Letter to Editor | Taking a closer look at solar power in the San Juans

||| FROM WILLIAM APPEL |||

“Solar is green.” True. Moreover, nearly 85% of our solar displaces the hydro component of BPA’s power and so is salmon-friendly.

“Solar is resilient.” Generally false. The reality is that for technical and lineman safety reasons, battery-less grid-connected solar inverters shut down when the grid shuts down. So, no resilience 

“Solar is a part of a just economy.” This is false because:

(1)  The federal tax credit is only valuable to those with sufficient incomes to use it. Score: Wealthy 1, Poor 0;

(2)   Installation, whatever the interest rate on the needed loan, is only possible for those financially able to make the payments. Score: Wealthy 1, Poor 0; and

(3)  OPALCO pays retail rates for solar power that displaces far less expensive BPA power, requiring higher OPALCO rates to cover the additional power cost This benefits the wealthy who can afford solar systems, and penalizes the poor who cannot. Score: Wealthy 1, Poor -1.

(4)  Final score: Wealthy 3, Poor -1, undoing our efforts to democratize our economy.

Batteries without solar provide resilience. Best for our economy would be OPALCO-owned large scale batteries the cost and benefit of which would be equitably shared by all. 

For your personal island of resilience, start with the largest battery you can afford. Add solar later; just know what you are doing, and why. To maximize your environmental impact, conserve the power you use. It’s the cheapest and most benign step you can take.