{"id":428441,"date":"2026-02-27T16:34:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T15:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=428441"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:34:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T15:34:58","slug":"rooftop-solar-fraud-the-damage-continues-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=428441","title":{"rendered":"Rooftop Solar Fraud: The Damage Continues (Part I)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From The Master Resource<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Robert Bradley Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201c[Radiant Solar] was able to [rip off homeowners] in part because home solar energy systems are complicated, expensive things \u2014 they often cost around $50,000 \u2014 typically involving layers of financing and tax incentives that leave many consumers confused.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The rooftop solar industry might be in freefall and on the way out, but the damage of bad performance and long-term contracts endures. The New York Times<\/em> article, \u201cNew York Sues Solar Panel Firm, Saying It Bilked Hundreds of Customers<\/a>\u201d (January 29, 2026), explains how the city\u2019s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is seeking almost $20 million in restitution and penalties from \u2018home improvement contractor\u2019 Radiant Solar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all, \u201c300 victims of the same company, Radiant Solar, which left a trail of damaged homes, large debts and broken promises across the city,\u201d the article reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

It was able to do so in part because home solar energy systems are complicated, expensive things \u2014 they often cost around $50,000 \u2014 typically involving layers of financing and tax incentives that leave many consumers confused. The city says that in addition to ripping off homeowners, Radiant undermined the efforts of the city and state governments to shift to cleaner energy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

CEO William James Bushell joins Sunnova\u2019s John Berger and others in the business Hall of Shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

According to the lawsuit, filed with the city\u2019s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Radiant\u2019s solar panel systems often failed to deliver the energy savings it had advertised and sometimes did not work at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company padded loans with hefty and undisclosed kickbacks to lenders, failed to see projects through to approval by the city and did not file paperwork for customers to receive tax credits, the suit says. It also ran a bogus sweepstakes for a new Tesla, according to the suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radiant repeatedly signed people up for loans without their consent, the city claims, saddling them with monthly payments of hundreds of dollars for years. \u201cA more blatant form of deception is hard to imagine,\u201d the lawsuit says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A Wide Problem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The subsidy-infested rooftop solar industry is all about making a highly uneconomic enterprise economic through complicated long-term leasing contracts. Numerous leading rooftop solar firms are bankrupt. Part II tomorrow will update the mess created by the demise of Sunnova, the largest company in this solar space. Part III on Friday will share a social media exchange with a rooftop solar apologist, where the weakest argument is mistakenly made rather than remaining silent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201c[Radiant Solar] was able to [rip off homeowners] in part because home solar energy systems are complicated, expensive things \u2014 they often cost around $50,000 \u2014 typically involving layers of financing and tax incentives that leave many consumers confused.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":428446,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691841659,691841658,691838934,691818867,691841657,691836664],"class_list":["post-428441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bankrupt","tag-ceo-william-james-bushell","tag-cleaner-energy","tag-new-york","tag-radiant-solar","tag-rooftop-solar-industry","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0-Rooftop-Solar-burning.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1Nsl","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":428686,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=428686","url_meta":{"origin":428441,"position":0},"title":"Sunnova\u2019s Continuing Mess: Buyer Beware (Part II)","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/28\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe Sunnova case has become a cautionary tale in the solar industry, underscoring the importance of keeping all documentation \u2026 researching a company\u2019s financial health before signing contracts. understanding all terms, especially service and maintenance obligations \u2026 avoiding tying financing solely to the installer.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In \"DOE\u2019s guarantees\"","block_context":{"text":"DOE\u2019s guarantees","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=does-guarantees"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQOQS4k6iSmIniS3lLt-mkvHCuLSVvM3t02Ei_btpV1i-gr7NUNDiv9ZwqMiRXQIUzX1JSSZDSxeujDSUBCVDgo9D0GdoYr8ob-S5GeAi-I93s0Uy_ktaFPC3YJQqyAgeI8kleOfF9Hmb7ufGU34S01qXqCTpA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQOQS4k6iSmIniS3lLt-mkvHCuLSVvM3t02Ei_btpV1i-gr7NUNDiv9ZwqMiRXQIUzX1JSSZDSxeujDSUBCVDgo9D0GdoYr8ob-S5GeAi-I93s0Uy_ktaFPC3YJQqyAgeI8kleOfF9Hmb7ufGU34S01qXqCTpA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQOQS4k6iSmIniS3lLt-mkvHCuLSVvM3t02Ei_btpV1i-gr7NUNDiv9ZwqMiRXQIUzX1JSSZDSxeujDSUBCVDgo9D0GdoYr8ob-S5GeAi-I93s0Uy_ktaFPC3YJQqyAgeI8kleOfF9Hmb7ufGU34S01qXqCTpA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQOQS4k6iSmIniS3lLt-mkvHCuLSVvM3t02Ei_btpV1i-gr7NUNDiv9ZwqMiRXQIUzX1JSSZDSxeujDSUBCVDgo9D0GdoYr8ob-S5GeAi-I93s0Uy_ktaFPC3YJQqyAgeI8kleOfF9Hmb7ufGU34S01qXqCTpA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQOQS4k6iSmIniS3lLt-mkvHCuLSVvM3t02Ei_btpV1i-gr7NUNDiv9ZwqMiRXQIUzX1JSSZDSxeujDSUBCVDgo9D0GdoYr8ob-S5GeAi-I93s0Uy_ktaFPC3YJQqyAgeI8kleOfF9Hmb7ufGU34S01qXqCTpA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":291254,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=291254","url_meta":{"origin":428441,"position":1},"title":"The California Sun is Setting on Exorbitant Rooftop Solar Subsidies","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/14\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"California\u2019s journey with solar net energy metering (NEM) is a case study in the complexities of energy policy. 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Essay by Eric Worrall Consumer uptake of voluntary \u201cDemand Response\u201d is insufficient to stabilise the grid. Australia has more rooftop solar than coal power. What\u2019s going wrong? Ben Potter\u00a0Senior writerOct 2, 2023 \u2013 8.04pm Energy regulators and retailers are failing to manage the explosion of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"AFR\"","block_context":{"text":"AFR","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=afr"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sz37aBl9XhTp2NVq7HCVgfxmJQl.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sz37aBl9XhTp2NVq7HCVgfxmJQl.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sz37aBl9XhTp2NVq7HCVgfxmJQl.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sz37aBl9XhTp2NVq7HCVgfxmJQl.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sz37aBl9XhTp2NVq7HCVgfxmJQl.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":409246,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=409246","url_meta":{"origin":428441,"position":3},"title":"Australia\u2019s Energy Transition & De-industrialisation","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/20\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This article has a close look at the progress of Australia\u2019s electrical grid transition to weather dependent generating sources.\u00a0 The analysis mostly focuses on South Australia and its leading role in this transition.\u00a0 Rooftop solar has lagged grid scale wind in the transition but rooftops are rapidly gaining market share\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Australia\"","block_context":{"text":"Australia","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=australia"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOXT-FnpdnYPYGS9IO_-4UeHnVbtsg2rdFlE-GVrG25R6ekEFFmQpld8C2YA1aV9X7rSXq6cowAcg4yK7Vvu7Pr8QNdVX6P8T9pKZ5ck-n3my0KT_Cgjw8-mrrPOVSo-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C856&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOXT-FnpdnYPYGS9IO_-4UeHnVbtsg2rdFlE-GVrG25R6ekEFFmQpld8C2YA1aV9X7rSXq6cowAcg4yK7Vvu7Pr8QNdVX6P8T9pKZ5ck-n3my0KT_Cgjw8-mrrPOVSo-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C856&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOXT-FnpdnYPYGS9IO_-4UeHnVbtsg2rdFlE-GVrG25R6ekEFFmQpld8C2YA1aV9X7rSXq6cowAcg4yK7Vvu7Pr8QNdVX6P8T9pKZ5ck-n3my0KT_Cgjw8-mrrPOVSo-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C856&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOXT-FnpdnYPYGS9IO_-4UeHnVbtsg2rdFlE-GVrG25R6ekEFFmQpld8C2YA1aV9X7rSXq6cowAcg4yK7Vvu7Pr8QNdVX6P8T9pKZ5ck-n3my0KT_Cgjw8-mrrPOVSo-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C856&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOXT-FnpdnYPYGS9IO_-4UeHnVbtsg2rdFlE-GVrG25R6ekEFFmQpld8C2YA1aV9X7rSXq6cowAcg4yK7Vvu7Pr8QNdVX6P8T9pKZ5ck-n3my0KT_Cgjw8-mrrPOVSo-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C856&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":245437,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=245437","url_meta":{"origin":428441,"position":4},"title":"Green Energy \u2014 The greatest transfer of wealth to the rich in history","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/25\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"We are in the midst of history\u2019s greatest wealth transfer. Government subsidized support for wind systems, solar arrays, and electric vehicles overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy members of society and rich nations.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-756.png?fit=990%2C660&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-756.png?fit=990%2C660&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-756.png?fit=990%2C660&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-756.png?fit=990%2C660&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":244972,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=244972","url_meta":{"origin":428441,"position":5},"title":"Green Energy: Greatest Wealth Transfer to the Rich in History","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/22\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"We are in the midst of history\u2019s greatest wealth transfer. Government subsidized wind systems, solar arrays, and electric vehicles overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy members of society and rich nations.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-625.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-625.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-625.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-625.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-625.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=428441"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":428448,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428441\/revisions\/428448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/428446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=428441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=428441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=428441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}