As the CEO of Sun Solar and president of the board of the Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association, I have developed a thick skin when it comes to clean energy naysayers. Solar arrays are still rare enough in this part of the country that many don’t understand what they entail or how much they actually cost, and as with anything new it can be easy to fear what we don’t know.
I use my position to educate whenever possible, and that is why I am responding to an article I recently read in an electric cooperative publication, titled “No Free Rides.” I have nothing unkind to say in response to the article by Barry Hart [CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives], but I do want to remind everyone that those who choose to go solar are not creating more expenses for those who have not converted. Every member of a co-op pays for the privilege (look at lines on your bills for “user fee,” “connection fee” or anything indicating a price you pay to be hooked up to the co-op grid). Every member pays this fee, every month, and so nobody is getting away with free grid-tied services.
Recently, a group of Missouri electric utilities paid for a third-party study to see what solar does to the grid. The utility group members were shocked when the study showed solar power connected to the grid had a positive money benefit to the utility, as well as to all ratepayers. We have, as an industry, asked for all the utilities do their own shareholder-supported, third-party studies that they would then share with their members and ratepayers.
Additionally, power outages knock out solar panel power, too, but solar array electricity going out does not create danger for linemen any more than any power outage would. Solar does not create additional risk for those who work so hard to keep our lights on. With affordable battery storage coming on line, you will start to see a more reliable electric grid than ever before.
We understand that members don’t want to pay others’ share of electricity, as the article states. We wouldn’t want to do that, either. But that is not what is happening with customers who choose to go solar. They pay the same connection fee as everyone else does.
I just wanted to clarify these points, and hopefully prevent undue concern when there should be none.
Thank you,
—Caleb Arthur, Sun Solar
