I live in Mass, am an electrician, have installed solar, some even in Rehoboth. I’m not ashamed. Solar is not for everyone but properly sized it can cut one’s dependence on the Grid, some people prefer to blindly subsidize utilities, that’s cool.
Currently I’m installing a 150 KW solar system in Vermont, in that case the total electricity generated from solar and small hydro on that particular utility circuit exceeds the demand, the utility exports the additional power elsewhere within their own grid and to neighboring utilizes. So solar can and does work in NE and the utilities earn revenue from the solar systems without any investment.
Storage Batteries, they can be installed with or without a solar PV system. The concept is to store electricity during off peak periods (usually mornings and mid day) at a lower rate and to then self consume the stored energy during peak hours (late afternoon and evenings). The idea is to never export to the grid but to self consume what is self generated. While most utilities charge a flat fee for usage, some are now beginning to charge different rates depending on the time of day via smart metering. Beyond usage fees they are also charging delivery or connection fees, they are charging in some cases usually commercial customers “peak demand” fees - based on the highest peak usage from the previous six months, “reserving” that capacity if it is needed or not.
One town in Mass, Spencer has a tractor trailer sized battery (not sure of its electrical rating) located in its substation. The town has a municipal power company and it uses the battery to control its peak usage - that alone has allowed for a pay back in less than six years, they can also power the police and fire department for 14 days without power.
So like anything else, it depends on what you are using it for and how it is designed.
Thanks for the info - 6 year payoff in the town of Spencer doesn’t sound bad.
How long will one of those houses that are covered take to payback? Is the price 20K or so?
I’m not opposed to Solar - I love the idea of the shingles being solar panels or that paint I heard about, but I want it to make sense not just to be the thing to do.