No conflict of interest, I imagine... /s<p>I have no idea whether 9GW of gas plants for peaking power is too much or too little, but in Italy the proverb says that asking the restaurant owner "how's your house wine?" is pointless.
I priced out the cost of a solar roof and battery system recently after some long blackouts. The 30 year payback was something like -$3000. Total cost was half as much as my house and the system wouldn't have kept power on anyways for the 4+ days I was out of power. Meanwhile I can buy a natural gas or diesel backup generator for under $5000.<p>I REALLY want solar and battery to work for me because I love the technology. But the math never comes out right. Grid power is just too cheap where I live. Even the wind only options.