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Solar Power: Let Me Decide or Buy Me Off?

Solar Power: Let Me Decide or Buy Me Off?

Throughout the energy conversation we’ve been having with the Nuclear and Coal articles, several readers have commented about the inclusion of solar energy. Solar energy is sold to us as the end-all-be-all solution to our energy needs, and I find it hard not to argue against very specific aspects of that sales pitch. It’s clean, it’s renewable, it’s somewhat readily available, and it has little to no long-term impact. The Department of Energy claims that a 100 square mile solar panel field in Nevada can generate 800 gigawatts of power. That’s enough to power the entire United States.

Now, let’s collectively pull our head out of the clouds and talk about the ugly side of the situation …
The national average for electricity runs at about 12.6 cents per kilowatt hour, and the average house uses about 1,000 kilowatt hours per month. Before taxes, regulatory, and administrative fees that makes for a $126.00 per month electric bill. You wake up, and decide that you are going green. You hop in your Prius and buzz down to “Solar Panels R US”, and buy your run-of-of-the-mill solar panel kit. After 10 panels, 10 brackets to mount them, and a power inverter, you’ve officially got everything you need to create a whopping 345kwh of energy. Price tag? A mere $8,300 for the BASIC hardware, which is on the low end; installation not included. Now you’ve got a roof full of solar panels that produce 345kwh of energy, or an average energy savings of $43.47 dollars a month …

At that rate, assuming you get 100% potential from your solar panel array, it will take you 15 years to break even on your investment, at the very minimum, based on national averages. Imagine what the break-even on the 100 square mile theoretical “Panel Land” would be.

“Okay, it’s pricey … but what about the ‘Large Scale’ solar industry?” Solar energy is twice as expensive as natural gas energy. It’s 67% more expensive than wind produced power, for that matter. The national average for solar energy is over 80 cents per kilowatt hour after factoring in all the associated costs. Now that doesn’t sound so bright …

Expenses aside, the solar power contribution to the current power grid tripled from 2012 to 2013. A staggering 29% of all new energy installations in 2013 were solar power related. So if it’s more expensive, and still grew, who footed that bill?
You did.The government provides extensive solar energy subsidies, as high as 96 cents per kilowatt hour. Those subsidies come directly from our tax dollars. For every single tax dollar spent on natural gas subsidies, $1,200 dollars were spent on solar subsidies. In 2010 solar energy subsides were $775.64 dollars per megawatt of solar energy added to the power grid. That adds up to about 37 billion dollars a year. To put it in perspective, that’s enough money to build six modern nuclear power plants.

So we just cut the subsidy right?

earth911

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Solar Power: Let Me Decide or Buy Me Off?

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Are Ford Hybrids A Reliable Choice Up In Cold Northern Manitoba Canada Or Minnesota ?

We often hear one common quote “The constant thing in this world is change” not only from our elders, but also from marketers who want to sell an enhanced product. This saying is absolutely true and applicable when it comes to gadgets and automobiles in our market today. Who should use cellphones with antennas in our present time? Who is willing to ride in an old type of car without any windshield or side mirrors? Who is not in favor with innovations that benefit each consumer? Of course, everybody will agree about vehicle improvements like the proposed plan of the Ford Company.

Reading authoritative auto trade journals , such as Edmunds or Consumer Reports and in addition online auto industry related websites you will note that the Ford Company has experienced success in sales as a major global player. In the past this was not the case when decades back Ford was essentially and primarily a domestic American auto maker with its local North American marketplace to serve . According to sale and statistic records, nearly 64 percent of the C-MAX buyers came from non-Ford brands in June, whereas demands of clients were mostly on savings and improve on-road fuel economy that somehow Ford cannot give at this time. Yet, Raj Nair, the vice-president of global product enhancement told the press about the upcoming innovations of Ford Hybrids as well as the key to make it into success- the strong acceptance of the consumers.

The above disadvantages are the main reasons why Ford Hybrids, including the 2013 models of Ford are soon to launch with an enhanced features and systems. According to Raj Nair, the vice president of the international product development, client’s attention and strong acceptance with the innovations were the keys to achieve higher Ford vehicle sales. Their plan was based from the recent statistics and sale records of C-MAX buyers and results showed that almost 64 percent of the consumers were non-Ford brands in June while the remaining percentage might under non-vehicle clients.

Innovations and calibration updates have been started since August in the United States and Canada. Models such as the 2013 Ford C-MAX, 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid received an enhanced inside and outside vehicle improvements made possible by the Ford automakers and owners. To make it into success, electric car engineering team by nearly 50 percent increase and $50 million dollar investments in high-class facilities for the expansions have been proposed.

To provide a clearer copy and understanding of these features, Raj gave the following detailed information: increased maximum pure electric speed to 85 mph from 62 mph, improved climate control system to minimize the use of the air-conditioning compressor and reduce the energy consumption, shortened engine warm-up time by 50 percent to enable electric-only driving and engine shutdown, lessened electric fans speed function of coolant temperature to decrease the fan’s consumption of energy and optimized Active Grille consumption to reduce the aerodynamic drag under more driving and temperature conditions.

Data is based on the range of new automotive features/technologies introduced in the U.S. over the past fifty years. These analogs collectively suggest it would take at least 30 years for this modality of propulsionto capture 80% of the U.S. passenger vehicle stock.. Free reprint available from: Are Ford Hybrids A Reliable Choice Up In Cold Northern Manitoba Canada Or Minnesota ?.

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