New energy bill????

Kevin_in_Denver_2

They were in place from about 1979 to 1985. 95% of the systems installed have by now been removed or are not working.

Even so, the program can be considered a success in terms of what we learned. Solar DHW now is much more reliable, but still not close to the MTBF that we expect from our everyday appliances, including boilers.

J.C.A._3

Check this out.

Our illustrious leaders are basically saying the same-old same-old. Comparatively small rewards for getting into renewable sources of energy, and BIG money for the exploration/exploitation of petroleum products. ( could their portfolios have anything to do with this?)

I'm appalled. I vote and will try to get the word out to anyone who will listen about this SNAFU. Chris

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050728/D8BKJVOO5.html

These are supposed to be our LEADERS....BAAA BAAAA.

Constantin

The WSJ had a small article on it...

... more rebates for energy-efficient appliances. Sounds like a great idea to take some of the initial purchase cost bite out of the equation. Hopefully, the manufacturers won't take advantage of the rebate by jacking up the prices...

... Up to $500 or 10% in rebates for replacing thermostats, repairing windows, etc. but only up to $200 of that can be used to replace windows. Thus, I guess it's time to buy Honeywell stock.

... incentives to for hybrid vehicles, where heavier vehicles get a bigger tax break (huh?). Electric vehicles and vehicles using other fuels than gasoline and diesel also get tax breaks (though no mention of biodiesel was made). Only applies to vehicles purchased post-2006, so don't run out just yet.

... extended daylight savings time (1 month) which is expected to save 1% in energy bills. The candy makers and charcoal manufacturers love it, the airline industry hates it.

... more ethanol can be used in gasoline. I'm not crazy about this one until someone showes that ethanol uses less power to be produced than it provides to the consumer. Never mind the other issue, i.e. the de-powering of our gasoline (ethanol has fewer BTU's per gallon than gasoline), which means lower gas mileage and more frequent trips to the pump.

... up to $2000 or 30% back for HO's that install solar systems at home (though not for pools). I guess I should have renovated next year. :-)

... power grid reliability requirements.

J.C.A._3

Constantin...

Learn to play the game right and you may get into the act yet!!(hold off on the billing fellow and make him a co-conspiritor/conservitor for another year) Maybe they can make it appear next year.OR... Find a tax consultant who knows a lobbyist that can get in touch with a contractor willing to provide the proper paperwork... and viola!

I feel it's time to take the bullshine out of it all. Give the money to the end user for conserving energy. Development plays a big part,and deserves SOME subsidies, but the SALES of worthy products will bear the fruit of all the testing for any proven and effective manufacturer, if the product is competent enough to work as advertised.

The NIMBY syndrome is one of the biggest hinderences to this bill. Wind farms are an eyesore to some people, but to me, it shows the proper amount of initiative and the willingness of folks to accept that the "natural resources" that we think we are entitled to are FINITE.Natural resources are going to become as expensive as the utility companies feel you and I will pay for them to pad their pockets.From the look of this current bill, that is what the investors and the government want us all to believe.

Again, I say....BAAAA BAAAA. The folks who propose this as an acceptable bill, are sheep. They are just following the pack...not to mention the money..... JMHO. Chris

Unknown

NIMBY

Boy are they making a stink about proposed windmills off the South Shore of LI . Same mindset that doesn't want to see the temporary gas generators that need to be online to get us through the summer months . If it came down to no AC or an eyesore , well ... I NEED MY AC !

This was before my time , but didn't the US govt have a 50% rebate for any type of solar install ? I thought I heard that all incentives combined US , state , local ) sometimes brought the price down 70% to the end user ?

I remember hearing a few years ago about development of solar collectors built into roof shingles . Did the idea not pan out ?

Phil_8

energy

Natural gas prices are so high because the electric companies have, over the last decace, installed these turbines with short start up times that run on natural gas to handle the peak demand. This approach requires a much smaller capital investment than building a new coal or nuke plant. I would require these plants to generate hydrogen in there off peak hours and months (May and October) and use the H to run the fast startup turbines rather than consume natural gas supply. (1) We, as a nation, would learn a lot about storing and using H. and (2) Natural gas prices should drop a bit.

It really bugs me that we have had a dept. of energy in place for 30 years and we don't even have plan describing our options for coping with a disruption of oil supply. The least we could do is understand the best options and begin prototyping them so that the lead time for implementation will be less when the oil supply either naturally wans or is disrupted.

Dan_15

My money is on hydrogen fuel cells. Daimler-Chrysler has a prototype car that can do 160 k/hr. Ford has a kit for conversion of internal combustion engine. Technology is here and now for storing hydrogen in solid state. Its only a matter of time. What stands in the way? OIL COMPANIES. How do you subvert the massive economic force of an entire industry of drilling, refining, storing, shipping and distributing? Get around that pickle and mark my words 10 years from now the world will have a completely different political power structure. The Middle East will be irrelevant. Why does a major energy bill not address such a promising and revolutionary technology? Well, lets think...Bush....Texas....Oil...I get it!

J.C.A._3

Dan,

Don't forget ...Lobbyists, BIG business, the "old boy's network" and the like.

Have you or anyone been seeing the profits the oil companies are POSTING with their liquid gold going at 61$/BBL? Those are the POSTED earnings, don't forget the other 2 sets of books....the ones for the investors and of course...the REAL ones.

Hopefully, the revolution WILL be televised. Someone with a big enough set to take on the oil companies and not take their hush and/or buyout money.

Fuel cells may be the future, but there has to be some MONEY to make them at least as effecient as anything else, including the cost to produce the fuels to run them. I think it is coming but the timeframe seems too slow right now.Give these scientists the same amount of time and money as the exploration guys are getting! JMHO, again. Chris

Dan_15

Agreed, 100%. There is not sufficient economic incentive just yet. But lets remember that in the world of supply and demand, company profit begins with the consumer. The automobile did not become ubiquitous until Ford built the Model A cheaply enough for the average joe to afford. Oil will eventually price itself out of the market if fuel cells are made just as ubiquitous. Maybe Ford will do for us again. And thats when the oil companies will miraculously find a way convert their fossil fuel retail stations into hydrogen fuel stations. Absolutely lobbyists and big oil have their dirty little hands all over this bill. Instead of $$$ for R&D on renewable energy sources like fuel cells, this energy bill actually has the audacity to provide economic incentive to exctract oil from deeper shale layers. More drilling, not less!! We know who is in charge.....