what about Solar in the pickens plan ?
there are millions of roof tops that do nothing all day, connected to the grid .
i think we should use these to produce power as well as wind and gas
anybody have any thoughts on this ?
Why does the plan not have this in it?
i think we should use these to produce power as well as wind and gas
anybody have any thoughts on this ?
Why does the plan not have this in it?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by OffTheGrid on -
Wind, solar, NGV, increased mileage standards, cycling...nothing like $4.00+ gasoline to cause a tipping point. It's all good.
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Permalink Reply by David Archer on -
Between wind and solar, we could be completely energy independent. If we build electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, there would no need for any imports, and there would be significantly less greenhouse gasses. The payback on solar is much faster than it once was when people thought it was too expensive, because it became cheaper, and other energy became more expensive.
I actually have a solar hot water heater and a solar pool heater. Don't have enough room left on the roof for photovoltaics, but my neighbors do.
The southwest can be one of the best sources of solar in the country, and also has significant wind.
Another element I think is essential is ubiquitous broadband internet. If we could have the majority of people working from their homes with sufficient infrastructure, we can eliminate the commute for that majority. We need to have tax incentives for companies that allow their workers to work from their homes.
As far as the look of solar panels, get over it! The question is do we want to fight more wars for oil, or worry about the appearance of solar panels. Most people will not care, or not notice. It can be a badge of honor that you are doing your part to support the troops by eliminating the need to go to war over oil, and doing your part to save the world from global warming.
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Permalink Reply by Theresa on -
Thank you Stanley! I live in Las Vegas and have said the same as you - no shortage of roof tops or sun here! We need to make it more affordable for the average homeowner. A Solar Co , Ausra, just opened a component plant here and I believe they are also planning a generation facility.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Dickason on -
I work in the solar industry and believe there is one fundamental difference between wind and solar (Photovoltaics) to date; who controls the power. Typically a residential or small business installs solar on their property and produces their own power - being in control of their long term costs. In most cases with wind, the utility or a major corporation controls the production and re-sells it to the end customer. Solar is much more viable for small installations where wind appears much more viable for large installations. It is true that wind power is cheaper at the outset, but with a longer expected lifespan I am installing solar systems which produce power at less than 12 cents (per kWh)without any incentive or tax break, 8.4 cents just using depreciation, 4.8 cents using depreciation and the about to expire Investment Tax Credit, and less than 2 cents using RECs and state incentives.
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Permalink Reply by John Ashman on -
Keep in mind that Pickens is HUGELY invested in wind and natural gas. Not in nuclear, not in coal, not in solar, not in algae, not in ethanol. Therefore, wind and natural gas is 'the answer'. Not all that other stuff, I guess.
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Permalink Reply by Rob Ahler on -
Ethanol is economically stupid. The only reason it exists is because a bunch of lobbyists representing another bunch of slick corporate farmers got our politicians to agree to it. We've got to back smarter solutions not what lobbyists want.
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Permalink Reply by SupremeCenterHosting.com on -
John, John, John... which is it you prefer? CO2 coming out of smokes stacks as the coal industry tries to persuade the American people that there IS such a thing as "clean burning coal" while they continue their mountain top mining? Or, how about the "hackers fire drill" that could shut down power to half the county? One thing we Americans have seemed to do is depend on others for our needs.
Regardless of how unattractive solar panels or wind turbines are... unless we choose to do it right, we will always be at the hands of those who control what we need [the auto industry didn't learn anything from the embargo of the 70's and we kept buying their gas guzzling cars].
There are plenty of companies that offer alternatives to fossil fuel dependency. With the tax breaks [both state and federal] many people can afford to curb their dependence on fossil fuels buy using solar panels to completely separate themselves from the grid. You don't need to start out with a total off the grid system either. Start small, use solar water heating systems to reduce consumption.
And for those "Pickens People..." using natural gas to power vehicles is nothing new. I was a senior in high school [1986] when the school district I was in started using natural gas to power ALL their vehicles. There are still better alternatives.
The oil moguls like Pickens made money in oil, we sucked it up that oil... all the while there were always alternatives to oil.... running a car from fryer oil is not something that occurred yesterday... people used it in the 70's but it never caught on.
Wake up people! Stop depending on others to do the right thing. I think we have seen that "they" are incapable of considering what is the right "plan." His commercial says we went from 20% to 70% dependency... all the while he was most likely benefiting from it all. Now he thinks its time to dig ourselves out of the whole we are in? Where as he 30+ years ago???
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Permalink Reply by stanley kul on -
everyone join the sloar power group and let's make a difference
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Permalink Reply by Tom on -
Stanley--
I know.... but there is the solar image on the logo, but I'm disappointed he does not mention the obvious need to develop solar energy in our energy policy.
The great thing about solar is that it takes the energy right off the roof, and transports it into the structure-home, building, etc. Not as much need for infrastructure grid improvement, and Pickens himself says they will need 1.3 trillion to get the wind energy from the wind turbines into the grid. Not saying that wind isn't a solution, but it can't be the ONLY solution.
Kudos for Pickens for even suggesting such a plan. Would that our business and political leaders had such moxie in 1970's when the first warning sign was shot across our bow by OPEC.
Then, we'd be like Brazil, sitting pretty selling oil to the rest of the world, powering our vehicles on our own natural resources.
God send us a leader with balls.
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Permalink Reply by Auntie Tutu on -
There is no solar component becasue Pickens wants a caentralized wind farm system so he can make money of iet. (As noted above, this is the Pickens who funded the eSwiftboat ruse that downed John Kerry in 2004).. Solar AND wind are the solution. Even harnessing WAVE power, but both solar and wind are best used as individual power sourcese instead of losing so much power in the transit of it. Wave power on the other hand can only take place on coasts, and should be done in one place ewith power distribution.If I sound like a I iknow something here, I do. I builit my first solar powered home in 1996 and 1997. It had fulll on water catchment too---with a 10,000 gallon storage tank. I have moved into my 2007 solar home now with even more panels, so I run the refrigerator off ite too. I have on demand propane powered gas water heater---cost effecdtive until solar water heaters get much cheaper. and i run a celel phone and a computer on air card. TOTAL DISCONNECT FROM THE GRID> And anyone with a sunny roof can do some of this.
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Permalink Reply by John Ashman on
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My immediate preference is to get off foreighn oil in EVERY way possible. Once that goal is achieved, we can worry about shifting towards the cleaner, less expensive technologies. Energy independence first, cleanest energy possible second. Nuclear is important. Solar is important. Wind is important. Natural gas is important. Algae is likely the most important of all in the near term. Even coal is important. And electric coal plants can feed algae bioreactors to clean the emissions while creating a huge amount of oil, ethanol and food proteins. Algae can replace all fuel for all diesel trucks, tractors, cars and all aviation fuel in the relatively near term. We just need to build the ponds and bio reactors.
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Permalink Reply by Erik Owens on -
It takes a billionare to open eyes!! Really this whole windpower is a good idea on the surface and how it will expand , one can only tell. Stanley must be on to something and we all must think beyond rooftops alone. We put a man on the moon, then we should be able to be sufficient in our own endeavors. Ever driven through the state of Kansas?? I could envision at least half of that state along with others to produce enough windpower to light up half of the country. The quicker we "americans" get out of our way of industrialized thinking, the faster we can all get this done. And I see a man like T. Boone helping all of us 'think outside the box" if nothing else. Way to go Pickens!!! BTW Seattle rains a lot and some parts of Alaska sees no sun for six months. Just examples of the importance of windpower.
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