Arizona Commissioner Probes Utility's Secret Funding of Anti-Solar Campaign 207
mdsolar writes "An Arizona utility commissioner is asking for all the key players in a debate over a solar energy policy in the state to reveal any additional secret funding of nonprofits or public relations campaigns. The probe comes after Arizona Public Service, the state's largest utility, admitted last week that it had been secretly contributing to outside nonprofits running negative ads against solar power. As The Huffington Post reported Friday, APS recently admitted that it had lied for months about paying the 60 Plus Association, a national conservative organization backed by the Koch brothers, to run ads against current solar net-metering policy. APS is currently pushing the Arizona Corporation Commission to roll back the policy, which allows homeowners and businesses with rooftop solar energy systems to make money by selling excess energy back to the grid. Solar proponents say that the policy has facilitated a solar boom in the state, and that changing it could have a huge negative impact on future growth."
Re:Its a shame. (Score:5, Interesting)
And you are forced by law to buy his power.
I cannot turn off the electricity to my home without having it condemned. I cannot select another provider. I cannot buy power upfront for a lower cost.
There is simply no real market activity for anyone in this arrangement.
Re:Its a shame. (Score:3, Interesting)
"Facts are facts. Solar is clean, diverse, expensive and unreliable"
You're absolutely wrong on the last two. The fucking sun rises and falls every day, that's goddamned reliable. Solar panels are so cheap that I could power my entire house (not including Air Conditioning) for $0.60/w or LOWER.
"There is also a point where it causes problems for the grid that will require significant waste or expense to alleviate."
What the hell are you talking about? Oh, you mean lower base loads? Guess what? To prevent the inrush of power, THE OWNER OF THE PANELS can install a very simple box to simply not give power back to the grid to avoid overloading it. The cost for this solution is about $5. What waste? All that solar we're not collecting and utilizing already? Give me a break.
You don't know what the hell you're talking about, and half of your words are weasel words.
~Lighting research director