Government subsidies make residential solar panels more affordable, but also lead to higher electricity bills for non-solar customers, especially low-income families and minorities.
A policy called “net metering” acts as an implicit subsidy paid for by non-solar customers in the form of higher rates. This has drawn criticism from minority groups that say those costs are disproportionately borne by low-income families.
Harry Alford, president and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, claimed in a press release Tuesday that such economic distortions have a “socially regressive societal impact,” citing a recent study by utility regulators in Louisiana which found that solar customers “have incomes 35% higher than the median statewide income.”
“When we pay solar owners a higher-than-market rate for their power, we throw basic economics out of balance,” Alford argued. “Because of overly generous net metering payments, those with the means to install costly solar panels are shifting costs to other customers, including low-income families and those on fixed incomes.”
Hispanics are also “being hit with high electricity bills that they can’t afford, thanks to … net metering,” Jose Nino said in an article for Energy Biz Sunday. “It’s lower-income and minority communities, including Hispanics, who are forced to essentially subsidize these rooftop solar systems because they’re the ones who can’t afford to own them.”
I just love this...I'm joyful as can be. Another great example of where the DC Deep Thinkers and their fellow travelers in the enviro community are doing harm to the poor and minorities. Nice to see that some minority leaders are catching on. The enviro groups and foundations are spending millions to get minorities, especially Hispanics, involved in enviro issues, while at the same time sticking it to those groups through their misguided policies. Glad to see them getting called on this.
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