THe article mixed up too things that are both important, the first more than the second though. THe first that the panels are so expensive that over their lifetime, they can only pay off if you pretty much use all the electricity they can generate all the time. Which really nobody does, and storage to cover peaks is way too expensive.
But the property tax is the bigger deal. See, you can get subsidies for the systems, and tax breaks. But suppose someone handed you a $33,000 system in a county that charged, say, $1.20 per $100 in property taxes. (not uncommon I think). That “free” system now costs you $360 a year in taxes, which for me is about 4 months of my electric bill. I’m not costing the county any more money by having this system. But they get more from me, because I’m “richer” because my house is “more expensive”.
I have one answer for all that look at this green answer.
GENERAC Generator.
Keep 20-50 gallons of gas close by and your not paying out thousands every year for taxes, payments and technology that is still in it’s infancy.
All for less than a couple grand.
I maintain both a Solar Array and and Wind Turbine for my Employer. (Both on Grid)
Amplifying others. What you buy today in green Technology will most likely not be repairable due to either Manufacturer/Supplier/Dealers going under or parts no longer made in less than 5 years. We have found that IN BOTH Solar and Wind turbine Systems.
Our county in California does not change property tax valuation over solar panel install. The PACE program described in this article uses the property tax system to collect the principal and interest in a 20 year loan to pay off the panels. The only way someone gets screwed in making a decision on whether to get solar panels is by not understanding math. All the costs are disclosed up front, and if they are more than your utility bill you just say No Thanks.