The Future Is In Solar Power

A chicken in every pot and solar panels on the roof.

 

You really asked that? The answer is just about every day. But just the straight ones.

 

Solar energy.

"Our Mr. Sun," 1956. (Directed by Frank Capra)

 

It's a better investment than a bowling alley.

 

When the cost of electricity gets high enough (and it will), then consumer demand for solar panels will place them on every house.

As of right now, the demand is not quite there, but it is getting close.

 

I'm still waiting for the metric system to kick in.

 

It has around the world, and it is much easier to use.

Guess what a litre of water weighs?

 

Finding the right vision is pretty important to a successful Presidency.

Putting a man on the moon struck a chord with the majority. It was not a divisive issue.

Reagan Star Wars and tax cuts were also important and for the most part unifying visions.

Under the radar but also important was Eisenhower vision of Interstate Hgwy system

Most on board when Bush declared "War on Terror" but history now shows it has proved to be divisive.

 

Is the answer socialism?

 

2.20462262 pounds

 

They were selling solar panels at less than it cost them to make them. And, the solar panels still weren't cost effective. Now, that's both an indictment of the company and the efficiency of the technology.

It's not a question of demand. You have it backwards. When they can produce a reliable, cost effective solar panel, there will be plenty of demand. It's a technology problem. The technology doesn't exist, and may never exist.

And that price is subsidized, right? What's the true cost?

Also, how long will the panels last? How often do I need to climb up on the roof and clean them? How well do they work with snow piled up on them?


Investing in the R&D of solar power is great. Hopefully someone comes up with a breakthrough.

Until then, I'm not sure why we're pushing the production and installation of inefficient solar panels. It would be like telling someone who is sick to take a pill that won't cure him, but if he buys it, it will fund further research that might produce a pill that would cure him.

And, honestly, even if we do come up with a breakthrough design in solar panels, does anyone expect them to be produced in the USA long term?

They'll surely be made in China or some other low labor cost country.

 

Or like giving a diabetic insulin. That doesn't cure him either, but it keeps him from dying. What's the point of that, anyway?

And as expensive as it is, it damn sure better be paying for something.

Analogy fail.