One of the most common arguments against incentives to help people buy solar panels for their homes are that they are a subsidy for the rich, paid for by everyone. The argument goes: only the rich can buy a photovoltaic system, which, even with subsidies, costs thousands of dollars. Why should everyone chip in to help rich people buy new toys?
On the face of it, this argument is persuasive. Why should everyone pay, if only the rich get the benefit?
Basic fairness dictates that society should only subsidize activities which create societal (rather than individual benefit.) On closer reflection, however, we see that the bulk of the benefit for solar goes to society, rather than the homeowner-installer.
Let's look at the benefits of a photovoltaic system (numbers are for a 4kW system, installed for $8 per peak watt, with the rebates currently available in to me in Colorado, plus the Federal tax credit.
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