Wrecked Angles: Why does solar get so much bad press?

From science fiction books to movie screens to solar panels, the future has always been defined by rectangles.

In fact, the rectangles you spend the most time with gives you access to a huge percentage of recorded human knowledge. Unlike previous generations who were kept from mere literacy, we have the resources to know more than our ancestors could dream.

Unfortunately, these glowing rectangles have difficulty distinguishing between the facts and agenda-driven misinformation. This means the narrative around renewable energy even your most trusted news organizations will promote the viewpoints of their owners, advertisers, and donors.

Yet despite all efforts to keep the misdeeds of the fossil fuel industry secret, consumers are aware of the environmental and existential damage grid energy companies and the fossil fuel industry have caused.

Does this means that the solar industry is flawless or that everyone would be better off going solar?

No.

In fact, we founded Sun Pearl Resources because we are deeply aware of the struggles our industry has faced, and continues to face. Giants in our industry are falling due to mismanagement by the usual suspects. At a more local level, neighborhoods are saturated with door knockers who won’t take no for an answer. This understandably leaves homeowners reluctant to answer their doors, let alone sign a decades-long commitment.

While there is some validity to negative stories about the solar industry, many gloss over necessary context. The NPR article linked states from the beginning that “Most of those customers are happy with [solar]- their electricity bills have just about disappeared, and it's great for the planet,” then fixates on the minority of cases where things go wrong.

They give no real idea of how many of these cases there are. The summary cites “thousands and thousands,” while the Time Magazine journalist interviewed cites “tens or maybe even hundreds of thousands,” then estimates 200,000. Failing to identify the actual number leaves home and business owners with no tools for risk assessment.

The recording also frames the solar companies’ decision to deploy “lots and lots of salespeople” as a sinister plot. While high-pressure tactics are admittedly an issue in the industry — and, again, a large part of the reason Sun Pearl Resources was founded — there is nothing at face value wrong with hiring salespeople.

As for tactics discussed, the former solar salesman interviewed merely says he learned to turn sideways while knocking and a person who says “yes” to one thing will likely say “yes” to another. He notes that salespeople were encouraged to upcharge for systems. While overpricing systems to the extent he describes is clearly wrong, most solar platforms will not create quotes if solar does not provide adequate savings over grid energy. Lending companies and solar contractors often cap their products at a certain rate to limit predatory pricing.

It’s important to note, too, that Eversource reported $400 million dollars in profit while consistently adding customer surcharges to every bill. Overall, corporate greed is a far bigger factor in price increases than individual salespeople. Solar hardly compares to utility price gouging, and is far from the most egregious industry when it comes to upcharging.

Sun Pearl Resources strives to provide an antidote to these practices by ensuring our customers can compare pricing and by ensuring customers understand the fine print on their contract.

To learn more, contact us today!