Comments on: Why doesnt the goverment spend 50 billion dollars on solar panels on homes and save 10 million barrels of oil?

By: Mr. New England

Mr. New England — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:39:59 +0000

do you have any idea how much it would cost to transform everyones roof to solar??? or even new houses to soalr??? a hell of alot more than 50 billion...it can never happen
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By: Benjamin Dover

Benjamin Dover — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:13:59 +0000

They don’t have to put it on homes. Just build 100 miles of solar panels on each side of the Mojave desert, and it can power the entire continental US and parts of Canada. That area gets over 330 days of sunshine a year. I believe a Canadian company has also developed panels that can produce energy even when it’s cloudy. Or supplement with wind turbines.

Re-train the displaced coal miners to run the new system. Don’t know how much oil it would save, as coal and nuclear reactors are used to produce most of the electricity used in the US.
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By: WhatBrain?

WhatBrain? — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:29:59 +0000

Because solar power is not efficient and requires back up power. Many places in the USA have only four hours of full sunlight daily on the average. Also, it wouldn’t save any oil as electricity is generated mainly with coal. I am off the net with solar power and I have to run a generator twice daily in the winter to keep the batteries charged and often have to run it even in the summer. there simply is not enough space for all the panels that would be needed. One of those ideas that sounds good on the surface but is impractical.
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By: zee_prime

zee_prime — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:48:59 +0000

That’s a bloody good idea. I live in NZ and my family has just benefited from a scheme called "Warm Homes For Southland". You pay $500 and get $3000 worth of draughtproofing and insulation done on your house. Most houses in NZ, especially down here are cold, damp and draughty. We benefit, the economy benefits because there are fewer absences from work due to illness and we import less fuel, and the environment benefits because of fewer emissions. Your proposal would work the same way. I predict that soon some government will be smart enough to do it. The US already has some smart legislation along these lines; in the States, if you generate your own power by wind or Sun, the law guarantees you the right to sell it to your local utility.
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By: mickytx

mickytx — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:13:59 +0000

nice dream but totally unrealistic.
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By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:43:59 +0000

you cant tax solar, you cant make saudis rich off solar, you cant invade other countries and steal their solar
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