Comments on: Solar grants sweeten San Francisco for start-ups

San Francisco approves the nation's largest grant program for homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits installing solar power.

[dbargen]

Funny how they can't get solar to pick up on it own. If it really saved you money or if normal people really bought into the looming "crisis," the the following federal actions wouldn't be necessary:

"According to the Energy Information Administration, solar energy is subsidized to the tune of $24.34 per megawatt hour and wind energy by $23.37.

By contrast, natural gas gets a mere quarter, hydroelectric about 67 cents and nuclear power $1.59. Wind and solar, despite all their subsidies, contribute less than 1% of our total electricity generation."

There's a darn good reason people aren't investing in wind and solar: in their current states, they aren't worth it. Period. Pity San Fransiscans for this useless particular tax burden.

[dbargen]

Funny how they can't get solar to pick up on it own. If it really saved you money or if normal people really bought into the looming "crisis," the the following federal actions wouldn't be necessary:

"According to the Energy Information Administration, solar energy is subsidized to the tune of $24.34 per megawatt hour and wind energy by $23.37.

By contrast, natural gas gets a mere quarter, hydroelectric about 67 cents and nuclear power $1.59. Wind and solar, despite all their subsidies, contribute less than 1% of our total electricity generation."

There's a darn good reason people aren't investing in wind and solar: in their current states, they aren't worth it. Period. Pity San Fransiscans for this useless particular tax burden.

[1BOG]

You are right about the numbers dbargen, but maybe that?s not how we should look at it. There are two very different areas; domestic and industrial. Solar, and to some extend Wind are market-ready technologies available to be purchased by individuals like you and I. That isn?t the case with Natural Gas (unless you?re willing to drill in your back yard) or hydroelectric (unless you live near water) or nuclear (and you really shouldn?t have that stuff in your house for obvious reasons) :) In each case, government subsidies fulfill different purposes; generate clean energy that we all can buy from power companies, and create a market for emerging technologies, and build awareness, and provide local jobs? Despite the 1% total energy generation for solar and wind, subsidies are accomplishing a great deal in educating, creating awareness, and helping changing our behavior. It?s not always obvious but San Francisco is doing the right thing. Best. Sylvia.

[1BOG]

1. In the US, buildings account for approx. 72% of all energy consumption.

2. The US power grid is 98% non-renewable energy (51.7% coal, 19.8% nuclear, 15.9% natural gas, 7.2% large hydroelectric, 2.8% oil,).

3. Demand for RECs is growing fast. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has estimated that in 2004, the size of the voluntary REC market was three million megawatt hours, valued at between $15 and $45 million. They estimate that by 2010, the market will grow to 20 million MWh, and $100 to $300 million.
source: threeHugger

A lot of renewable wattage to produce, now the question is how - organized communities can surely be part of the solution.

[Dango517]

The typical cost to install solar electricity for the average home is $10,000.00.

http://www.thesolarguide.com/solar-power-uses/cost-faq.aspx

Wonder why more aren't in use? Hmmmmmmmmm.

This is largely due to the fact that these systems include battery storage with the installation. The cost of these systems would come down markedly if they were "direct gain" only, putting there power directly into the electric grid.

[Eliwagar1]

I used to live in San Francisco and the big problem with this is that not to many people actually own properties out there. It is mostly renting that is done, so in order for this plan to do some real good the landlord would have to have the system installed.

Speaking from experience landlords will try to be as cheap as possible, and although a solar energy system will reduce the overall cost of energy over a set amount of years.

http://www.solarpowercost.org

The landlords are not going to care considering you pay the electricity for most rentals.

However it is nice to see more and more of these programs starting up.

[Eliwagar1]

Whoops my bad here's the link <a href="http://www.solarpowercost.org">http://www.solarpowercost.org</a>