Something doesn’t add up. And I’m not afraid to say it.
My neighbor’s solar panel situation has been bothering me for weeks now. Let me be clear about something right off the bat: I’ve got nothing against my neighbor Doug. He’s a decent enough guy. Waves when he mows the lawn. Brought over a casserole when my ex-wife moved out. We’re not best friends, but we’re neighborly.
However, last month Doug got solar panels installed on his roof. And ever since then, I’ve had questions.
Not accusations. Questions. There’s a difference, and it’s a difference the mainstream media doesn’t seem to understand anymore.
Doug’s Solar Panels Timeline Doesn’t Make Sense
Here’s what I know: Doug works at the insurance company downtown. Regular job. Regular salary. His wife teaches third grade. They’ve got two kids, a minivan, and a golden retriever named Biscuit. Normal family.
So where’d the money for solar panels come from?
I looked it up. Those things cost anywhere from fifteen to thirty thousand dollars. Doug drives a 2019 Camry. Meanwhile, his wife’s car is older than that. They’re not rolling in cash—or at least, they didn’t used to be.
My brother-in-law Kenny says there are tax credits and financing options. Sure, Kenny. That’s what they want you to think. But since when does the government just hand out money to regular people? They don’t. Not unless there’s something in it for them.
Follow The Energy From Those Solar Panels
Now, I’m not a scientist. Never claimed to be. But I know how to think, which is more than I can say for most people with degrees these days.
Solar panels collect energy from the sun. That energy goes into Doug’s house. Fine. But here’s what nobody’s talking about: where does the extra energy go?
Doug told me—and I quote—that he “sells it back to the grid.” Think about that for a second. Doug is now an energy producer. My neighbor, the insurance adjuster, is in the energy business. And nobody thinks that’s strange?
Who’s buying this energy? The power company? The government? Someone else? Doug couldn’t give me a straight answer. Just smiled and said “it’s all automatic.”
Automatic. Right. Nothing suspicious about that.
What I’ve Noticed About Doug’s Solar Panels Since Then
Since Doug got those panels, I’ve been paying attention. That’s all. Just paying attention. And here’s what I’ve observed:
The van from the solar company came back twice after the initial installation. What were they doing? “Adjustments,” Doug said. Two separate visits for adjustments? On brand new equipment?
Additionally, Doug’s wifi network name changed. It used to be “TheJohnsonFamily.” Now it’s a random string of letters and numbers. When I asked him about it, he said the solar monitoring system required it. Required it. His solar panels are connected to his wifi. His wifi is connected to the internet. The internet is connected to everything.
Furthermore, there’s been a lot more bird activity on his roof. Probably nothing. But I’m noting it anyway. (Speaking of noticing things others miss, my colleague Ashleigh recently wrote about how her grocery store layout changed overnight—another case of something fishy going on right under our noses.)
I’m Just Asking Questions About My Neighbor’s Solar Panels
Look, maybe Doug genuinely wanted to save money on electricity. Maybe he cares about the environment or whatever. That’s his right as an American.
But maybe—and I’m just asking—maybe something else is going on. Maybe those neighbor solar panels are doing more than collecting sunlight. Maybe Doug doesn’t even know the full story about what’s on his roof.
My ex-wife says I’m being paranoid. She said the same thing when I told her something felt off about her yoga instructor, and look how that turned out.
The point is, regular folks like me aren’t supposed to ask these questions. We’re supposed to see solar panels and think “oh, how green and responsible.” We’re supposed to trust the experts and the tax credits and the automatic systems.
Well, I don’t. And until someone gives me real answers, I’ll be right here in my living room, keeping an eye on Doug’s roof and wondering what exactly the sun is telling those panels.
That’s not paranoia. That’s common sense. And if more people had it, this country would be in a lot better shape.
About the Author
