PV Gap

Claire Said:

Did you know that 100 square miles of solar panels in the Arizona desert can produce power for?

We Answered:

Do you know how much that would cost? I think covering an average roof with solar panels costs $10,000.

As for transmission, the Middle Atlantic States are going to be exceeding their transmission capacity in about 5 years, but people are protesting the proposal to build transmission lines. How are you going to get the electricity from there to where it is needed.

Here's the number I come up with (please someone check my math) if you could do it for 1 dollar per square foot...$7,772,051,865,600,000,000. Even if I am off by an order of magnitude or two, I would think any industry, especially oil companies, would love to set up this system. Oh and you are also forgetting about the environmental impact statement. Add 15 to 20 years to your solution.

Louis Said:

Wouldn't having solar panels in for example in Texas, Vegas, & Arizona?

We Answered:

We in the solar industry are making them as fast as possible.
Every panel we can make is pre-sold. We are gearing up for more production as fast as possible. There is a world wide shortage of the raw material , Polysilicon. Not surprisinglt this is due to increase demand in China. BTW solar panels work well in any of the 49 states. (Alaska is iffy)

www.solaicx.com Will give you what one company is doing

Melvin Said:

Why doesn't Arizona have solar panels on every rooftop?

We Answered:

Mainly because there is alot more that goes into channeling solar energy into usable energy than just putting panels on the roof.

Unfortunately, the technology isn't cost effective at this point. It's getting there slowly. The other big problem is storage capacity. With electricity if you don't use it you loose it, unless you have either a storage component like a battery or a loop system like a utility grid. Both of these senarios are very costly and the benefits don't outweigh the cost.

What I do see happening in the near future is the use of solar energy to accomplish "peak shaving". In other workds during the busiest part of the day, which is also the hottest part of the day, the energy collected can be used to operate certain peices of equipment. Thus reducing the load that is served by the utility and reducing the energy consumption and bill.

Marian Said:

Solar Panels in Arizona?

We Answered:

I also live in Arizona, but way way up north in the White Mountains. I live totally on solar off the grid and have been for about 16 years now, when I left the valley. I paid as much as 700.00 a month on my elec. bill in phoenix to keep my 3100 sq ft tri level house at about 80's which was about all I could do. If you were to put about 18 -120 watt panels on your roof, add a grid-tie invertor and a second meter etc, you would most likely end up paying about 25.00 a month for your elect. If your further interested, email me as I have just gotten estimates from two different sources and they are both very reliable. I can help you save about 40% or even more on the complete system. Rock

Bessie Said:

Why are there not alot of solar panels in Arizona.?

We Answered:

Lio, as a former Arizona resident who wondered the same thing, I have a theory.

Much of the state's population moves there on retirement, much like Florida. The older residents have savings but are reluctant to spend them needlessly, because the can't know how long they'll need to rely on them. The young population tends to be middle class, able to live well enough but with a fairly substantial debt load (mortgage, credit cards, student loans), without the extra hundreds needed for installation.

It amused and saddened me to learn that there's more solar heating per capita in New York than Arizona.