Posted on 02/21/2010 8:57:43 PM PST by Lorianne
Congressional lawmakers earlier this month introduced legislation designed to get photovoltaic solar panels installed on 10 million rooftops across the United States over the next 10 years. The bill, offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), also would increase the capacity of solar hot water by an estimated 10 million gallons over the same period.
The 10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water bill would provide rebates to various property owners to install photovoltaic (PV) and solar hot water heating systems. The maximum rebate for PV systems would begin at $1.75 per watt and decline to $0.50 per watt in 2018. The maximum solar thermal rebate would total $1 per watt.
Eligible recipients include homeowners, businesses, nonprofit entities, and state and local governments. The properties on which the solar systems would be installed would have to be located within the U.S. and meet energy-efficiency criteria designated by the U.S. Department of Energy. Solar systems could not exceed two megawatts. The total rebate could not surpass 50 percent of the net installed system cost after factoring in other rebates, tax credits, and incentives.
These proposed rebates are designed help overcome initial cost barriers that have slowed widespread solar adoption despite 92 percent of the American public agreeing that it is important for the nation to develop and use solar energy.
"Passing this bill would create the world's largest market for solar energy here in the U.S. and bring with it tens of thousands of manufacturing and installation jobs in all 50 states," Solar Energy Industries Association President Rhone Resch said. "The solar industry is ready now to step up to meet the challenge that Sen. Sanders and Rep. Cohen have laid out for our country."
Ping.
That is not a terrible idea, but involving .Gov and Mandates in doing so is a recipe for fraud, waste, and abuse.
Having a Solar powered home is cool, being forced to have one is not.
More government waste
We should call this “Spanish Fly”. If the govt gives you money to do it..and the govt requires you to do it..it still doesn’t make in economical. If the market doesn’t make it happen..then we are wasting our tax money and money doing it and it will only wreck our economy.
Hot water falling off your roof.
Not exactly a ping.
gov’t subsidy for something that makes no economic sense paid for by the US taxpayer
Most subdivisions in this country have “architectural guidelines” that prohibit such.....
You are misinformed. PV is a highly inefficient way to generate electricity. PV provides no baseload power. After spending incredible sums on PV systems, we will still need more baseload power. Solar thermal systems address a non existent problem. NG provides heat to many homes. NG is in plentiful supply so the solar thermal investment is wasted.
PV solar in most locations receives large subsidies from utilities. The legislature has forced utilities to provide large rebates driving up the cost of electricity. We have a perverse situation in which relatively wealthy individuals have their electricity rates subsidized at the expense of the average rate payer.
“Lawmakers Want”
I’m certain that they have no idea what it is to “want”
Don't worry. the gov't is going to have other taxpayers make up the difference for you
They should fund more research to try to get the efficiency up and the cost per cell down, before they try to create demand.
10 million rooftop systems only = 10 million gallons. Sounds like government planning to me. ;-)
Not neccessarily, for example early Cellphones and personal Computers were not cost efficient, yet their purchase did spawn a market during the days of the 4k PC and the 1k cellphone.
If there is one weakness in market based solutions it is that they are not predictive, they do not forsee a market, they only gnaw on the bones of existing markets, eventually Pioneers and followers create new products and consumers that create much broader markets.
Otherwise we would still be using the horse and buggy and paying less for Oats.
“The maximum rebate for PV systems would begin at $1.75 per watt...”
PAID FOR WITH OUR MONEY.
HANDS OFF OUR MONEY, YOU SOCIALIST CR*PWEASELS.
“Passing this bill would create the world’s largest market for solar energy here in the U.S. and bring with it tens of thousands of manufacturing and installation jobs in all 50 states
CORRECTION ...
“Passing this bill would create the world’s largest market for solar energy here in the U.S. and bring with it tens of thousands of manufacturing and installation jobs IN CHINA ... subsidizing China’s production with our money.”
What they want, they often not get........
Politicians need to get the frak out of lives and get down to business economically fixing this damn country...the same country these politicians have fraked up in the first place! =.=
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.