Which, by the way, is kind of ironic don’t you think? The Greens wanting us to produce our own energy, but not wanting us to drill for oil and gas?
Nevertheless, that’s what co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said in the party’s State of the Planet speech yesterday.
She wants to kick things off with solar panels. And one of the Greens’ policies in this year’s election will be cheap government loans for solar panels and batteries.
Which I think is one of those ideas that sound good but, when you think about it for more than five minutes, the cracks start to appear.
Nevertheless, Chlöe Swarbrick says cheap government loans would cut the upfront cost barrier that stops people going solar.
And she says it could cut household power bills by $1,000-a-year.
Which all sounds fine. But would it be enough to make me go solar? Probably not.
Because the thing i can’t get past with solar, is the upfront cost and the mystery that surrounds the so-called financial benefits.
You will have seen and heard the stories I'm sure about people paying all the money to get solar panels on the roof at home and not seeing their power bills get any cheaper.
There are also the conflicting reports about the merits of selling solar energy back into the national grid. Whether the payback is worth it.
Until that murkiness no longer exists, I don’t see myself rushing to go solar anytime soon.
As for this idea of cheap government loans for solar panels and batteries, here’s the issue I have with it.
Yes, it would take away the upfront cost. But debt is debt. Irrespective of how low the interest rate is.
And, while the greens claim you might end up with cheaper power bills, you’d still have this debt to service.
So your monthly power bill might be cheaper, but you’d still have to service the loan from the government.
According to the energy efficiency and conservation authority, a small-to-medium solar set-up will cost somewhere between $8,500 and $11,500.
That’s just for the panels. The batteries, on top of that, can range from $5,000 to $15,000.
So let’s go with the median prices and say that your panels will cost you around about $10,000 and the battery around about $10,000, as well. So, $20,000 all up.
In the scheme of things, that isn’t all that much. But, according to the energy efficiency and conservation authority, it takes on average seven-to-10 years for solar to pay for itself.
For the money saved on power to pay back the upfront cost of installing solar.
And that’s where this policy from the greens doesn’t stack up. Because if it’s going to cost $20,000 upfront and they say people are going to save $1,000 a year on their power bills, then it’s going to be 20 years before their solar set-up pays for itself.
And that, for me, is enough to say thanks, but no thanks.
John MacDonald is the Canterbury Mornings host on Newstalk ZB Christchurch. This article was first published HERE
Which I think is one of those ideas that sound good but, when you think about it for more than five minutes, the cracks start to appear.
Nevertheless, Chlöe Swarbrick says cheap government loans would cut the upfront cost barrier that stops people going solar.
And she says it could cut household power bills by $1,000-a-year.
Which all sounds fine. But would it be enough to make me go solar? Probably not.
Because the thing i can’t get past with solar, is the upfront cost and the mystery that surrounds the so-called financial benefits.
You will have seen and heard the stories I'm sure about people paying all the money to get solar panels on the roof at home and not seeing their power bills get any cheaper.
There are also the conflicting reports about the merits of selling solar energy back into the national grid. Whether the payback is worth it.
Until that murkiness no longer exists, I don’t see myself rushing to go solar anytime soon.
As for this idea of cheap government loans for solar panels and batteries, here’s the issue I have with it.
Yes, it would take away the upfront cost. But debt is debt. Irrespective of how low the interest rate is.
And, while the greens claim you might end up with cheaper power bills, you’d still have this debt to service.
So your monthly power bill might be cheaper, but you’d still have to service the loan from the government.
According to the energy efficiency and conservation authority, a small-to-medium solar set-up will cost somewhere between $8,500 and $11,500.
That’s just for the panels. The batteries, on top of that, can range from $5,000 to $15,000.
So let’s go with the median prices and say that your panels will cost you around about $10,000 and the battery around about $10,000, as well. So, $20,000 all up.
In the scheme of things, that isn’t all that much. But, according to the energy efficiency and conservation authority, it takes on average seven-to-10 years for solar to pay for itself.
For the money saved on power to pay back the upfront cost of installing solar.
And that’s where this policy from the greens doesn’t stack up. Because if it’s going to cost $20,000 upfront and they say people are going to save $1,000 a year on their power bills, then it’s going to be 20 years before their solar set-up pays for itself.
And that, for me, is enough to say thanks, but no thanks.
John MacDonald is the Canterbury Mornings host on Newstalk ZB Christchurch. This article was first published HERE
9 comments:
The current oil plan sure isn’t stacking up. Call me when you got a solution to that other than complaining about a party that isn’t even in power. Until then we can file this under “hot air”. It will be filed safely because the frequency of bad storms in NZ is growing exponentially due to reasons that are well studied and understood.
"...bad storms in NZ is growing exponentially due to reasons that are well studied and understood."
Really? Perhaps you could share your source of statistics, study and understanding, or are you just relying on the fact that the climate has always changed?
I do hope you're not a disciple of the AGW crowd and it's all mankind's fault? You might like to read David Harvey's post of today and learn something that's not just "hot air".
Electricity relies absolutely on copper.
Where does copper come from?
Greenies might be surprised to learn that it's mined out of huge holes in the ground !!!
The leaching and downstream consequences can be awful, check out exhausted copper mines in the Southern US states.
Then there is the smelting process - go check out how eco wonderful that is !
Yeah, Chloe, you have got it sussed haven't you ?
Anon 1014 moisture content in the air mate. Well studied. I’m sure you’ve read the same studies as me, we’re all well read on the subject.
Chloe self diagnoses as a dyscalculiac. Numbers big or small are clearly quite beyond her comprehension.
The left want oil banned, but now they want it back??? Confused?? The left certainly are.
I think all the left should pay for chloes scheme....because its brilliant, but it , like everything else the left dreams up, won't work as usual.
Anonymous, you have been very well indoctrinated by the Green alarmist. First the incidence of bad weather is no worse than normal, second we are running out of oil and gas in NZ because of Green and Labour policy's of banning further exploration..
Mankind contributions to Co2 in the atmosphere is around 3% . NZ s contribution to that is 0.17 of 1 percent.
Co2 levels, essential for all plant (food) and tree life are already at historically low levels.
But of course this narrative doesn't fit the Greens real objective and that is Marxism.
I have had Solar, with a battery to deliver to the grid, in two homes and was always impressed.
Now in a retirement village it is not an option, but today I worry about the end of life disposal. Likewise for wind turbines.
Why the Govt? banks are already offering cheap or zero percent loans for solar.
We have it, a $10,000 setup, of which $1500 went to Govt as GST. Might be better to forget the loan (which has to be serviced) & simply forgo the GST as an incentive?
It is not $20,000 as you state, but our grid-tied 10K setup works fine.
Post a Comment
Thank you for joining the discussion. Breaking Views welcomes respectful contributions that enrich the debate. Please ensure your comments are not defamatory, derogatory or disruptive. We appreciate your cooperation.