Aug. 5 (UPI) — As more consumer options for greener technologies emerge in the United States, there’s a power struggle for control of the electricity market — between customers and vendors of solar power and utilities that deliver and sell volts to the masses.
Net metering — excess power from a renewable source, like solar, that’s fed into the public grid, usually for customer credit — is becoming more popular among Americans and environmental advocates nationwide. But they’re up against a powerful lobby that views the green alternative as a threat to its profits.
Jimmy Hosch installed solar panels at his Dallas home to do his part to fight climate change. On a hot Texas summer day, his 10-kilowatt system can provide most of the power to his 2,400-square-foot home, plus charge his fully electric Nissan Leaf and hybrid Chevrolet Volt.
“I bought it outright when three rebates came together at the same time,” he said. “It’s not going to get any cheaper, so I pulled the trigger. That has worked out really well.”
Read more: UPI