Yes but what is energy independence worth to a homeowner subject to shocks in terms of foriegn and domestic energy price jumps. To spend a couple of thousand bucks for a low maintenance energy production system that may not pay for itself for many years may seem foolish, but if you have energy when others don't due to price hikes, wars or natural disasters, the potential costs are insignificant compared to the freedom and flexibility such a system gives a home-owner!
Its worth nothing to the homeowner, but having access to the lowest cost energy is worth plenty.
--Boot Hill