On Mar 29, 10:16*am, wrote:
On Mar 29, 10:41*am, "Bill" wrote:

Other countries are *doing* something about this situation. For example
Germany passed a law to increase its share of renewable power to 12.5% of
the country's total power generation by 2010 and to 20% by 2020.

They are installing solar power left and right in Germany!

We could do the same, but I suppose the large oil companies which control
the U.S. government do not want this, so it will not happen here.

If the oil companies control the US govt, how come there is no
drilling in ANWR? * How come there is no drilling off the east coast
of the US?

And exactly what law or govt action is stopping anyone from installing
solar power?

The reason solar power isn't being installed is it's prohibitively
expensive. * Here in NJ, you can get a system for an average house for
$50K. * The state has a program, funded through a tax on everyone's
electric bill, to help pay for it. * So, they will kick in maye $30K,
leaving the homeowner to pay $20K. * *Just looking at the $20K cost,
it takes about 8 years for the system to pay for itself through
eliminating the monthly utility bill and selling electric back to the
utility. *That ignores the true economic cost, particularly the other
$30K.

Now, look at that in a commercial setting, which is what is needed to
make a significant impact. * You'd have to get the $50k somewhere,
typically it's borrowed. * At 6% interest, that would be $3K a year in
interest alone, which is more than the electric generated is worth.
Add in depreciation, maintenance, ROI, etc, and it just gets worse.

That's why no one is rushing out to build solar electric. * Just
because the Germans want to throw their money down a rat hole, doesn't
mean it's economically viable or that there is some oil conspiracy
blocking the US from doing it.



Might want to write your elected representatives, but if you are not
enclosing a large campaign contribution (buying their vote), expect your
request to go in one ear and out the other!

"Brian" *wrote in message

This may be off topic but here goes............

The price of home heating oil here in New Hampshire, USA just hit $3.799 a
gallon, up $1.50 since
September..... *My question is, are we the only ones getting screwed here
in the US or has the price
gone up as much in other countries around the globe ????? *I believe we're
getting it shoved up our
backsides because of George Bush's war ****ing the rest of the world off,
but that's just my
opinion... *Please, I'm not looking to start a long flaming thread here,
just interested in what
other people in other "non Bush" countries are paying...............

Thanks- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Now that everything has been said about the subject. We should all
dim our lights today to "Go green". It's going to save us from
ourselves.

Green this "\~!@#$%^&*()_+\"