Comments on: Not the Rich Leading Solar Revolution in Australia

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:11:00 +0000

That’s great to hear! And yes, makes total sense. But not how we’re seeing it in the US yet. I think the median income is climbing down due to solar leasing. But still at a rather high level.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Thanks, but it was actually the find of one of our readers! Some of my best stuff comes form you all. Crowdsourcing, FTW.

By: rkt9

rkt9 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:29:00 +0000

Encouraging observation Rob! It promises to get even better just down the road a bit!

Great find Zach!

By: RobS

RobS — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:01:00 +0000

I think the paradox occurs thus; The less wealthy find utility bills a struggle and look for means to reduce them, they therefore have picked up on the recent massive drop in solar prices more quickly. The wealthy on the other hand haven’t kept track of the drop, if they have investigated solar it was likely a few years ago when the financial benefits of solar were much sketchier. As a doctor I hang around a lot of people with significant disposable income and many ancillary staff with very limited disposable income and I can tell you anecdotally that it’s the janitors, ward aides and nurses who are talking about installing solar panels for a few thousand with a ~5 yr payback, and the doctors saying they had looked into it but a small system was going to cost $20,000 plus and it wasn’t worth it. It’s really just making prime time news about the big improvement in solar economics that has occurred recently, watch for surging installations as that reaches more ears.