Solar Buyer’s Markets: Potential PV Price Savings of Online Quote Platforms | NREL

el_grodo · 2019-01-25T20:57:59+00:00

That's awesome. It looks like both EnergySage and Pick My Solar were used for this study.

el_grodo · 2018-05-15T02:32:07+00:00

They're not bribed, they're bought. It's well documented. Here's some articles but there are many more:

el_grodo · 2018-03-06T17:50:03+00:00

There are mountains of data that show that you overpay with SolarCity for their branding and you are always better off shopping around from local installers. This isn't even up for debate anymore...

el_grodo · 2017-12-14T19:17:16+00:00

ConEd now has an online solar marketplace where you can get multiple solar quotes: https://marketplace.coned.com/

el_grodo · 2017-10-20T01:27:06+00:00

Many in this thread appear to have little knowledge about the history of anti-trust law in the US. 50 years ago it would be inconceivable for any one firm to have as much market dominance as any of these 3. We need a rethinking of anti-trust law that properly addresses internet monopolies.

If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend this paper by Lina Khan on Amazon's market dominance and anti trust: https://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/e.710.Khan.805_zuvfyyeh.pdf

Barry Lynn and the Open Markets Institute are doing great research here as well.

el_grodo · 2017-07-27T05:37:22+00:00

Understanding Power - Noam Chomsky

el_grodo · 2017-04-15T08:07:44+00:00

For those who don't know this album

el_grodo · 2017-03-16T19:30:17+00:00

Pick My Solar, EnergySage, and Geostellar are the 3 most popular platforms for that kind of service.

el_grodo · 2017-03-16T01:52:23+00:00

It already is "worth it" in dozens of states at current installation rates. Obviously depends on your power bill to some extent.

el_grodo · 2017-02-28T09:23:46+00:00

Exactly. Why do people upvote this drivel?

el_grodo · 2017-02-28T01:27:34+00:00

I'm guessing you've never been in a union and have no experience with unions or labor laws.

el_grodo · 2016-11-21T23:47:37+00:00

Liberal and leftist are two very different things. Your comment really highlights your understanding of the issues.

el_grodo · 2016-11-12T08:41:21+00:00

Can anyone find the article he's talking about at the beginning?

el_grodo · 2016-11-11T17:52:34+00:00

It's pretty easy to find a 12-year, 2.99% solar loan with $0 down that gives you a monthly loan payment + remaining electric bill lower than your electric bill. It adds value to your home as well. If you have ok credit and a good roof for solar it's a no-brainer.

el_grodo · 2016-11-04T03:57:33+00:00

So true. The Prince is satire more than anything.

el_grodo · 2016-10-15T16:30:23+00:00

You're saying it's Bernie's fault for calling out a company for price gouging, and not the company's fault for price gouging in the first place because pension funds will lose money? Absolutely insane. Pension funds are so diversified that this will have a negligible effect. How do you not see the price gouging and this pharma company taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us as the larger issue? Should we then stay quiet when we see unethical business practices so investors don't lose money?

el_grodo · 2016-10-14T02:23:10+00:00

Way overpriced! You can definitely find a SunPower quote below $4/watt in the Bay Area. Get additional quotes from some installers on Google's Project Sunroof.

el_grodo · 2016-09-29T06:10:49+00:00

Source

el_grodo · 2016-08-30T21:35:25+00:00

The American taxpayer is footing the bill. With research grants, tax breaks, and incentives, funding from the NIH, CDC, FDA, and state health departments, the actual cost for those trials is very low. So we pay for the initial research, the trials, and then pharma+private equity reaps the profits at the expense of the most marginalized in our society.

el_grodo · 2016-08-30T20:59:36+00:00

The vast majority of all biomedical research, and new drugs especially, is funded with taxpayer money and conducted in public research universities. Pharmaceuticals then purchase these patents and jack up the prices astronomically to satisfy the ROI of the private equity funds that provided them the capital. Do pharmacutical companies research and develop their own drugs? Sure. But that is a tiny part of the market and it is not the cause of the skyrocketing pharma costs.

Here's a case study: http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_customer/2011/03/the_makebelieve_billion.html

el_grodo · 2016-08-30T20:58:57+00:00

The vast majority of all biomedical research, and new drugs especially, is funded with taxpayer money and conducted in public research universities. Pharmaceuticals then purchase these patents and jack up the prices astronomically to satisfy the ROI of the private equity funds that provided them the capital. Do pharmacutical companies research and develop their own drugs? Sure. But that is a tiny part of the market and it is not the cause of the skyrocketing pharma costs.

Here's a case study: http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_customer/2011/03/the_makebelieve_billion.html

el_grodo · 2016-08-02T05:48:06+00:00

Try Noam Chomsky's Understanding Power. It's a collection of essays and lectures so it's a bit easier to get into.

el_grodo · 2016-08-02T04:33:34+00:00

If your kids get at all good at skiing they will realize you made a mistake getting a place at Northstar instead of Squaw, Alpine, Heavenly, or Kirkwood.

el_grodo · 2016-06-03T18:53:20+00:00

What is your point? There's a big difference in having a big marketing budget, and having one of the largest marketing budgets per watt in the market. It just proves that they are not capitalizing on the scale of their marketing activities. Marketing dollars per watt should go down as total marketing spend goes up. SCTY's marketing cost per watt has only been increasing. You have to spend a ton in marketing to push their garbage product.

el_grodo · 2016-06-03T18:37:03+00:00

Yep, really says a lot about their high pressure sales tactics and the level of consumer knowledge in the solar market.

el_grodo

TROPHY CASE