Montana's liquor warehouse gets $2.2 million stimulus (contractor, tax, costs)

[Walter Greenspan]

From the list of questionable federal stimulus spending prepared by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla):

Montana's state-run liquor warehouse to receive $2.2 million in stimulus cash to install skylights. The project is part of the $27.7 million Montana has been awarded for energy programs.

[mtboy]

I would believe it with the size of the warehouse. Engineering most likely will need to be done as I am sure some structural components of the building will need to be evaluated + cost of materials + cost of contractor to install= total cost not totally unquestionable. Now the need for it... that would be in question. I guess it will help save energy considering that less electrical lighting will be needed. Still not sold on the cost savings over time. Seems this wouldn't be necessary. Otherwise every building would have skylights in it, and we are not seeing Walmarts, Costco's and other buildings with skylights. However after some research the liquor warehouse/distribution contributes about 100 million to the state each year. The gov wanted approx $25 million in the budget for such renovations however these were cut from the states budget as the belt was tightened. Looks like he got 27 million from the feds. But still not really sold.
Another waste of stimulus money as I see it. Why not build some infastructure or make improvements at least?

[jeninmt]

I thought alcohol was best kept OUT of sunlight.

[rickers]

Originally Posted by jeninmt

I thought alcohol was best kept OUT of sunlight.

The way many folks in Montana drink like there's no tomorrow I doubt that much liquor will get spoiled from the suns radiation at all.
Other than the revenue part of it all I couldn't care less because I quit drinking alcohol all together. It's been almost one month now with no cravings whatsoever ! It's kind of odd seeing that I've drank every day for the last 43 years and expected it to be tough. I'm still waiting for the ball to drop. I don't understand why so many people need to go through programs and all to quit. No cravings whatsoever, I don't even think about beer or tequila at all.

[Reziac]

Skylights have other issues. In areas with snow load, they can become water leakage points during every thaw, as well as being points of heat leakage when it's hot or cold outside.

And you betcha, Walmart and Costco and the like have run the numbers and if skylights saved anything on energy costs, they'd be using 'em. Those companies are all about efficiency, including their infrastructure costs -- and not just in the short term. That buck you save on electricity today can be $10 in repair costs on down the road -- which isn't cost-effective for companies nor a good use of tax dollars. Short-term thinking usually leads to long-term debt.

Actually some of the older Costcos down here in SoCal do have skylights, but the newer ones don't. I presume it's because they got tired of leaking roofs.