"Solar makes no economic sense. Even in California."
Why not?
Are you saying:
Investment too high? Saved dollars too low? If so, due to low volume of energy units saved, or low cost per unit of energy saved?
To do such calculations involves estimates. Today many decision makers will be including estimates of HIGHER future energy unit prices.
A few years ago oil was $10 to $15 per barrel. Now it is $70+.
Solar power means batteries. Batteries last 3-5 years.... I could not imagine the ecological damage from burying millions of tons of batteries each year.
The only way solar will ever make sense is if government outright bans other forms of energy and heavily subsidizies and mandates solar.
Natural gas could easily be the best alternative energy if government restrictions were lifted... and no millions of tons of batteries dumped annually.