So if the Dems are so wise and Green

[StageLeft]

I would be willing to solar power the south part of my home. Not only is it completely free from tree cover but the south part is also the back of the house so it wouldn't negatively impact the front-facing aesthetics of the house.

I wish solar costs would come down, though. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars to panel my house (currently) with enough to cover my electricity needs-and I heat with gas!

Here is a pic:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/to...cle/0,,1205726,00.html

That doesn't look that bad. You can definitely tell it's solar, but I'd certainly live with that.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Why don't they throw 1/10 the effort into subsidizing things like this? as they do their pet health care legislation?
-snip-

To be fair, the federal government (as well as the states) are already putting a lot into subsidizing solar power (among others).

For businesses the feds and states combine to give you a tax credit of 65% of the cost. Then you also get depreciation. (Business systems are what I've been checking into, and you can put a business sytem on your home rooftop - if you need info I can explain.)

In my state (NC) an agency will purchase the carbon offset credits from you (called REC's), they'll currently give a 5 year contract guarnteeing the price of the (annual) credit they'll pay you.

Then we have law that mandates the power company pay us for any excess electricity we generate. They must pay us at a rate higher than we are charged for electricity.

NC also has a program that provides loans for these system at an interest rate of 1% (However I have heard they are hard to get for some reason - I'll be checking that further)

The detailed calcs I've been looking recently from CPA firms indicate about 6 years to pay itself off (some are telling me less but I haven't seen their calcs). That's a pretty d@mn good rate-of-return given these systems last about 30 yrs.

As far as more subsidies for Dow's new product - (1) the new product isn't available yet and (2) for those who are producing it now - if they are selling all they can make no subsidy is frickin necessary. A subsidy would just spur demand of the already limited supply thus driving up prices even higher. I.e., it would be a stupid (financial) circle-jerk.

Fern

 

[IGBT]

liberals want to be judged by their intentions not results. It fulfills their emotional persuit and agenda.

 

[keird]

Originally posted by: IGBT
liberals want to be judged by their intentions not results. It fulfills their emotional persuit and agenda.

I dunno if this actually helps the discussion.

<-Conservative

Edit: I am a conservative. There's no actual forum to the left.

 

[alien42]

Hayabusa Rider, have you heard of the smart grid?

 

[alien42]

for the record...

"Stimulus law provides multiple paths to Smart Grid funding. News sources are reporting that the recently signed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contains $4.5 billion for Smart Grid projects. While that is true, the law also contains other funding provisions that could support smart upgrades to the electrical grid. SSTI Weekly Digest identifies several of these in its current (February 19) issue:

· $16.8 billion to DOE for energy efficiency and renewable energy, including block grants for energy efficiency and conservation, Weatherization Assistance Program, State Energy Program, grants for advanced battery manufacturing, grants for alternative-fueled vehicle pilot programs, transportation electrification, Energy Efficient Appliance rebate and Energy Star programs, and more.

· $3.4 billion to fossil energy projects including Carbon Capture and Energy Efficiency Competitive Grants, Fossil Energy R&D, Clean Coal Power Initiative, and more.

· $1.6 billion to DOE Office of Science.

· $400 million to Advanced Energy Projects Agency ? Energy.

· $10 million to the Western Area Power Administration for upgrading the grid following a review of the effect of transmission issues on renewable energy sources, as well as another $3.25 billion in borrowing authority to both WAPA and the Bonneville Power Administration

· $6.1 billion to the DOE for various environmental cleanup projects, uranium enrichment decontamination and decommissioning, and money for the Office of the Inspector General.

· $300 million to the Department of Defense to assist in developing energy efficiency technology.

· $6 billion to the DOE to cover the cost of guaranteeing loans through the new Innovative Technology Guarantee Program for supporting renewable energy and transmission technologies and to the existing Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program. According to SSTI, DOE anticipates guaranteeing more than $60 billion in loans to renewable energy projects.

In addition, the income tax credit for renewable electricity production will be extended for three years for qualified facilities."

http://www.smartgridnews.com/a...lternative_energy.html

 

[Patranus]

Originally posted by: alchemize
Solar tiles are really the best alternative energy source model I think. Over a 25 year period you could retrofit the south facing roofs of every house in the country, tie them into the grid somehow. Somebody mathematical should calculate the energy that would create...

Um no. Nuclear is clearly the cheapest and most productive form of nuclear power.