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solar power advantages
Pemberton Council has lengthy solar debate
A lengthy discussion of a proposed ordinance to regulate solar and wind uses for power ended inconclusively. The consensus appeared that there are some big potential advantages, including cost savings, but there are also some potential drawbacks.
Benefits in Using a Solar Power System in Your Home
Solar Power Questions:
What would it take to convert a housing community from fossil fuels to solar energy in the home?
Serious discussion here.
How feasible is the idea of communities, towns, even whole cities being powered by solar energy? At the most, how about these communities being fractionally powered by solar energy; 40% Solar/ 60% Fossil fuels?
We're not getting all George Jetson, here. We have practical means by which to make something like this happen. My research has lead me to believe the problem comes in with the initial setup.
If this is so, what would it take to materialize the dollars? Should each State solicit a 'solar energy' tax; money dedicated to fund R&D solutions for citizens? Is it something that can be solicited to big business in exchange for free plugins; Staples invests in a solar power grid in Downtown Los Angeles... and calls it 'The Staples Power Center".
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power#Advantages_and_disadvantages_of_Solar_power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_ponds
First of all, look for existing incentives from the federal and state government. Federally, there is a 30% tax credit and some states offer as much as $5.00 per Watt rebates. You can get more information here: http://www.desireusa.org
Secondly, there are some up and coming technologies that will offer better economics than PV panels in the near future. Check out http://www.infiniacorp.com/
http://www.sandia.gov and http://www.nrel.gov
Third, for the kind of project you describe, it really comes down to financing. This will be easiest if you are planning to build a new community. Find a lender (bank or government) that will allow home-buyers to roll the solar energy system into their mortgage. This practice, along with a healthy rebate, helped to make Japan the PV capital of the world a few years back.
On a larger scale, many states are enacting renewable portfolio standards which legally require utilities to generate a certain fraction of power from solar, wind or biomass. RPS programs are also described on the DSIRE website listed above.
