I think that's the overall problem. Asking individuals to put in infrastructure that isn't cost efficient doesn't address a large scale problem. Where I'm at right now the existing utility company is doing an excellent job of investing in solar and wind arrays throughout the counties it serves.
The choice for the individual should be the investment in utilities doing the right thing and applying market pressures. I'm fond of the idea of cooperative efforts on a small scale with direct participation but the most effective methods are forcing existing utilities to sell clean energy. Those actions would likely go much further than install solar panels or the like.
In my head, small scale co-op energy production is more of a carrot and stick approach to getting people involved in clean technologies. If they can see the benefit in their wallet all of sudden their political/social bent disappears.
It'll be the next generations that develop large scale innovations. We just have to keep the ball rolling for their sakes.