It's very common for people to want to solve large scale problems with a one-size fits all idea and they rarely pan out, if ever. I literally had someone tell me "just stop driving everywhere." Well, how do I get to work? "Live closer to work, or work closer to where you live." I can't afford to live in walking distance from my job. "Get a new job." I can't make as much anywhere in walking distance to where I live. "Then live off of less." The same person wants to ban the consumption of Natural Gas. How are people going to cook and stay warm? "They'll have to go all electric." What if they can't afford it? "well, they will just have to figure it out." Then I reminded them that our pg&e plant uses natural gas to produce our electricity. That ended the conversation unfortunately. I was looking forward the hearing how they would solve that one.
The idea of using solar and batteries is great, for those who can afford it. CA lawmakers/code writers have determined that if you can afford to build a house here, you can afford to add solar. Like may other energy saving factors CA Energy Code will probably slowly increase the amount of solar required and eventually they will probably make battery storage a requirement too. Some places are trying to "outlaw" natural gas in new construction, or incentivize all electric construction. All fine and dandy for new construction. It doesn't do anything for existing buildings. There is no way to tell a family that's living month-to-month "this new law says you can't have gas anymore. Sorry, you'll have to come up with the money to upgrade your house or you'll freeze this winter." You can't pass a law that says every building must have solar and battery unless the money is there to pay for it. Knock on any door and ask "If I pay for it all can we put solar and batteries on your house?" I'm pretty sure most people would say yes. But is there $100 bazillion dollars for CA to pay for everybody's new PV +ESS system? If so then we might get somewhere, but I find that unlikely.
I've seen some really cool systems installed lately that will allow the customer to keep a critical loads panel going during an outage and they can utilize their PV output without the grid. Very very cool, and I'm happy for them, but they are the very few who have the means and the desire to do so. Most people are just making rent and hoping they can cover their bills this month. Some people have worked hard and they are finally getting to buy a home for the first time and they're going to discover that when their water heater breaks, they have to pay for it, oh and it's going to need a new roof, and by the way the wiring is outdated. Those people may want solar with battery but are they going to prioritize that over other things?
Anyways I guess I'm just venting, so apologies. I don't know who said it first but I remember it from the movie Fight Club:" The things you own end up owning you."
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