Illinois Classifieds

GasBuddy News Article

votes

Renewables will bring golden age of free energy

TG Daily -- Most people understand that once solar panels are paid off, the energy they provide is free. But what about on a national level? ??

Many haven’t really internalized the corresponding fact. The same people worry that government investment in solar, or policies that encourage it, is somehow wasting money. But solar works the same way at the national level. Once the infrastructure is paid for, the energy is free. The same with wind. It is money well spent.

Renewables will bring golden age of free energy. ?A new coal plant must be paid for, too, but after that initial cost is paid, money must continue to be pumped in, day in, day out, shoveling a fresh train-car-load of coal into a furnace every 12 hours, for the next 30 years.

Some nations have invested in so much renewable power in the

Read the Full Article

Submitted Feb 08, 2012 By: angel4me

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Renewables will bring golden age of free energy	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)

bigt61 Veteran Author Virginia Posts:265 Points:165,740 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 10:01:25 AM Ignore bigt61 Report Abuse kx250 said: Here's a reality for that utopia. About the time the wind turbine's pay for themselves, it will be time to replace them and start all over again, shucks. Over time, solar becomes less efficient, not that it ever was very efficient in the first place. Why do you think they have not become mainstream in the marketplace already? Cause the marketplace is already using the most efficient methods? Sorry to burst your anti-carbon balloon - pop! ==================================== Amen - another load of crap from liberals. Give liberal politicians more money and they can control the rise of the oceans and the temperature of the planet. NoBama - 2012. "The good news is that, according to the Obama administration, the rich will pay for everything. The bad news is that, according to the Obama administration, you're rich." P. J. O'Rourke
mike1881 All-Star Author Fayetteville Posts:719 Points:261,805 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 4:25:28 AM Ignore mike1881 Report Abuse Everything costs money. Even renewable energy is pricey up front.
bullman68 All-Star Author St. Louis Posts:596 Points:298,800 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 10:01:49 PM Ignore bullman68 Report Abuse The hidden costs of renewable energy are shocking!
bigmoo63 All-Star Author Kalamazoo Posts:885 Points:56,680 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 9:59:19 PM Ignore bigmoo63 Report Abuse Nothing in life is free. So this has no credence for me.
livable1 Champion Author New York Posts:2,323 Points:283,265 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 9:29:45 PM Ignore livable1 Report Abuse Get serious
kx250 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,426 Points:771,925 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 9:10:02 PM Ignore kx250 Report Abuse Here's a reality for that utopia. About the time the wind turbine's pay for themselves, it will be time to replace them and start all over again, shucks. Over time, solar becomes less efficient, not that it ever was very efficient in the first place. Why do you think they have not become mainstream in the marketplace already? Cause the marketplace is already using the most efficient methods? Sorry to burst your anti-carbon balloon - pop!
TomT2Lee Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:4,225 Points:1,267,755 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 6:23:46 PM Ignore TomT2Lee Report Abuse No free lunch. It is going to cost a lot and there is no guarantee we will survive the transition.
gws2980 All-Star Author Philadelphia Posts:547 Points:171,760 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 5:46:07 PM Ignore gws2980 Report Abuse With solar and wind power we can have can be free from paying others
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,717 Points:1,473,715 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 5:37:44 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse HELLO we will never have a age of free energy. To much greed in this Country to allow this.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:17,405 Points:2,011,270 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 4:46:33 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse what a load of obama............
MotherNatureCT Sophomore Author Connecticut Posts:193 Points:60,675 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 3:18:08 PM Ignore MotherNatureCT Report Abuse Well, personally I need more info but am not totally against it.
doggod Champion Author Anchorage Posts:1,082 Points:391,235 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 2:17:45 PM Ignore doggod Report Abuse Reality Check: PV panels lose a significant amount of output over time, and at the end of the 10 - 20 year amortization cycle typically used to compute the payback from the installation costs, the panels will be producing trivial amounts of electricity. To say nothing of obsolescence from new technologies and, oh yes, hail damage. And then there's wind turbines. Ever look at one of those big fields on a windy day? A significant number won't be turning because of maintenance issues. TANSTAAFL: Translation: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:1,847 Points:599,405 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:41:54 PM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse a dream
eric_tdi Sophomore Author San Jose Posts:246 Points:138,930 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:39:06 PM Ignore eric_tdi Report Abuse There is nothing in the world !! solar panels power output drops with age.. The power inverter go bad (need to convert DC power to AC). And some one need to clean the surface of the panels to keep up the power output...
kag2010 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:3,420 Points:663,335 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:30:40 PM Ignore kag2010 Report Abuse Disadvantages of solar panels need to be considered:
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,057 Points:775,050 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:27:58 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse people hate change. there's always resistance to it. but get on board...solar is the future. (after we reap the benefits of cng, of course)
johntxx All-Star Author Texas Posts:708 Points:257,950 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:27:12 PM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse Disadvantages of solar panels need to be considered: First, cost has historically been prohibitive for most potential consumers. Second, location will continue to be an issue for solar power use. Wet climates will corrode exposed parts more quickly and should be figured into your cost analysis as should areas that get a lot of hail. Cloudy areas may not get enough sun exposure. Third, space for both storage batteries and solar panels can be an issue. Batteries to power your house when the sun isn’t out can take up a significant amount of space. If you are on an electrical grid, you don’t need any batteries. Fourth, maintenance can be an issue. When your solar energy goes out, you can’t just call the power company. If you don’t have an experienced photovoltaic energy technician in your area or if you are not willing to be a bit of a handyman, maintenance is definitely an issue! Fifth, proper disposal of the panels and the batteries when they are at the end of their useful life is important. Both the storage batteries and the panels contain materials that are very toxic. Lead, sulfuric acid, and cadmium telluride are all used in the manufacture of either the batteries or the panels.
gizbo123 All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:516 Points:1,438,425 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:12:54 PM Ignore gizbo123 Report Abuse I'll be dead before i break even with what it costs and the leaky roof from the mounting.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:4,978 Points:395,320 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:08:26 PM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Opinion piece, and nothing is "free". Or is the power generated by these solar arrays going to be transmitted to the user for nothing???
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:17,405 Points:2,011,270 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 1:05:47 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse liberal bovine excrement................
djwhit Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,337 Points:867,055 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 12:56:51 PM Ignore djwhit Report Abuse THATS GREAT.....