Solar has crossed a major threshold in Hawaii. The state’s homes and businesses can cut their electric bills with unsubsidized solar power, but are also discovering that cheap solar is not a panacea. As the tide of solar costs has receded, a number of unexpected barriers have emerged.
An island state reliant on imported oil for 83% of its electricity generation, Hawaii is fertile ground for solar power. The recent combination of rising oil prices and falling solar prices created a dramatic shift toward people generating their own electricity. With solar economics virtually unmatched in the U.S., Hawaii’s situation begs this question: when unsubsidized solar competes favorably with grid electricity, can anything stand in its way?
Unfortunately, yes.
Read more at cleantechnica.com
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