Will the investment have a real return?

One could "crunch" numbers in order to come up with a few fixed sums that may or may not justify spending a small fortune on renewable energies, but in the end one just has a singular choice that amounts to taking a "leap of faith."

I have often heard it said or have seen it written that the cost of a renewable energies system to supplant conventional electric utilities cost the same as a life time of electric bills, if certain large electric loads, such as, but not limited to, cooking are changed over to liquid Propane or Natural gas.

Reducing the overall electric load is the first and formost consideration. This is where the strength of your faith may get its biggest test. Think of faith as a verb instead of a noun. An action instead of a thing.
 Mankind not only just lived, on this Earth for thousands of years, without the electricity we know today, but flourished. Now what does mankind have?
The automobile and electricity came into the scene at about the same time that global human population began its explosion. And of course the pollution that would ultimately result from all of it. Pity about Earth.

Lets do a little math for the fun of it. $0.23 per kWh huh? Your probably already somewhat conservative with your electricity so I am going to guess that you use 1000 kwh's a month. That would be $230.00 a month. $2760.00 a year and for, I don't know, 45 years? That would be $124,200.00. that is a nice little stack a jack! Of course your "mileage may vary."
The point is you may have to reduce that 1000 kWh's by at least half first. Then consider making your own power. I cant really say for sure because I do not know your situation entirely. Its still going to take a leap of faith by you.

Buyer beware Renewable energies is a sellers market. You will be paying top dollar for your kWh's anyway. A lot depends on how long you live on this Earth.

I agree with the others.  Installing at least a small system will give you a feeling of freedom from the electric grid with its high costs.  My modest off-grid system meets only about 10% of my electricity needs, but it has served me well during power outages.  I've also learned a lot about conservation, and with everything I've done, I've cut my electric usage in half over the past two years.