Dear Editor:
If Missouri residents are overwhelmingly in favor of solar power, as was stated in a recent Opinion, I have to wonder why so few are taking advantage of the 30 percent federal subsidy. Demand seems low even with government forcing others to subsidize purchases. What would happen if we did see an amazing increase in green power generation, say 25 percent of Missouri's power was generated by wind and solar? Not one of the existing nasty old coal-fired power plants could be demolished. Utilities, and ratepayers, would incur the costs of keeping the fossil fuel fired plants idling, ready to pick up the slack when solar or wind generation dropped.
Elon Musk has stuffed millions of profits in his pockets because of taxpayer subsidies for his rich man's plaything electric car ($7,500 in taxpayer funded subsidies for every one of the $75,000-100,000 cars he sells, cars that you have to recharge every 300 miles). Taxpayers, paid ECOTotality $115 million to install car battery chargers around the country. Musk is now taking advantage of yet another scheme to suck up more taxpayer funded subsidies, solar roof panels, more subsides for the rich. (May 11 News Tribune, page A4)
Tesla estimates that it would cost $51,200 to install a solar roof on my home. They estimate that I would save $33,600 worth of energy over 30 years. Even with the estimated $14,000 subsidy (about 30 percent of cost), paid by my non-solar neighbors, the system would not pay itself in 30 years. The subsidy is deducted from federal income taxes; if you pay no taxes you get no subsidy. If your federal taxes are $2,000/year it would take seven years to get the full $14,000. I wonder how much it would cost to have someone clean the dirt and dust off the panels every few months, to maintain their peak functionality.
I not opposed to "green energy;" I am opposed to the crony capitalism involved in forcing taxpayers to subsidize it. In four years, before going bankrupt and leaving taxpayers holding the bag for $500 million in loan guarantees Solyndra spent $1.4 million wining and dining (lobbying) Congress. From 2007-16 First Solar spent $4.8 million. From 2007-16 NRG Energy, part owner of a number of solar facilities built with taxpayer backed loans, spent over $18 million influencing government officials.
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