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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (6786)	2/27/2001 4:17:34 PM
From: cosmicforce	Respond to of 82486

How certain are you of the 10% effciancy for large scale use? How much do these cells cost per sq meter? Very certain. These are amorphous silicon. The scalability is very good, but it requires infrastructure to build it. Had we given the solar the kind of subsidies that Standard Oil got in the 20's and 30's, in 15 years we could have a viable alternative. I'd recommend a tax-free earning period for the producers and some sort of tax-credit for the consumers. There are a variety of designs and I wouldn't rule out methane and hydrogen production from large scale algal ponds in the desert. The bottom of dry lake beds could be used with very low environmental impact. There are areas that would be net solar producers. The main problem is the large start-up capital, but that doesn't include the future cost of petroleum and natural gas where most of our power is produced.

To: TimF who wrote (6786)	2/27/2001 4:55:56 PM
From: Gordon A. Langston	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

The Sacramento (California) Municipal Utility District's PV Pioneer program (PV refers to photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity) provides 2,000-watt rooftop solar energy systems to customers at discount rates ($4,740 vs. $10,140 full price). Excess electricity generated by the rooftop systems is returned to the main power grid, and homeowners receive credit. Rooftop systems supply about half an average home's power needs. I don't think anything other than market forces and economies will really move this issue. Artificial markets will possibly delay it. I think I saw an estimate of 100 sq. mi of Nevada desert as filling the U.S. needs.