follow this link to Scientific American to learn how we can achieve a nearly 100% solar electric grid by 2100 and 65% by 2050
This plan calls for public spending which is less money than we are already giving to oil companies in tax credits and subsidies.
That point alone ought to be enough to convince anyone. Exxon just reported $40 billon profits for 2007. Do you think they need tax payer subsidies? The money would be much better spent promoting types of energy that have a future.
from the website of Ausra a company that makes solar power plants.
%26quot;Solar thermal power plants such as Ausra%26#039;s generate electricity by driving steam turbines with sunshine. Ausra%26#039;s solar concentrators boil water with focused sunlight, and produce electricity at prices directly competitive with gas- and coal-fired electric power.%26quot;
%26quot;Solar is one the most land-efficient sources of clean power we have, using a fraction of the area needed by hydro or wind projects of comparable output. All of America%26#039;s needs for electric power – the entire US grid, night and day – can be generated with Ausra%26#039;s current technology using a square parcel of land 92 miles on a side. For comparison, this is less than 1% of America%26#039;s deserts, less land than currently in use in the U.S. for coal mines%26quot;
There are about 7 other companies in U.S. doing same thing as Ausra. Some others are using concentrating photovoltaics with similar results
Using these solar plants 1% of the Sahara would power the whole world. Less than 3% of Morrocco could power all of Europe.
Wind energy is very cheap
Solar panels are getting more and more efficient and are being produced cheaper. They will be competitively priced with fossil fuels in just a few years.
There are ways around the high upfront cost of installing solar panels on roofs etc.
For example: The city of Berkely, CA just passed a bill that OKs public funding for any homeowner who wants to install solar panels. Berkeley will sell bonds to finance it. Homeowners will pay off the cost each year when they pay property taxes. If they sell the house before it%26#039;s paid off, next owner takes over payments. Why couldn%26#039;t we do this all over the country?
Similar financing schemes are being used by big businesses. Stock brokerages and other finance companies are paying the upfront cost and selling the power to the end user.
These are win win scenarios.
What does oil really cost? add all these costs to the price of a barrel of oil.
maybe 2 $trillion dollars spent in Iraq. 4000 dead U.S. soldiers, maybe 200,000 dead Iraqis, continued wars in the mideast. Pollution that is poisoning us and our environment at huge cost, including health care. Loss of America%26#039;s prestige in the world as a result of unilaterally invading Iraq, based on cowboy diplomacy. dependence on foreign oil.
Fuel cells that use the same natural gas as gas fired power plants are commercially available right now. They generate power cheaper and cleaner and even give off heat that can be captured to make more electricity. They can also use the methane produced by agricultural waste, water treatment plants and landfills. - Thus getting rid of a greenhouse gas, methane, and making electricity at the same time.
Solar water heating and solar passive homes and businesses would greatly reduce energy consumption. And they are low tech.