Free Solar Power Is Hoax

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | January 15, 2009 | James P. O'Loughlin, Placitas Engineer

[CedarDave]

The article “N.M. Solar Energy Plan Expanded,” about the state Public Regulation Commission's promotion of grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) power generation states that ... invest[ment] in PV installations will have “free” electricity.

I evaluated such an installation for our house using Public Service Company of New Mexico PV information on its Web site. I checked the results against more sophisticated resources and found the PNM results to be in good agreement.

For my house, a PV system's cost is about $10,000 per kw, or for our case about $40,000.

... Based on a 20-year life and 6 percent cost of money, this comes to a monthly cost of $286.57. The monthly cost for the same amount of energy from PNM service is $42.75 — where is the “free” electricity?

There is an insurmountable fact of nature that forces photovoltaic to be several times more expensive than conventional power generation: The sun doesn't shine for 24 hours a day. This requires that a PV generation installation must have a power rating that is about six times higher than a continuously running conventional installation for the same energy output.

~~snip~~

The cliché about investing in research and development to decrease the cost of panels and make PV power generation competitive is an unachievable myth that is fanatically pursued by the government and other groups having various and peculiar reasons.

When reality is not acceptable, the government can fix it with political alchemy. Through the influence of pressure groups and lobbyists, state and federal governments decree that photovoltaic power generation must be implemented. To fix the inherently expensive PV power generation problem, governments provide tax credits, incentives and other forms of subsidy to cover up the excessive cost.

This does not reduce the actual cost; it just transfers it to the general taxpayer or ratepayer.

[CedarDave]

I won't try to defend or challenge his numbers; others can do so if so inclined. The point of the article is that solar energy is not "free" nor competitive with conventional power. The downside of both solar and wind is that the sun doesn't shine all the time nor the wind blow. Infrastructure to get electricity from solar/wind farms has to be built and the local nimby's come out to oppose either the generation or transmission facilities. Now solar may make sense for very rural areas "off the grid" but not for large urban areas.

Solar power, like wind energy and ethanol production, is a hoax that will not resolve our long term energy needs. It could be hoped that reality would take hold but, like the global warming hoax, the masses are being educated to believe that use of fossil fuels will be our demise when in fact it will be reliance on the sun and windmills tilting in the breeze that will do us in.

[CedarDave]

PING to the NM list!

(FReepmail greyfoxx39 to be added or removed from the list)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Hi, Dave. Please add me to your Ping List. Thanks.

As an aside...I’ve been using FREE solar and wind power for decades now to dry my clothes. Where’s my Goverment Subsidies? ;)

[Iron Munro]

I’ve been using FREE solar and wind power for decades now to dry my clothes.

But that simple technology doesn't give politicians a pretense to funnel billions of dollars to their financial contributors.

.

[CedarDave]

Greyfoxx39 is the keeper of the NM Ping list. FReepmail her, please.

With the temperature the way it is in Wisconsin, I suspect its a chore just to fold clothes frozen on the line!

[GeronL]

then again we know its more expensive and less reliable, thats why its ‘alternative’

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Well, I did slack off some this winter. I just hung them on the basement line. I can’t even GET to my clothes line. I’m 5’1” and there’s a 10’ wall-o-snow between me and it. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’re right. Don’t tell soon-to-be VP Biden on me. He’ll call me “Un-American” or something... ;)

[greyfoxx39]

I have added you to the NM ping list Diana...welcome.

GF

[org.whodat]

This does not reduce the actual cost; it just transfers it to the general taxpayer or ratepayer.

That is why they call it a public utility, as is all electric power. Some people just cannot understand that all electrical power has been subsidized.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks! :)

[gorush]

I think that those of us that are investing in wind and solar are preparing for a breakdown of the grid. We’re either right or wrong...we’ll see.

[cripplecreek]

I’m all for alternatives as long as its your choice, more power to you.

[GeronL]

Which assures higher prices. We need to stop subsidizing it and allow real competition. But then again we’d have to let them burn coal or nuclear and leftists won’t like that.

[DevNet]

one reason I am glad to be in East Texas - our grid is rather well provided for and we have local sources for coal to power the plants.

Now if it gets really bad that might not help much.

[Recon Dad]

CD, I spent 2 years going to school in Santa Fe and would love to be added to your New Mexico ping list.

Regards,

Recon Dad

[org.whodat]

But then again we’d have to let them burn coal or nuclear and leftists won’t like that.

Did you fall out of a tree?? Do you have any ideal what it would cost the private sector to build nuclear power plants. You could not sell the power for enough money to cover 10% of the cost of the liability insurance.

[kickonly88]

Just wait until the gubmint sends out their operative to count the # of items on your line and tax you accordingly.

[gorush]

Earth sheltered, geo-thermaly heated/cooled ICF constructed Home and Shop.

[cripplecreek]

My neighbor uses geothermal.