other closures, its not the technology that is failing them but rather the typical marketing and financing that is lacking sustainability.  The lure of making a killing selling power to the utilities entices people to make long-term contracts to host installations beyond their needs and means, entangling all the parties involved in finances over their heads.

I might argue one of the biggest ROI for solar is not having to throw out a freezer full of food because some trees blew over, but that advantage is lost when installers toe the PSO line that generating power for the utility is the only way to go. You have to dig into state statutes and OCC rules to discover otherwise.

[patric]

They are easy to install, and knock chunks off electricity bills. It may not be Romeo and Juliet, but Spain's balcony scene is heating up as the country embraces what has hitherto been a mainly German love affair with DIY plug-in solar panels.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/18/if-a-million-germans-have-them-there-must-be-something-in-it-how-balcony-solar-is-taking-off#img-1 

Balcony solar panels can save 30% on a typical household's electricity bill and, with vertical surface area in cities larger than roof space, the appeal is clear. Balcony panels also benefit more than roof panels from the low winter sun.

https://external-preview.redd.it/balcony-solar-panels-can-save-30-on-a-typical-households-v0-qaqWTRY4x6E13ol66486ixzoHDwfODaXGs4vtVH3-dU.jpg

[patric]

People are rushing to install solar panels before Trump becomes President.
The solar power industry is growing fast, accounting for more than half of all new electricity on the grid last year. But soon President-elect Trump and fellow Republicans in Congress may try to reduce or eliminate government incentives that have driven much of that growth.

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/12/nx-s1-5228024/trump-solar-tax-credits

[dbacksfan 2.0]

The ITC is Established Law: The 30% Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit was enacted as part of the IRA in 2022 and is legislated to remain in effect for nine more years. While laws can change, such changes require due process, including budget reconciliation, which takes time and careful negotiation.

Bipartisan Support for Solar Tax Credits: Solar tax credits have enjoyed bipartisan support for years. For instance, during his last term, President Trump signed legislation in 2020 that extended the solar tax credits rather than allowing them to expire. This demonstrates a long-standing recognition of solar energy's benefits to our economy and national security.

https://www.positiveenergysolar.com/blog/2025/january/solar-incentives-under-president-trump-what-to-k/

[patric]

Bipartisan Support for Solar Tax Credits: Solar tax credits have enjoyed bipartisan support for years. For instance, during his last term, President Trump signed legislation in 2020 that extended the solar tax credits rather than allowing them to expire. This demonstrates a long-standing recognition of solar energy's benefits to our economy and national security.

You have to remember Trump is transactional; his flip-flops are only one brown paper bag of money away.
He supported Ukraine right up until he tweeted Zelenskyy was "A Dictator without Elections!!"

Electricity isnt getting any cheaper no matter how much drilling we do, and electric reliability is at the mercy of mother nature. We are way behind the curve on renewable energy compared to most of the world.