no extension for solar energy tax credits (Hutchins, West: sales, leasing)

[loves2read]

the Republicans have shown once again that they are not worried about anything beyond Big Oil--must as oil/gas drilling has been good for Texas
it is not just a smart way to bet on energy demands and more economical--long term energy systems...
but they voted to block the bill to extend tax credits for renewable energy--solar/wind--so the big wind farms and the solar farms and the companies that have been bulding components for those industries are going to have a more diffucult time getting funding if there is no tax credit for that investment...
Green Wombat - FORTUNE Magazine Eighth time’s not a charm: Senate fails again to extend key renewable energy tax credit « (http://greenwombat.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/07/30/eighth-times-not-a-charm-senate-fails-again-to-extend-key-renewable-energy-tax-credit/ - broken link)

companies that provide the wind turbines for wind farms and the solar film plants were hiring US workers at good salaries--now they will likely make those products in countries closer to where their sales will be--good bye jobs that could have helped states like CA shore up a slowing economy
those people buying and leasing land in west TX and Nevada and Utah for solar and wind farms might not be able to close those deals now...

when your electric bill has gone even higher this next month--NEITHER OBAMA NOR MCCAIN WERE THERE TO VOTE--say a thank you to your two TX senators and remember that when Hutchinson runs for govenor--would she be more pro- renewable energy then?
only if she got some big contribution for her campaign...

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by loves2read

the Republicans have shown once again that they are not worried about anything beyond Big Oil--must as oil/gas drilling has been good for Texas

Although this thread maybe more appropriate in the political area, I have to say I haven't seen any interest in either the Republicans or the Democrats for the past thirty years in resolving a growing energy problem. They would rather fiddle while Rome burns.

[texdav]

I really have my doubt that either party is worried enough about energy or has shown any common sense i teh past. Loking at our having stopped rilling and nuclear in the past makes the present situation much worse.Mean time ;country like frane and other are getting the majpority of their elctricity from nuclear. They are too worried about what is good for their specail interest groups like farmers and the methnol industry.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Politicians are funny animals. They're moved to act only by the winds of polling data but drawn to power like a moth to a bug zapper.

However on the other hand, Americans are like ten church members on a pew. No two agree on an energy policy and the other eight don't care about one until it cost $80.00 to fill their gas tank. Sometimes we get the government we deserve.

[austinnetx]

Why should Solar energy not have to compete fairly with all the other energy sources? This loophole seems like a waste of money and resources to me.

As for wind, the big problem is getting the electricity from West Texas to the I-35 corridor. They just approved a 4.9 billion dollar transmission grid paid for by the users of the Wind power. This pretty much opens up most of West Texas to produce power.

By 2010, West Texas will have more wind power than ANY other nation in the world.

As for politics, the GOP in concert with a some Dems has an omnibus energy bill on the docket that opens up ALL forms of power - nukes, solar, wind, and DRILLING for OIL - but Pelosi wont let it come to the floor where there are enough votes to pass the bill with a 50+ margin.

[John Shaft]

If solar energy is to be a/the viable solution to our power needs, it must stand on its own and not be propped up with rebates/credits/red tape. Here in the USA, we prop way too many untenable things up (the housing bubble and lending market, airlines) and then pay the price later on.

[HappyTexan]

Right now solar is pretty expensive and TXU doesn't do net-metering.
Rebates would help promote it to a wider audience by bringing down the price.
And if the utilities would embrace net-metering then the average Joe would have even more incentive to spend $$$ on solar.