Edison is proposing solar power program (California)

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/may/01/edison-is-proposing-solar-power-program/

Southern California Edison Co. is pushing a proposal that would expand its reach into solar power, which has put some in the solar industry on the defensive.

The utility company has put forth a program that would install at least 250 megawatts of solar panels in the next five years. The company would own these panels and the 1 to 2 megawatts of power generated by each installation, which would feed directly into the power "grid" that the utility's customers draw from.

A 2 megawatt installation generates enough power for 1,300 homes, said Gil Alexander, a spokesman for Southern California Edison. Alexander said the project makes use of a lot of unused real estate — large rooftops.

The company would install panels on roofs that typically would not be used for private solar panel systems, such as large warehouses. Still, it notes it would not stick exclusively to such sites.

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It seems to me that it is in the public interest for Edison to pursue this, particularly if it will lead to fewer mid-summer blackouts. But until they start slapping panels on private dwellings (long time, if ever), the solar industry shouldn't see much impact to their growth. Am I being too simplistic?

:evilgrin:

Put 'em on every roof in the nation, and make as much money as you want.