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Solar Companies Seek Ways to Build an Oasis of Electricity

Wall Street Journal -- When Hurricane Sandy wiped out the power in areas like coastal Long Island and the Jersey Shore, what should have been beacons of hope — hundreds of solar panels glinting from residential rooftops — became symbols of frustration.

Despite the popular perception that installing solar panels takes a home “off the grid,” most of those systems are actually part of it, sending excess power to the utility grid during the day and pulling electricity back to run the house at night. So when the storm took down power lines and substations across the Northeast, safety systems cut the power in solar homes just like everywhere else.

“Here’s a $70,000 system sitting idle,” said Ed Antonio, who lives in the Rockaways in Queens and has watched his 42 panels as well as those on several other houses in

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Submitted Nov 21, 2012 By: LetemEatCake

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,632 Points:1,610,495 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2012 7:27:36 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse solar is definitely a way to reduce wasted energy use. And it might even help after natural disasters. Just need to figure out how to power after the link to the power companies has been cut.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,267 Points:1,742,680 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Nov 22, 2012 2:16:47 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse There needs to be a off grid switch installed with the solar panels.
sjf238 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:1,215 Points:647,955 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 22, 2012 2:05:02 PM Ignore sjf238 Report Abuse OK.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,043 Points:2,346,485 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Nov 22, 2012 4:02:33 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Solar Companies Seek Ways to Build an Oasis of Electricity but when the electrical grid goes down, so does the solar panel system supply. When installing a solar panel system make sure the option of powering the house separately, with dedicated outlets, from the solar panel system is installed too. For those that have an EV, they can power their house, with limitations, from the vehicle battery. Install wind turbines on the house roof to capture wind electrical energy when the wind is blowing too. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, vehicle manufactures Produce and the population ‘Drives’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
jcurley Champion Author California Posts:7,908 Points:1,776,220 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Nov 22, 2012 1:56:56 AM Ignore jcurley Report Abuse I don't understand the point of the article. Yes, the solar panels provide power during daylight and there's no power at nighttime.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,079 Points:1,449,300 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 10:36:22 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse The southwest has lots of sun just ready for converting to electricity.
RitaVespa Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,981 Points:792,260 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 9:55:34 PM Ignore RitaVespa Report Abuse Hmmm...
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,596 Points:1,206,355 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 9:49:57 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Thanks everyone for your great comments!
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,520 Points:534,735 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 4:41:59 PM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse Another "doh!" Moment
Catfish93001 Champion Author Ventura Posts:1,200 Points:247,955 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 4:20:18 PM Ignore Catfish93001 Report Abuse Another opportunity for innovation!
Alaydown Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,121 Points:824,370 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 3:48:46 PM Ignore Alaydown Report Abuse A waste of taxpayer money.
Soglaos Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:2,771 Points:740,405 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 3:28:35 PM Ignore Soglaos Report Abuse ok
katiejayWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,893 Points:739,400 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:50:43 PM Ignore katiejayWV Report Abuse nigelb. This right winger believes in climate change, just NOT man made climate change like you left wing whack jobs.
sit Champion Author Cleveland Posts:5,210 Points:1,933,920 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:40:25 PM Ignore sit Report Abuse as long as my tax dollars don't go towards it.
Meridethkun Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:156 Points:17,030 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:30:42 PM Ignore Meridethkun Report Abuse Must be frustrating.
middlegrey Rookie Author Wisconsin Posts:99 Points:428,025 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:29:37 PM Ignore middlegrey Report Abuse yeah...
nigelb Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,460 Points:1,391,755 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:29:00 PM Ignore nigelb Report Abuse Hopefully this is a once in a lifetime event, although with global climate change it might not be. I know the Reich Wingers will deny climate change but it is a fact and the proof will be more frequent storms like Sandy.
cricket48750 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:802 Points:414,330 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:27:28 PM Ignore cricket48750 Report Abuse GO GO GO!!!
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:16,606 Points:2,140,455 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:25:18 PM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse Interesting.
OOXXFF Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,068 Points:1,080,380 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:15:55 PM Ignore OOXXFF Report Abuse Too bad.
CheckitoutGuy Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,311 Points:769,590 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:15:30 PM Ignore CheckitoutGuy Report Abuse Hummmmmm!
ItisAJeepThing Champion Author Tucson Posts:19,760 Points:2,152,555 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:12:13 PM Ignore ItisAJeepThing Report Abuse Not very good for them.
redbeard47229 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:675 Points:43,045 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:10:18 PM Ignore redbeard47229 Report Abuse Another bs lie from the administration
cisson All-Star Author Kentucky Posts:516 Points:383,610 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:06:14 PM Ignore cisson Report Abuse well DUH!!
freedom27 Champion Author Calgary Posts:2,269 Points:285,425 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:04:42 PM Ignore freedom27 Report Abuse I have often wondered why Arizona isn't entirely solar powered. It must be too expensive?
repeater1 Champion Author Topeka Posts:8,303 Points:2,365,820 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:04:35 PM Ignore repeater1 Report Abuse Solar is still too expensive for the average working man to install.
Car54BC08 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:4,259 Points:1,511,315 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:03:20 PM Ignore Car54BC08 Report Abuse Nothing wrong with being self sufficient
gasoutherneagle Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,249 Points:737,410 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:02:12 PM Ignore gasoutherneagle Report Abuse Listen, many solar sales representative are nothing more than the house siding guys from the late fifty's. The idea is worthy, but it is still a big con job!
GreenLegend Champion Author Raleigh Posts:1,641 Points:398,630 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:01:24 PM Ignore GreenLegend Report Abuse It is truly moronic that these systems are not capable of being used in isolation. Duh! Jeez, install a transfer switch already.
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,205 Points:791,145 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:00:47 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse I hope they can ....
carloco75 Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,716 Points:601,115 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 2:00:40 PM Ignore carloco75 Report Abuse An "oasis"...?
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,532 Points:3,079,905 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:59:22 PM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Obama will find some way of giving away solar panels to any and all who have supported his reelection.
Wes1972 All-Star Author California Posts:650 Points:320,110 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:55:47 PM Ignore Wes1972 Report Abuse "popular perception" is another way of saying people are clueless and uneducated when they bought into the solar dream. I didn't think there were people that would spend $70k and not understand what theu bought. I'm sure the clueless cry babies will figure a way for Obama a friends to give them free battery systems at taxpayer expense. Their next complaint will be all the danger the hazardous batteries are forcing into their lives.
No1ConMan Champion Author Memphis Posts:1,015 Points:214,940 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:50:14 PM Ignore No1ConMan Report Abuse What a joke if not for all of the surrounding devastation.
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,818 Points:1,365,330 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:46:46 PM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse Okay,
northerntruckgu Veteran Author Ontario Posts:495 Points:130,910 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:43:36 PM Ignore northerntruckgu Report Abuse ok
WTLITNG Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,855 Points:1,016,090 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:43:33 PM Ignore WTLITNG Report Abuse Another handout in the works.
paoli8 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,086 Points:1,821,470 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:43:18 PM Ignore paoli8 Report Abuse A sucker is born every minute
SteveSeattle All-Star Author Seattle Posts:544 Points:171,185 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:41:42 PM Ignore SteveSeattle Report Abuse Do they have electricity for the day time?
CTarp Champion Author Texas Posts:1,236 Points:608,145 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:40:54 PM Ignore CTarp Report Abuse Waste
papou Champion Author Tampa Posts:10,889 Points:1,907,310 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:38:21 PM Ignore papou Report Abuse sure obama will give them free money ?
derek84us All-Star Author Rochester Posts:726 Points:40,300 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:36:50 PM Ignore derek84us Report Abuse surprise!
bigdipperMS Champion Author Mississippi Posts:1,517 Points:537,750 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:36:27 PM Ignore bigdipperMS Report Abuse The technology is just not there yet to make solar economical in all but a very few instances.
radiorumor Champion Author Texas Posts:2,817 Points:754,835 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:34:11 PM Ignore radiorumor Report Abuse You don't mess with Mother Nature
bluetruck54 Champion Author Quad Cities Posts:1,476 Points:443,760 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:31:54 PM Ignore bluetruck54 Report Abuse solar can still make sense, but you need to understand that the payback is years away: just like a hybrid vehicle. with a large upfront cost, there actually might never be a payback, or with a car, if you don't keep it 5 years, you're just wasting money. storage continues to be the big hangup. a really big battery, that doesn't cost more than your house, has yet to hit the market.
bearzz Champion Author California Posts:1,432 Points:419,670 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:28:06 PM Ignore bearzz Report Abuse Oops alright.
OldMoses All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:748 Points:56,190 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:27:36 PM Ignore OldMoses Report Abuse Can't get much greener than freezing your ass off and sitting in the dark.
kbierley Champion Author Dayton Posts:10,730 Points:1,415,690 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:26:17 PM Ignore kbierley Report Abuse Oops! How about a big battery?
Mowerman08 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,760 Points:1,217,995 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:25:20 PM Ignore Mowerman08 Report Abuse You still need wires and poles, to late to go under ground, you need livable housing, you can't go to the store and bring a bag full home.
pickledude72 Champion Author California Posts:1,120 Points:836,345 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:22:08 PM Ignore pickledude72 Report Abuse hunh?