A fascinating aspect of multiple decades of home ownership is to be witness to the constant innovation in home technology. When Tesla became a full-fledged diversified company (Solar City and Tesla Motors in 2016), the synergies were obvious: your whole home would be able to ideally be off the grid. Cars, appliances, heat, and air all could tap the unlimited shine above a roof. In the 70s, solar panels became a fad. It was touted as an ideal way to heat a home’s water supply and show your neighbors that you were concerned about the environment. Today, Tesla has sought, along with other manufacturers, to curb global warming by charging more for the right to pollute less. The status symbol of driving an amazing, all-electric vehicle has become the class marker throughout many industrialized countries. The fact that Elon Musk has succeeded in providing a product set (panels and cars) that truly work is historic. Those who have made the switch have equally contributed to more and more of the industrial world’s ability to preserve natural resources for future generations. Unfortunately, the cost to society is that without making a profit, companies like Tesla need to show that they can be profitable and compete without “unfair” subsidies.
The Trump administration, unlike Obama, is publically making the case for Domestic first. Tesla should benefit. Yet the pure play on energy costs for all, makes Tesla’s story more difficult to achieve. Training wheels have been removed with the constantly changing political environment. Consumers now should make informed economic choices that improve their long-term savings vs short-term gratification. The following Wall Street Journal article indicates that the average Solar array for a single family home averages currently $16,000. In addition to home functionality and local green roof requirements, a home owner’s mortgage would be $44/mo more when spread over 30 years. This is before any energy savings or turning back the meter options available from being “off grid.” As advocated throughout the LUBIE LOVE community, make changes that are in your economic interest to properly vote with both companies and policymakers. The fate of industries and jobs depends on being properly informed. MORE at the WSJ.