It's been a while since I let my snark out......so let's see if I've still got it. From CNN.com:
If you've ever thought, "One day, I'm going to put in a solar energy system," today might be the day.
And if the extent of your knowledge of solar energy systems is burning ants on a hot summer day using only a magnifying glass...you might be a redneck.
Economic issues across the nation are contributing to the early demise of solar incentives such as tax breaks, grants and rebates.
And economic issues in other countries. like Somalia, are leading to the demise of...people.
"We've been thinking about this for several years," said California homeowner Jim Adams.
"The cost wasn't really coming down, so we went to the bank, asked for a loan and decided to get it done."
Ummm, huh?
Get'r done!
So Adams had a 16-panel system installed on his roof in La Crescenta, California, about 15 miles north of Los Angeles.
He received a 30% tax credit from the federal government and a 10% cash rebate from the state.
Wow, that would be like saving $10,000 on a $26,000 investment.
It cost him $16,000 -- a savings of $10,000.
See, told you so.
This year, a federal 30% cash rebate through the U.S. Treasury Department comes to an end. And the 30% federal tax credit program will conclude at the end of 2016.
That's ok, because we don;t need to worry about anything after 2012:
These incentives, created as part of the federal stimulus package a few years ago, were designed to create a vibrant solar energy market. Along with the federal program, 29 states offered incentives. Many of those state programs are also becoming victims of budget cuts.
There are many days when I could use a vibrantly stimulated package.
Did I say that out loud?
In Florida, Michael Hoffman, a taxation professor, hoped that between the federal tax credit and the state rebate, he'd be able to better afford a solar energy system.
But a computer error in the state's application process actually cost him $20,000 more than he had planned on paying.
Hoffman blamed "poor record-keeping" on the state's end.
"They took more applications than they had money for," he said.
"If we'd known that our cost was going to be $33,000 instead of $13,000, that would have been a fairly hard one to sell to ourselves just for the ecological, environmental warm and fuzzies."
Oddly on ratemyprofessors.com there is a Florida Atlantic University professor of accounting (not taxation so I'm not sure this is the same person) named Michael Hoffman rated thusly..."most boring, monotone-voiced, self-absorbed, un-concerned professor! RUN while you can!!" And, yes, I can speak because I was redently rated thusly: "I was dreading this class, but Prof. Haab made it enjoyable. He is light-hearted and uses a lot of good examples to help everyone understand the material. He is also very helpful. I recommend going to class if you want a good grade."
Sales of rooftop solar panel installations jumped 67% last year, compared with 2009, according to the Solar Energies Industry Association.
I can't decide which way to go with my snark here:
Option 1: Yep, installations went from 3 to 5.
Option 2: I wonder if that had anything to do with a 40% subsidy?
Option 3: Oddly enough, sales of basement solar panel installations remained flat.
