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I agree with some of what Yap is saying. Decentralization is a good thing. That's what's great about solar panels. However, mandating a local storage station? I don't know about that. Our battery technology isn't that great and those things aren't exactly environmentally friendly. I'd need to be convinced on that matter. I would have little problem with a solar panel mandate, if it was done correctly. Though, some areas of the country are going to get better returns than others. Obviously, Florida would benefit more than Washington.
I agree with some of what Yap is saying. Decentralization is a good thing. That's what's great about solar panels. However, mandating a local storage station? I don't know about that. Our battery technology isn't that great and those things aren't exactly environmentally friendly. I'd need to be convinced on that matter. I would have little problem with a solar panel mandate, if it was done correctly. Though, some areas of the country are going to get better returns than others. Obviously, Florida would benefit more than Washington.
I think we have better "battery technology" than we're willing to let on.
If we can get these people out of office that are stifling the growth of battery technology, we can move ahead.
For crying out loud, HP just came out with a laptop that has a 14 hour battery life. Why a computer company can do this, and a govt think tank can't, I'll never know.
...and yes, we would need a large grid, which we already have setup anyway.
...and it doesn't have to be a complete replacement. We can STILL implement this WITHOUT battery technology, and cut our generation costs exponentially, along with the pollution that comes with it. We have HOW MANY hours of sunlight from NY to LA? A national grid would cut our nuclear dependency almost completely out. The answer is not more reactors, the answer is different technology. I say "different", because we already have what it takes to accomplish this.
One that hasn't really been tested yet, but would certainly solve the problem.
I think the government should mandate that ALL roofing products must be capable of harnessing solar energy. This is not new technology. I've had a calculator that could do it for over 20 years.
If everyone in the country had a roof made of solar panels, coupled with a local "storage station" that would allow us to feed energy back to the grid during the day, I see no reason why we would need anything else.
Why this idea has no legs I'll never know. It's probably the most logical solution. All we're doing is replacing material that already needs to be there. We're not adding anything. No nuclear reactors, no turbines in a cornfield, and no big ugly panels bolted to the roof.
~T
Well for one , MANDATING a solar roof, that has an astronmical expense vs a typical three tab comp roof, in a state such as washington where you might get on average a couple of months of actual production from it is insane!
Decentralization, as much as I'd like to see it, is unlikely because it removes power from the corporations. We all know Ameren/UE would fight anything like this. So would every other energy company, unfortunately.
Well for one , MANDATING a solar roof, that has an astronmical expense vs a typical three tab comp roof, in a state such as washington where you might get on average a couple of months of actual production from it is insane!
I agree that any mandate, right now, would be insane. Tax incentives are good, though. I'm hoping nanosolar lives up to it's expectations.
Well for one , MANDATING a solar roof, that has an astronmical expense vs a typical three tab comp roof, in a state such as washington where you might get on average a couple of months of actual production from it is insane!
Supply and demand Silas
Solar equipment is so expensive because it's so obscure.
Notice how you can get a solar powered calculator for a $1 in some discount stores? Those tiny panels are mass produced, so they cost nothing.
MANDATING, that starting in say 2012, all, or a large percentage of a company's roofing products must be solar capable is the only way to drive the cost down.
That's another huge problem. Everybody talks about doing something, but nobody wants to execute. It would seem the nation would rather sit back and wait for someone else to solve the problem.
Sorry guys, a govt mandate is the only thing that will bring everyone on board.
Decentralization, as much as I'd like to see it, is unlikely because it removes power from the corporations. We all know Ameren/UE would fight anything like this. So would every other energy company, unfortunately.
...and that's what I was saying about the "powers that be". Aside from their financial influence over DC, they've also brainwashed a large section of the population into believing solar is not a viable solution.
I agree that any mandate, right now, would be insane. Tax incentives are good, though. I'm hoping nanosolar lives up to it's expectations.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technol...cbccdrcrd.html The fact is that nuclear is the very best alternative, really the only viable alternative (now)for generating electricity. As far as fuel for cars, contrary to all the hype there is no real viable alternative to good old oil! You could plant the whole state of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, in corn and not even come close to making a dent in the demand, not to mention the price and the effects it would have on every other corn based product that people all over the world rely on.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technol...cbccdrcrd.html The fact is that nuclear is the very best alternative, really the only viable alternative (now)for generating electricity. As far as fuel for cars, contrary to all the hype there is no real viable alternative to good old oil! You could plant the whole state of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, in corn and not even come close to making a dent in the demand, not to mention the price and the effects it would have on every other corn based product that people all over the world rely on.
Do you realize how little it takes to bring a home "off the grid"?
Solar energy is a viable solution, and it's a CLEAN solution. Nuclear, has to be the worst possible alternative. ANYTHING that generates waste is a bad alternative. Think long term, beyond your lifetime.
The problem is, it's not going anywhere, for the reasons I mentioned in the other post. Financial influence, and brainwashing.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technol...cbccdrcrd.html The fact is that nuclear is the very best alternative, really the only viable alternative (now)for generating electricity. As far as fuel for cars, contrary to all the hype there is no real viable alternative to good old oil! You could plant the whole state of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, in corn and not even come close to making a dent in the demand, not to mention the price and the effects it would have on every other corn based product that people all over the world rely on.
Do you mean ethanol, or bio-diesel?
I'm getting heavily into the latter. I think the political situation in the Middle East is so unstable that it's gonna explode sooner or later, and the price of oil will double. With that nice, sweet, low sulfur Murburak (sp?) crude gone, people are going to get desperate in a hurry.
Photo voltaic cells...they can help. But the third leg of the solution? Nukes, no question in my mind.
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