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Sun Volt

Sun Volt Solar

earth, the final frontier

Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

Nice try big guy

19 Jun 08 | Commentary

The oil companies are a little concerned these days. Oh, they are not worried that Congress is going to yank the rug out from under them, that is impossible. No, they are more concerned that they may be pricing themselves out of a customer.

As more and more people get fed up with high prices and shift to renewable energy, the oil companies will loose business. Not too much at first, it will take a while for momentum to build, but eventually oil will become the nation’s second choice for energy. This has the various boards of directors concerned, what with all the talk of peak oil production, limited reserves, high demand, limited refineries, one might think that we are running out of oil. As oil companies go, that perception is dangerous and bad for business.

It is no surprise to me that now President Bush proposes removing the ban on off shore drilling all along the US continental shelf. Everyone knows that Mr. Bush is an oil man at heart and it is no shock when he has repeatedly spoken of drilling in ANWR. The off shore drilling is a change, or as the talking heads on the TV say, a “Flip Flop.”

This, according to Mr. Bush and other pro oil analysts, would lower gas prices even if supplies were not immediately increased. Most others say it would make little or no difference, especially in the price of motor fuel. I am more inclined to believe the latter.

What off shore drill will accomplish:

  1. Increase supply of oil on the world wide market enough to barely meet expected demand increase, thus have no effect on current prices. (US DOE study, impacts of increased access…)
  2. Continue the current Oil Economy for a few more years leading to more oil addiction.
  3. Make the large oil companies and their executives very, very wealthy.
  4. Do nothing to mitigate the possible environmental effects of burning fossil fuels.

It is interesting that the US Department of Energy refutes Mr. Bush’s claim of lower gas prices. Perhaps they didn’t get the memo…

We have been addicted to cheap energy for a long, long time. The party is over and now it is time for a little pain. Pain, as it turns out, is good in some cases. It encourages changes in behavior, leads to innovation and advances in technology. It is good that this is happening now, like this, while we still have energy resources to effect change, rather than having the proverbial tank run dry. High oil prices are good for us, we just don’t know it yet.

Update: This article says it much better than I ever could: The misguided message of the addict-and-chief.

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19 Jun 08 | Commentary | Comments (0)

Have they lost their mind?

13 Jun 08 | Commentary

The Renewable Energy and Job Creation of 2008 (H.R. 6049)… Lets see:

  1. Create new jobs in a weak economy. Check
  2. Reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. Check
  3. Improve the environment. Check
  4. Save the average US citizen money by providing meaningful subsides for installation of renewable energy. Check

Well, we certainly can’t have any of that around here, now can we. At least according to the US Senate Republicans who saw fit to procedurally kill the latest attempt to enact long term leveling of the playing field for the renewable energy sector.  This time, they didn’t even let the matter come up for a vote.

Sierra club director Carl Pope minces no words in his statement:

“The Senate Republican Leadership has now proved it has no interest whatsoever in even discussing the solutions to our mounting energy and economic crises. This minority of Senators determined to stop progress and protect the interests of Big Oil, Big Coal, and other special interests at all costs has used procedural tricks day after day to prevent the Senate from working on legislation that would bring skyrocketing energy prices under control, put America back to work, put the brakes on taxpayer-funded giveaways to an oil industry awash in record profits, and fight global warming by investing in a clean energy future…

“It’s truly shocking that Senators will use procedural tricks to protect taxpayer-funded giveaways to Big Oil, but then mere minutes later will refuse even to allow debate on a bill that will protect existing jobs, create tens of thousands of new jobs, and help build the clean energy future we need to end our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels once and for all.

Sums it up rather well, I think.  Meanwhile, the Senators did manage to pass this very important bit of legislation:

Honoring Detroit Red Wings: Senate agreed to S. Res. 593, honoring the Detroit Red Wings on winning the 2008 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Championship.

Phew, man. I was worried that the Detroit Red Wings might go unnoticed.

So what we have is a country with a can do attitude governed by a do nothing government.  What can we do about it?  Vote the obstructionist Republicans out of office in the next election.  Go register to vote NOW!  Before you FORGET!  Then circle Tuesday, November 4th on your calendar in red.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, lets get it done already!!!!

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13 Jun 08 | Commentary | Comments (0)

No Longer Alternative Energy

09 Jun 08 | Commentary

Time was when we would think of anything that was a non-fossil fueled power as “Alternative Energy.”  Something that space ships used, or perhaps some hippies living in the woods.  Not so much anymore.  As oil prices go through the roof and supplies become scarce, the question I hear more and more often is “Alternative to what?”

When I read articles in Main Stream Media outlets, like MSN, which tout Solar Powers ability to offset conventional power (It’s Solar Powers Time to Shine, June 5, 2006) it makes me smile.  I have known this for many years as have the other people in the solar business.  It has become the latest news for the un-initiated.

To make the alternative energy systems main stream, three things must happen:

  1. Greater awareness by the public.  Education is the key, installing a solar thermal collector is not the same as installing hot water heater or furnace.  The typical house owner needs to have some general idea of how it works in order to make in informed decision.  Solar 101 needs to be taught beginning in primary school science classes and carried on through collage.
  2. Research and Development.  Much more needs to be done, especially with photovoltaics to increase the panel efficiency and bring the costs down.  R and D in other areas such as large scale solar thermal electric generation, solar thermal building heating, solar thermal storage, small scale solar water heating systems is also needed.
  3. Level the playing field with the other fuels.  Currently, big oil, big coal and big nuclear receive huge federal government subsides which are paid for by… you and me (if you pay any federal income tax).  I would like to see this stop.  Preferably, all the government subsides would end that way, solar, wind and small hydro would be able to compete head on with coal, oil and nuclear power.  This is the European model.  That will likely not happen, therefore, an acceptable alternative would be long term subsides for solar and small wind power.

As fuel prices go up, my phone rings more and more.  I am optimistic that economic forces will drive solar and other so called alternative energy sources into the main stream, perhaps much sooner than anyone thought.

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09 Jun 08 | Commentary | Comments (0)