Is Elon Musk for real or simply another Enron? While this may mean little to you, the question means the world, and possible survival, to Puerto Rico.
Let’s review:
For over two months I’ve been living in the dark, despite my First World citizenship. Puerto Rico is a first in human history: First World Country blacked out for months with no reliable estimate as to when our grid will be restored.
A First World Country blackout doesn’t merely mean you give up TV. It means your cell towers go dead, your water filtration ends, there is no potable water coming out your spigot, your water pumps go quiet, doctors are forced to use their cell phones to illuminate surgeries, your Internet halts, your small businesses close, your island becomes unemployed, you can’t refrigerate food, on and on. A couple days is inconvenient while going on three months, with no reliable estimate for restoration, is crazy pants. Think about how you, and your entire state, would do without electricity for three months. THINK ABOUT IT!
Elon Musk is the world’s face for solar. His hype, money, lovely blazers, etc. blocks out the sun on anybody else who wants to talk solar and he is simply not in Puerto Rico. Yes, Tesla energized one small hospital but ignored the rest of the 3.5 million souls living in the dark without water, refrigeration, cell service, internet, you name it. And if you wanted to go buy any Tesla product in Puerto Rico you have a better chance of getting a monkey to fly our of your butt. Why? Is Tesla simply a fraud? Is there a reason they are getting sued for non-delivery of their cars? Is their enormously over valued company the next Enron?
If Tesla was for real, Puerto Rico is a fantastic opportunity and yet, all we hear are crickets (coquis). Puerto Rico has one of the world’s sunniest environs on the planet and still no Tesla. I even tried to buy my own system and put a $2,000 deposit down with a local company. After weeks of delay the company now says that they can’t even think of installing a system for months. MONTHS! When I went to the company’s retail location there were dozens of people waiting in line, money in hand, hoping to purchase a system. The company’s top salesperson sputtered “we are selling the systems all day but we don’t have the crews to install them and we don’t have panels or batteries.” The employee then told me that he was about to quit. In short, the Elon Musks of the world have decided not to ship a panel, battery, inverter or employee to the sunniest place in the world which is primed to buy solar and finally show the world that solar is the answer.
If Tesla and Elon Musk were for real they would be delivering massive amounts of products and installers on the Island of Puerto Rico. They could easily charge the residents for installation because we have shown a willingness to pay for electricity. Most households spend upwards of $300-400 per month on electricity. Thus, paying for a solar system would actually save us money. In short order Musk would show the world that yes, you can run a country on solar while taking advantage of the fact we are willing to pay top dollar for his product. Instead, we have little to nothing happening with Elon Musk & Co. Yes, the hospital is important but a drop in the bucket. One project doesn’t make for evidence that you can run a sunny country on solar. We are the perfect solar storm — a First World need for power, ton-o-sun, a willingness to pay top dollar for energy, and a sudden loss of our grid. There is a power vacuum waiting for Musk to fill the void.
Again, either Musk is hot air or solar is far from ready for show time. Given the oddest of secrets surrounding Tesla’s Gigafactory, law suits which are coming fast and furious, and finally the inactivity in Puerto Rico, I’m starting to think Tesla and Musk are Enron-esk.
Elon tell us it ain’t so!