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[HA Dave]

Some compensation for infrastructure costs is justified, but $50 a month seems way too high.  Using our own home for example, our base consumption without A/C costs less than $70 per month.  So is only $20 of that the cost of energy?

If your electric bill is $70... I would guess the energy use to create that power would be well less than $7! And even that... would be based on government regulations that force electric producers to use antiquated energy sources like solar, wind, coal, and/or natural gas. The cost of nuclear energy... would be in the fraction of a penny.   

And regarding infrastructure costs, solar should save utilities from having to invest in new plants

Isn't "investing in new plants" what industry calls "growth" which is often tied to "profit"? If you're in the business of sell electric... making and selling MORE is a good thing.

[HA Dave]

Actually, the underlying materials used and physics of converting the light into electricity have been evolving rapidly, making the process itself far more efficient.

That's FANTASTIC!!!!! Please describe for me... in your own words. What are those advances in physics in todays solar cells... that weren't in the ones I owned in the 1950's. Looking at my own... I can't see it.

[dhouston]

Please describe for me... in your own words. What are those advances in physics in todays solar cells...

Since I'm not a physicist (economics major), my own words are probably inadequate. But here are a few links describing the latest advances in efficiency. Solar cells are at ~45% and thin films above 20% efficiency with current (no pun intended) research indicating ways to get 60% or higher - efficiency is a ratio of the solar energy converted to electrical energy. One advance has come from stacking multiple cells that respond to different energy bands. Higher efficiency means smaller panels that cost less to install. It's probable that solar will be more economical than conventional power plants in the not to distant future at which point those utility stock certificates can be recycled into toilet paper.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell_efficiency
http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Solar-Cell-Efficiency-Theoretically-Doubled.html
http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/27/first-solar-knocks-park-new-solar-cell-efficiency-record/

[Tuicemen]

Solar Panels we are talking about here should not be confused with Solar panels for Hot water or heat.

Having uses photo electric solar panels myself now for over 20 years I have seen a large advancement in these, much of it coming since governments embraced the technology.

It's true the cost of these have come down an one can get a panel for less then 1/3 the price it may have cost just 10 years ago.
Although cost is a factor in the improvements supply and demand is more so.

The same physical size panel will now produce almost double the power output of a 10 year old panel and that's no just because of age.
Advancements are not only in the Panels but in the other electrical components required, Inverters and charge controllers which are the key elements to these working well have also improved.
These now work at over 90% efficiency.
Storage is the one area that is lagging, however improvements are being made in this area as well.
This is driven by the cell phone and tablet market and the desire for longer run time between charges

I also feel much safer with my neighbor installing a solar array then splitting atoms.

[JeffVolp]

I also feel much safer with my neighbor installing a solar array then splitting atoms.

It depends on how you split the atoms.  Look into Thorium reactors.  The government decided against that technology back in the 60's because it doesn't produce material suitable for nuclear weapons.

Jeff

[dhouston]

France has been the biggest user of nuclear power plants, getting 75% of their electricity from nuclear, and they are planning to start closing them down to reduce that to 50%.
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/France_says_it_will_close_oldest_nuclear_plant_by_2017_999.html
Germany uses nuclear for ~25% of its grid. They plan to close all of their plants by 2022.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/world/europe/31germany.html

And then there was Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima, San Onofre, Diablo Canyon and...

It's not clear whether Norway's experimental thorium reactor is online.
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/160131-thorium-nuclear-reactor-trial-begins-could-provide-cleaner-safer-almost-waste-free-energy

[HA Dave]

...... And then there was Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima, San Onofre, Diablo Canyon and...

Yes... I understand. I know fear... all humans know fear. Although we don't all fear the same things. Technology (and darkness) does not frighten me. But I have no apathy for those afraid of the dark... or of the atom. They have my understanding, and my sympathy.

Energy is not just power. Energy is also wealth. The lack of abundant, reliable power... is called poverty. Even if I had reservations [fears] about technology... I do not wish to condemn future generations to the poverty that some political figures see as beneficial to... themselves. 

[dhouston]

Yes... I understand. I know fear...

Ahh! I guess anyone who lives anywhere near Fernald knows fear.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernald_Feed_Materials_Production_Center

The site is permanently unfit for human habitation, according to federal scientists, and "will have to be closely monitored essentially forever."

[dhouston]

And then there's this...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/12/wind-could-supply-a-third-of-the-countrys-power-needs-by-2050-government-says/

[HA Dave]

And then there's this...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/12/wind-could-supply-a-third-of-the-countrys-power-needs-by-2050-government-says/

Actually.... wind power could easily replace ALL electric power in America TOMORROW. The key... is to make electric so costly that no one can afford it. Poverty is the solution.... to every socialist problem.

In free nations businesses are owned and operated by business owners. In third world nations.... the government runs the power companies. 

[dhouston]

The key... is to make electric so costly that no one can afford it. Poverty is the solution.... to every socialist problem.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/09/florida-solar-conservatives_n_6834792.html

http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/2015/03/offshore-wind-using-the-danish-experience-to-draw-comparisons.html

[dave w]

" Wind could supply a third of the country’s power needs by 2050, government says"
I laughed so hard, I had to don a fresh Depends!

[dhouston]

" Wind could supply a third of the country’s power needs by 2050, government says"
I laughed so hard, I had to don a fresh Depends!

Maybe you should read these articles to understand that, despite the increased supplies and falling prices of US oil and gas (from fracking), wind and solar have been the fastest growing sectors of the electric power generation industry...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/09/heres-how-much-faster-wind-and-solar-are-growing-than-fossil-fuels/
http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data

If you prefer to get your data from non-governmental sources...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/02/04/report-wind-and-solar-energy-have-tripled-since-2008/?source=socnet_tw_CC_20150205_bo_wind-and-solar_energy_3&utm_content=20150205_bo_wind-and-solar_energy_3&utm_medium=socnet&awesm=ofa.bo_e2eV&utm_source=tw&utm_campaign=socnet_tw_CC_20150205_bo_wind-and-solar_energy_3

And it's being driven by companies like...

Data from SEIA's annual Solar Means Business report show that major U.S. corporations, including Walmart, IKEA and Macy's, are going solar at an incredible rate. The top 25 corporate solar users in America have installed more than 569 MW of capacity at 1,100 different facilities across the country as of August 2014.

And wind would probably be growing even faster if there were transmission lines from areas with high winds to areas of high demand for electric power.

[dave w]

Don't care Dave, "the gubment sez" has zip credibility with me.

Wind and solar power will have continued growth as long as the tax money and laws props it up.

Besides, how many wind farms or solar frams have been feathered (pun intended) by PETA? Pretty fragile technology .

[dhouston]

Don't care Dave, "the gubment sez" has zip credibility with me.

Then I should have been more explicit. Sevaral of the links I cited as well as other links within the articles themselves point to stories and reports from non-governmental sources which mostly say the same things.