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Non-Tech : Alternative energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric who wrote (9267)	11/4/2010 1:44:19 PM
From: Doren	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16955

I think it doesn't really matter what the voters think. My confusion about the desert solar plant locations has led me to believe that: The Obama administration cannot increase the debt with out political controversy. So it cannot subsidize Alt Energy directly with cash without huge controversy and laborious politicking inside congress. However the US government is sitting on zillions of acres of land. The land is worth a lot of money, but when you lease it to solar or wind companies at a fraction of it's real value - you are essentially giving away money to solar and utility companies. This money doesn't show up on the books as losses... the US government still owns the land. It actually shows up as slight gains from the leases. The leases make it look like they are financially tight. So the administration has correctly deduced that massive land subsidies to solar and wind corporations and utilities cost them nothing politically and are a huge spur to the economy. The economies in the desert areas of the southwest are suffering badly, both because of the mortgage crisis, and the high costs of commuting. Entire subdivisions on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles metropolitan area were being abandoned by underwater buyers. Home prices have sagged quite a bit more in those areas. Gangs are/were moving into and squatting in nearly new abandoned homes in subdivisions. Crime was up in those neighborhoods. Same with outlying areas of south eastern San Francisco metropolitan area which spilled into California's central valley (technically a desert) west of Stockton. Spec subdivisions out there are dying. I'm assuming this is probably true for Pheonix and other cities in or near desert areas. It's just a no brainer for the Obama Admin to stimulate the economy, giving away leases: 1) energy reduces balance of trade for imported energy 2) creates jobs 3) helps with the mortgage crises It's absolutely FREE, deficit wise and politically. These subsidies are not going away and will probably accelerate. IMHO the Obama admin is going to push to give away as much of the non-essential desert areas as they can. They have to be wary of awakening environmental anger among those who are unaware of the administrations plans. I'm also assuming they are probably surveying other areas looking for other leases to give away, wind, geothermal.