Posted on 12/13/2005 5:25:39 PM PST by calcowgirl
SAN FRANCISCO - State energy officials, seeking to revive a key element of the Schwarzenegger administration's push to expand renewable energy use, on Monday outlined a plan to increase annual spending on new solar energy units to nearly $300 million.
The plan, set for formal release today, would shuffle programs among state agencies in order to revive the administration's high-profile program to build 1 million homes with units to make electricity from the sun.
That initiative died in the Legislature this year after the administration balked at union wage guarantees sought by Democrats. The new solar push aims to bypass the Legislature by tapping the state Public Utilities Commission's authority to collect money from electricity customers and spend it to boost subsidies to homes and businesses that install solar units.
Currently, two state agencies spend about $80 million annually to subsidize solar power installations. The new solar plan takes existing programs, "keeps them going and focuses them where they have the greatest impact," said Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, a member of the state Energy Commission. The proposal, which requires approval by the PUC, calls for spending $3.2 billion over 11 years to install 2,600 megawatts of solar capacity.
By comparison, PG&E's largest power plant -- its Diablo Canyon nuclear facility -- can produce 2,220 megawatts.
The new plan would not include requirements that new-home builders install solar energy units and that utilities buy excess power from home and business solar units. Those measures would require legislation.
The new solar initiative was unveiled at a joint meeting of the state Energy Commission and PUC that was also attended by two members of Schwarzenegger's cabinet.
(snip)
I notice there's not too much detail on how much this solar powered electricity will cost per kilowat hour. I guess that doesn't matter, as long as they all feel good and the taxpayers foot the bill.
Free solar power for all illegals.
Why not? California has TONS of Money, next stop for this charade and Light Rail... New Orleans!
Taxpayers are so gullible.
TT
A lot. In addition, since the peak sun is at noon and peak residential consumption is in the evening, storage devices [lead acid batteries] are normally used in standalone systems.
Kalifornians can't be bothered to build a real power plant in the state but want to spend billions on a power source that only works 12 hours out of every day barring clouds. Smart. Real smart.
> I notice there's not too much detail on how much this
> solar powered electricity will cost per kilowat hour.
Or if the cells will ever recover their costs, apt to be
higher since November due to the Motech (Taiwan) fire.
In the near future, Cali will either need to file for bankruptcy or state income tax rates on individuals with be higher than federal income tax rates.
"[lead acid batteries] are normally used in standalone systems."
I was just about to post that. Batteries of some sort will be needed to store the electricity. Will the people who take up the offer from the state get reimbursed somewhat for the batteries? Or will it be for the solar panels alone? Batteries are not cheap, just think of the layout the home owner or small business owner would make at the start ... thousands if you needed a couple of dozen batteries.
A good idea since I have heard that more energy in the form of sunlight hits the earth each day than all the power ever produced by man.
But ... I have to think ... if it is such a good idea, whay have people not gone ahead and done this by now without waiting for some state reimbursment or tax write off?
I'm still waiting for the nuculer fussion power plants ... a gallon of sea water will power NYC for a month.
No.
According to the proposal, this additional surcharge will not impact rates because the Rate Reduction Bonds authorized during California’s electric restructuring law will expire in 2007 leaving “additional headroom in utility rates.”
"Environment California, a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental advocacy group"
BullSh*t! There is no such animal. All environmental advocay groups are intensely politically partisan. Virtually on the left wing.
Well, maybe the state of CA would undertake to build, maintain and operate large battery banks? IMHO, it would serve these greenpissers right.
Ping
Thats only in a stand-alone setup. What China and Germany
are doing is tying into the "grid". You sometimes put in more than you use and then take out when the cell's aren't providing enough. Actually works well.
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