Why can't we do what Germany does with solar power?

[tjwash]

I mean besides the obvious reason that the oil, coal, and natural gas companies that have us in a headlock at present, don't want us to? That would also mean that the government would have to re-regulate the power companies.

Check this out:

It was not fear of power outages, high gas prices or tripled power bills, but economic incentives that jump-started the solar revolution in Germany.

Last year in April, the Social-Democratic/Green German government introduced the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) to boost the planned switch to renewable energy sources. Producers of renewable energy get 43 cents for each kWh (kilowatt per hour) of solar power generated and 7 cents per kWh of wind energy generated.

Since June, even producers of biomass energy -- usually "waste products" from farms like grass and wood -- are allowed to sell up to 9 cents per kWh of generated energy.

43 cents per kWh is 5-7 times what the power companies charge if you get it from them. Not only that, the loans to put solar panels on housing are guaranteed, and with the profits that you get for generating your own power, you can pay them off in ten years.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. because Big Oil owns our country

[gatorboy]

2. Yup!

If they can't make a few power hungry guys richer each year, they're not interested...

[0007]

5. And when big oil isn't kicking us in the ass the other Big

Pig Corporations are picking our pockets and supporting politicians that are only for themselves.

[jean]

3. Economic incentives would mean giving out money.The bush cabal

only takes and takes and takes.

Well done, Germany. :toast:

[texastoast]

4. What about local co-ops?

Some of the rural places in Texas do that--produce what they need for home and sell the rest to their local co-op.

I don't know how it works. Why wouldn't it work in an urban setting?

[tjwash]

6. My point exactly.

The reason Germany is doing this, is because they don't want to build any more power plants, and they averaged the cost to build and maintain one, and found it is cheaper to give the people incentives like this to get them doing it.

Not only that, there are tons of jobs that were created since they began the program. The places like Siemens Solar can't keep solar panels in stock, and are short employees at the present. Same with a lot of other solar panel companies out there.

Gee, companies that are short of employees, and need to hire. I wish we had a problem like that here in the U.S. right now.

[bikeboy]

11. I'm trying to get

DHS money to put collectors on our local schools here in the bay area. If we put panels on the roofs on 40 schools we would have some where to go in an earth quake. The schools would have more money in their general fund and the air would be much cleaner. The kicker is that most of teh power would be generated in the summer month when school is out so all of that power would be going right to the grid lessening the need for more generating stations.

The main problem with Rita and katrina was no power/communcation...for evacuated communities...Our millions plus will SOL if there is no power and no communication...

[Inland]

7. Let's invade germany and TAKE its solar power! nt

[tjwash]

8. Ann Coulter in the houuuuuse!

:hi:

Just joking...

[MADem]

12. Shhh...we'll accuse them of having WMD and hating us for our freedoms! nt

[Inland]

13. Well....we have to secure our supply of solar power, keep it out

of the hands of madmen. They are either for us or against us.

[rinsd]

9. Interesting

Also this article is 5 years old, I am wondering if the trend continued.

[tjwash]

10. They have actually streamlined it in the last 5 years.

Adding guarantee's on the mortgages to get the panels, and pay them off easier. They were talking about this on Air America a few days ago.

As a matter of fact, I was in Germany last year, and saw tons of solar panels. It's quite a paradox to fly in to Frankfurt right over their nuclear power plant, and then see solar panels everywhere after you leave the airport.