"McCoy, who lives in rural southeastern Ohio, boasts that his 8-panel solar array will pay for itself in three years through savings on his electric bill. It also buys him entrance into a unique market, one that is intended to incentivize development of renewable resources in Ohio."
Brian McCoy also has the ability to put a one panel and one micro-inverter addition to his system. He could expand his system one panel and one micro-iverter until he reaches his energy generation goal.

"Detractors note that when regulated utilities like AEP or FirstEnergy are forced to buy a more expensive fuel that cost is passed onto their customers."
Would the MOST vocal "detractors" be AEP and First Energy themselves? If you look at PUC applications over the past several years, you will find some kind of justification for price increases in utility rates. This just means that AEP and First Energy do not have to come up with their own excuses for price increases. They'll just blame it on RECs.

While people argue the efficiency of generating one's own energy for home use by using the sun, Brian McCoy will sit on the sidelines and enjoy his own generation system, probably for life.