I think solar is becoming popular because it is so much cheaper where it works.

One point of disagreement is that you are saying "you need more energy in the winter". Right now, for example, tomato paste is made in a facility that runs year round. The main cost in converting tomatoes into tomato paste is in the thermal cost of energy. Having abundant cheap energy at one time of year will shift the way such industrial processes work so that we use more energy when supply is the highest rather than using the most energy when demand is the highest.