08-07-2015, 12:25 PM
I also agree but when you peel back the US energy proposal it really discourages much use of NG electric generation and through possible cap & trade makes it more expensive to end users. They have backed things off by a couple of years per comments which were submitted during the comment period, but the real incentives will be given toward renewables.
This extra time will allow things like battery technology to further be developed. Strides are being made with batteries now. Consumers in the US (similar to what's going on in Japan and elsewhere) are wanting it. In fact being in the electric distribution industry I see the strides being made. A large industrial load installed 2 industrial windmills which provided 16% of their demand last year; more than they anticipated.
We are now considering a community solar project where customers can pay for one or more solar panels in the project and have that power designated to them on their bill. Most of these projects are being sold out before final construction is complete. Net of subsidies the cost is getting very competitive. Many utilities doing this are finding themselves jumping into a second project soon after the first is built. This was unheard of a couple of years ago. No doubt the subsidies make it work, but it won't be long and the subsidies will move from windmills and solar panels to the batteries. Again, consumers want it.
I was a huge skeptic a couple of years ago, but I see the ever-changing numbers constantly and the technology driving this is amazing. Big dollars lining up behind it. Austin Texas has a goal of 55% of it's electric from renewables and is receiving bids for solar at just under .04/kWh. Unheard of.
http://www.theenergycollective.com/steph...ss-4-cents
This extra time will allow things like battery technology to further be developed. Strides are being made with batteries now. Consumers in the US (similar to what's going on in Japan and elsewhere) are wanting it. In fact being in the electric distribution industry I see the strides being made. A large industrial load installed 2 industrial windmills which provided 16% of their demand last year; more than they anticipated.
We are now considering a community solar project where customers can pay for one or more solar panels in the project and have that power designated to them on their bill. Most of these projects are being sold out before final construction is complete. Net of subsidies the cost is getting very competitive. Many utilities doing this are finding themselves jumping into a second project soon after the first is built. This was unheard of a couple of years ago. No doubt the subsidies make it work, but it won't be long and the subsidies will move from windmills and solar panels to the batteries. Again, consumers want it.
I was a huge skeptic a couple of years ago, but I see the ever-changing numbers constantly and the technology driving this is amazing. Big dollars lining up behind it. Austin Texas has a goal of 55% of it's electric from renewables and is receiving bids for solar at just under .04/kWh. Unheard of.
http://www.theenergycollective.com/steph...ss-4-cents