Why would you get solar in Iowa when the sun is nowhere close to California sun?
Let's say China is making the solar panels, a few of their major producers probably make them near Shanghai, their grid gets their power in the typical coal 2/3 + hydro of 1/5. As I said previously they try their best to avoid importing gas and oil. (according to wikipedia).
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So if you believe in National Renewable Energy Lab, the ROI energy time is 4 years, not lifetime, not 20 years. I would imagine even with fudge factor it would probably be 8 years instead of 20, so it would be a long term benefit to have some solar to cover AC need.