Biden: U.S. to halve cost of solar power by 2015

[Javaman]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/08/biden-report-shows-us-will-halve-cost-of-solar-power-by-2015/1

Vice President Joe Biden released a report Tuesday that says the United States is on track, within five years, to halve the cost of solar power -- putting its on par with grid electricity -- and slash by 70% the cost of batteries for electric vehicles.



The report says the Recovery Act's $100 billion for innovation is creating new jobs and accelerating scientific and technological advances that will cut consumer costs, save lives and keep the USA competitive.

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"From the beginning, we have been a nation of discovery and innovation – and today we continue in that tradition as Recovery Act investments pave the way for game-changing breakthroughs in transportation, energy and medical research," Biden said in announcing the report. He was joined by Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Because of the three-year Recovery Act, often criticized for its overall $787 billion pricetag, the report says the USA is now on-track to achieve four major innovation breakthroughs:

more at link...

[FBaggins]

1. Cutting the price of solar in half in five years would be great

though I want to see which "cost" he's talking about before we compare it to grid prices.

But cutting battery prices by 70%? That's a major challenge and I'm skeptical.

[BootinUp]

2. excellent. nt

[n2doc]

3. But will anyone still have a job so they can buy one? n/t

[Zoeisright]

4. If we add up the REAL costs of nuclear, coal, and gas,

in other words, premature deaths, cancers, massive subsidies, and cleanup costs, solar and wind are a veritable bargain.

[bananas]

5. Grid parity in 2015, even cheaper in 2030

From the DOE press release:

http://www.energy.gov/news/9383.htm

...

Thanks to the Recovery Act, we are on track to cut the cost of solar power in half by 2015, which will bring the cost of generating solar power down to the cost of electricity from the grid.

* As a result of today's investments, the cost of solar energy is forecast to drop by half between 2009 and 2015. The cost of power from rooftop solar panels will drop from $0.21 per kWh in 2009 to $0.10 per kWh in 2015, which is equivalent to typical household electricity rates. The cost of power from utility-scale solar projects would drop from $0.13 per kWh today to $0.06 in 2015, which is equivalent to the cost of wholesale utility power.

* Further, the cost of rooftop solar power could drop to as low as $0.06 per kWh by 2030. At that cost, solar power will be significantly cheaper than household electricity rates - and an average household could save more than $400 per year in electricity bills.

...

[Kringle]

8. the value to society of electricity is typically 4 cents

http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/commodities/energy-prices/

[kristopher]

6. Like I've been saying....

Sachs Solar Cost thru 2020

[kristopher]

7. Kick