[jasonlingx]

In this case it's taxpayers subsidising high end roofing for nice houses owned by well off people.

[gefh]

In the short term, yes. In the longer term, they're subsidising kick starting a market that can only come down in price once the volume increases.

Some good ideas need a bump through the 'chicken and egg' stage.

[forgetsusername]

Spot on. I'm all for subsidizing industries to incentivize the behaviour we want, but I'm not sure the people who can afford these homes, or $100,000 cars, need it.

[DiThi]

They may not need it, but it is worth for the rest of us. Technology becomes much cheaper when it becomes commonplace. If we all pay a bit of that 30% subsidy to rich people, what's the matter? That will allow us to eventually buy it with more than 30% reduction of price without subsidies.