Pending Vote; Stimulus Money for Solar Rebates

[Dennis J. Fleming]

Stop the madness of tax rebates for solar energy!

We, the people, need to not be seduced by the siren song of solar energy!

I understand the Florida Legislature will meet Tuesday, November 16, to vote to use Stimulus money to support solar energy. In essence, this will result in borrowing money from China to support manufacturing solar systems overseas.

Let your representative know you do not support this action.

Consider;

Studies filed with the Florida Public Service Commission indicate the cost of solar hot water systems exceeds the benefits of the system. In addition, the cost of solar electric panels exceeds the benefits obtained during the life of the panels (20 years).

Still the PSC requires utilities to promote solar energy.

The term used in the industry is “benefit/cost ratio”.

The studies include benefits and costs during the life of the asset being evaluated.

If the ratio is 1 or larger the benefits equal or exceed the costs.
If the benefit/cost ratio is less than one, the costs exceed the benefits.

A solar water heater or solar electric panels on a roof only make economic sense if other people help pay for the system and the owner receives all the benefits. Is this morally wrong?

Electricity from the sun (solar PV) is a fifty year old technology (first patents in 1950’s) that has failed to become economically viable. This failure is in spite of uncounted taxpayer support.

The manufacturers in the solar PV industry are large multinational companies.

Solar hot water is also a last century technology widely used in Florida in the middle of last century. When electric power became available people replaced their solar water heaters with the less expensive electric water heaters.

Governments should stop taking money from one group of taxpayers and giving it to other taxpayers to support solar energy companies. Solar technology should be allowed to succeed or fail on its own merits.

If large multinational corporations cannot make solar energy technology economically viable after 50+ years of taxpayer supported development it should be allowed to fail.

The statement “sunlight is free” is a non-topical. If you thing otherwise put your microwave in the front yard on a sunny day and let me know if you can cook dinner with it. I expect you will have the same results you would have if you placed your microwave on a pile of “free” coal in a coal mine. Alternately, hold a light bulb in sunlight and see if it lights. The cost is in the conversion of sunlight or coal to electricity. Solar energy continues to be the most expensive form of energy.

When I consider the money spent to make solar energy something it isn’t I remember the story from my childhood, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. It is time for someone to speak up and state that the “the Emperor has no clothes!”

Notify your representative in Tallahassee and tell them to refuse to use taxpayers’ funds to support the solar industry.