Steve, I drive a Tesla and openly advocate renewable energy and sustainable transportation. At work some would describe me as a heretic while others support me. Just as Tesla is a partisan subject in the general public so it is amongst utility employees, supervision, and management. I draw a great of attention to myself, because I speak out. I suppose that’s on me.
My view is that many utility employees consider solar power a minor annoyance and perceive little threat. I often hear stories of how expensive solar is and how solar companies are cheating customers; how solar leases are impractical and make homes unmarketable. Today, a supervisor explained to me in detail how EVs were powered from coal fired generation and far worse for the environment than internal combustion engines. It is difficult, if not impossible for me to hide my disdain. My hope is that I can someday better advocate renewable energy without angering those with different viewpoints.
In a nutshell, utilities are monopolies embedded into the Earth, literally and figuratively. Their culture of entitlement, nepotism, and cronyism has been entrenched for decades. All of their strengths are the weaknesses that will empower their disruption.
