U.S. unveils new solar expansion plans

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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White House solar panels power up

Barack Obama will on Friday unveil several new initiatives intended to expand the deployment of solar power on Friday, as officials confirmed that a set of solar panels on the roof of the White House was now operational.

Obama will – once again – bypass a deadlocked Congress and use his executive authority to announce $2bn funding for energy-saving measures at federal government buildings, as well as new financing and training programmes for solar installations.

The announcements, to be made on a trip to California, cap a climate-focused week at the White House, following the release of an authoritative report on the growing threat posed by heat waves, severe downpours and sea-level rise.

White House officials told a conference call with reporters the initiatives were intended to add momentum to the solar industry, which has seen rapid expansion over the last two years.

“We are going to be doing everything we can, with the tools that we have to move forward,” said Dan Utech, special assistant to the president on energy and climate change.

In a largely symbolic move, the White House began installing a small set of solar panels on the roof last summer. The fit was now complete, officials said, releasing a video in which the panels were shown being installed. “The size of the array we established here is the typical size for the average American house, ” said James Doherty, the White House usher. Security concerns had prevented the whole roof being covered, he said.

The solar panels were part of a broader energy retrofit at the White House, demonstrating it was possible to introduce renewable energy even in historic buildings, officials claimed.

Solar panels were originally installed at the White House under Jimmy Carter, but Ronald Reagan ordered them dismantled in 1986. Obama brought in the latest solar technology as a sign of his commitment to renewable energy.

The panels will repay the costs of installation within eight years, officials said.

Solar power is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in America. However, it still acounts for just 1% of overall electricity generation, according to the Energy Information Administration. The White House has been working to challenge companies such as Walmart and Ikea to expand their use of solar power.

The president travelled to California on Friday to visit a Walmart store in Mountain View, where the company will commit to doubling its use of solar power.

Walmart already produces and uses more solar power than any other big-box retailer – more than twice as much as Costco, its nearest competitor. That still amounts to only about 4% of its overall energy use provided by solar power, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The environmental group Friends of the Earth said holding up Walmart as an example was misguided. “Walmart has both under-reported its greenhouse gas emissions and failed to meet its 2012 targets,” the group said.

The measures outlined on Friday add to a suite of programmes that have made it more easier and more affordable for companies and homeowners to install solar panels.

Tax credits have helped offset the costs, and the price of solar panels has fallen by half just since 2010.

On Friday, Obama will announce measures designed to make solar panels affordable even for multi-family houses, and new programmes to train solar installers at community colleges.

White House solar panels power up | Environment | theguardian.com
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
108,748
11,087
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Low Earth Orbit
After closing 28 power stations and a doubling of price per kWh, solar just might break even with all it's subsidies (real ones).
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,778
454
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Now that cost to business and consumer has doubled per kWh over 5 years.
PS call a sparky for a line filter. The sh-tty off frequency wind power will kill all your electronics.

This coming from the guy who criticizes AGW as fear mongering rofl
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
192
63
Nakusp, BC
This glass sphere might revolutionize solar power on Earth

German architect André Broessel, of Rawlemon, has looked into his crystal ball and seen the future of renewable energy. In this case it’s a spherical sun-tracking solar energy-generating globe — essentially a giant glass marble on a robotic steel frame. But this marble is no toy. It concentrates both sunlight and moonlight up to 10,000 times — making its solar harvesting capabilities 35 percent more efficient than conventional dual-axis photovoltaic designs.


more: This glass sphere might revolutionize solar power on Earth | The Mind Unleashed
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
4,336
113
Vancouver Island
Glad you admit there is an economic interest in solar.

There is an interest in collecting taxpayers dollars for nothing. People that arepaying for nothing may not be quite so happy.

The USA no longer has a civilian manned space program. Americans are earthbound.

But they got acres of solar pannels that will never recoup their cost.
 

BaalsTears

Senate Member
Jan 25, 2011
5,732
0
36
Santa Cruz, California
Solar arrays fry birds including, but not limited to, endangered raptors. Solar arrays interfere with the habitat of endangered species like the desert tortoise. There must be environmental impact statements, and then years of litigation in federal district courts and federal appellate courts.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,778
454
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She's a beaut isn't she?

This is probably the biggest middle finger to the deniers you'll ever see.

 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
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Vancouver Island
All we deny is the current cost effectiveness of current installations. At some point solar will quite possibly be competitive in some parts of the world. But don't forget the environmental hazzards associated with them. Same goes for wind. For everything we do there are tradeoffs. Even Hydro power is not without environmental impact.