LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Consumers Energy dedicated a new solar garden at Western Michigan University on Friday but there is a reason you may not be seeing a lot of solar panels springing up in your neighborhood.
Homeowners may not get nearly the rate of return on the energy they generate from rooftop solar, compared to the normal rates that Consumers charges if changes proposed in the latest versions of the energy bill are approved.
It’s called Net Metering and the difference could add years to the pay-back period on a solar array.
Judy Palnau at the Michigan Public Service Commission says they now have just over 2,000 solar homes participating in the net metering program.
That’s only about 10 percent of the number they need to meet the cap. While that number is growing, it’s not at the pace they would like.
It increased by about 20 percent in the latest figures they have.
Kate Madigan with the Climate Action Network says it’s not just about encouraging solar power and reducing the need to burn fossil fuels, it’s also jobs.
It takes manpower to install those systems and those jobs and businesses go away if no one is going solar.
Currently two different Energy Bills have hung up the process in Lansing, and while it may be a priority to get one passed, there are huge industries and big money at stake and in conflict when it comes to what Michigan’s energy future should be.
