This is a big deal and quite an investment. Of course, working with the local utilities could eliminate the storage, but this has advantages. It is the central/distributed model.

In the past we have been central, the future may favor distributed. There was a science program that described the magnetic field and solar activity. The grid is vulnerable, so until they harden it, distributed can add an extra margin of robustness.

We are going to need both a grid and distributed, but they need to work together. I favor the solar panels and batteries at home with EVs. This says even IF the grid is harmed and there is no electricity for fueling stations, we can still get things done.

This is a bit off topic, but they talked about transformer damage and how they would have to be replaced. But how do you build new transformers with no electricity? It is not quite a survivalist setting, but it gives pause for thought.

I don't think individuals give much thought to the big picture, they are taking care of their own situation and that is normal. If we can steer the self interest towards the general interest, we may be ahead of the game.

Still...in order for mass adoption to occur, it's just like EV's ---- it all comes down to costs for the consumer vs. benefits. The cheaper the solar panels and batteries and EV's are, the more people will get them. We cannot expect our bankrupt government to incentivize them further through more tax credits without expanding the deficit even more and the federal reserve printing more money....then again with this administration we can't rule that out.

The person in this clip is one of the culprits of our great recession...listen carefully to the whole thing...it's INSANE...

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vIhxzNX738s&vq=large

The interesting thing about virtually any economic state is there are always countering indicators. The links show that consumer electronics, startups and certain retailers are doing just fine.

Travel to Europe and look at the people piling into restaurants and clubs night and day. In this world anything can be fabricated and re-imagined into negative appearance.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/20/apple-technology-iphone-markets-equities-consumer.html

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/36582/

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/economy/santa-monica-place-crowds/

Most people need a fuel efficient vehicle before they need a shiny new iPhone. But that hasn't slowed anyone from buying them. EVs and Residential Power units and solar/wind will free people from the yoke of petroleum. But if we believe we cannot sell or afford them - petroleum will win another round. Who's fomenting this recession and who will it benefit most??

That ain't conspiracy. It's business.

Don't confuse anyone with the facts when they are true believers.

The reports on solar electricity generation on WIKI show that the price is three times that of the most efficient natural gas generators.

There would be large scale Solar or wind projects if there were no government credits and mandates.

The first large scale windmill failed in 1945 after operating at power for only a few months at most. No more were built in the US until about 1970 because they are not profitable in competition with some other units. Lobbiests and anti nuclear activists have force the costs of nuclear power plants to be ten times more costly than is needed for far more safety than a stairway provides.

People would be far more safe if automobiles were banned, and there was a nuclear reactor in each square mile.

Just look up potassium in Wikipedia and the original source quoted to find out that every live thing that ever existed, including you, is radioactive and exposes others to radioactivity. On a regular basis, not even the operators of a nuclear power plant get as much radioactivity from the reactor as they get from their own body. Just imagine the nearly 4000 gamma rays that you own body sends out into the world and other bodies every second. You! Yes You! You are a collection of nuclear wastes from start that also concentrates radioactive materials from foods and gives off gamma rays. You are a moving nuclear reactor that gives off gama rays, and every bit of energy you use or eat comes from fusion in stars or the sun or fission of elements created in the stars or suns. ..HG..

Henry, Henry... it's all about "levels" of radioactivity. The level of our bodies is so miniscule as to be unmeasurable. The level inside a reactor is deadly. Big difference there.
-
It is reasonable to be worried about deadly levels.
-
You'd be better off making the argument that nukes don't release another potentially harmful substance: CO2

Why everything should be the cheapest all the time? If cost is always the priority:

We could go barefoot most of the time and save a fortune on shoes.
Ladies could shave their head and save at lot on hair dressing.
Smokers should not be treated for lung cancer and heart related diseases.
Smoking and eating high fructose food could be banned because of extremely high health cost and other negative effects on productivity.
Fat and sweet foods should be restricted to avoid costly obesity.
Trucking should be restricted in favor of lower cost rails.
Local flights should be restricted in favor of lower cost buses and trains.

The notion of lower cost (at all times) can be questioned. To pay a bit more for better food, air, water, vehicles etc may be good investments.