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Politics : Politics of Energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Brumar89 who wrote (8304)	5/18/2009 9:01:24 AM
From: RetiredNow	Respond to of 86356

Sure the technology isn't new, but the investment in that industry has been anemic compared to investments in fossil fuel energy sources. Now Obama is reversing that and making sure that if there are any energy subsidies, then the lion's share will go to renewables. That's a smart bet for the future. As far as your other point, I think utility grade solar power will reach grid parity long before consumer solar power becomes widely affordable. The reason is the installation cost which is typically 2/3 of the cost consumers have to pay to get power from solar on their house. Even with Obama's new solar incentives, my break-even date has only come down from 17 years to 12 years. Still not enough to make me want to install, since I won't be in this house that long. I think if they get the total installed cost down to what it would take to recoup in 5 years or less, then they will get widespread acceptance. Anyway, in the short term, it's the utilities installing solar power farms that will make the biggest difference.