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Why didn't the Solar Energy push of 30 years ago have more impact?

Politics can be a weird thing to understand

...and that's why alternative energy, while crucial (yes absolutely crucial) to this country's long term GDP growth versus China, has taken a back burner to more important things. Like the abortion debate, Monica Lewinsky & Ken Starr, National Health care, and Nafta. And gays in the military. God those were the times weren't they?
What is this gibberish I'm speaking of? Why yes, it's ancient history to some of us. But not to me. I remember 1992 and the incredible reverse that America was able to effect (by turning away from Depression-inducing supply side economics aka 'Reaganism') with a Clinton economy. Which turned out to be pretty damn good, you Republican hypocrites!! The billionaire, old and crusty, white, bigoted country club set (aka the Real Republicans) got filthy rich under Clinton. With all that was going on back then, Gore's plans for alternative energy kind of got pushed aside. Bushwacked. By a 2000 election of hanging chads & male/female androgynous Florida election officials. Trust me, I was there. Katherine Harris could turn Hugh Heffner into a Viagara user. We have a choice in 2008. If we can first undo this very un- P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act of a Presidency, and embrace something other than a fanatical McSame, yes we might end up having a sound energy policy.
Solar power, wind, nuclear, and bicycle power are each 100,000x better than oil. We can only hope the Saudis and that tin pot dictator Chavez don't notice as we quietly switch over in the next few years. Or pay $10/gallon sometime in 2012.
Believe me, someone in Chinese government will read this and laugh while their economy turns in another 7-8% year and we languish with not even 1%. Get off the oil standard, or watch the U.S. become a third world country!


right!

Here's another chewy little munchie for you!
Are you aware that the Saudis are boycotting American products? In addition, they are gouging us on oil prices.
Shouldn't we return the favor? Can't we take control of our own destiny and let these giant oil importers know who REALLY generates their profits, their livings? How about leaving American Dollars in America and reduce the import/export deficit?
An a ppealing remedy might be to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up your car you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia . Just purchase gas from companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis.
Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill up my tank, I'm sending my money to people who I get the impression want me, my family and my riends dead. The following gas companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell.................................... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco.................... 144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil........................ 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway............. 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco.................................. 62,231,000 barrels

And CITGO oil is imported from Venezuela by Dictator Hugo Chavez who hates America and openly avows our economic destruction! (We pay Chavez's regime nearly $10 Billion per year in oil revenues!)

The U.S. currently imports 5,517,000 barrels of crude oil per day from OPEC. If you do the math at $100 per barrel, that's over $550 million PER DAY ($200 BILLION pe r year!) handed over to OPEC, many of whose members are our confirmed enemies!!!!! It won't stop here - oil prices could go to $200 a barrel or higher if we keep buying their product.

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco......................... 0 barrels
Conoco........................ 0 barrels
Sinclair....................... 0 barrels
BP / Phillips................ 0 barrels

Hess. ............................. 0 barrels
ARC0............................. 0 barrels

Maverick......................... 0 barrels

Flying J. .......................... 0 barrels

Valero............................ 0 barrels
Murphy Oil USA* ............. 0 Sold at Wal-Mart , gas is from South Arkansas and fully USA owned and produced.

*Not only that but they give scholarships to all children in their town who finish high school and are legal US citizens..
All of this information is available from the U.S. Department of Energy and each company is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

But to have a real impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers. With the help of the internet, it's really simple to do. Copy this information and email it to everyone on your lists, especially if they are, or work for, a gas company. Send the SOB's a clear message.


Amen!!!!!

Yes! Thank you, I couldn't have said it any better myself. The more people in this country who take up the battle cry, the sooner we can tell these crooks to stuff it! Carry on!


Solar tech

The technology is sound and working everywhere
People don't know how to install these systems
Leadership insists that the technowlogy hasn't been developed sufficiently, so everybody believes it.
Back to paying the same monopoly, everybody groan.


maybe every1 dont have the

maybe every1 dont have the money to do that have u ever thought of that


you are right

The cost of alternate technologies has purposely been kept high to keep us from it, but, with a little ingenuity, and drive, we can find alternatives. The bottom line here, really, is that most of us are just too damn lazy to do something about it.


Solar growth (outside of TVA)

Solar electric systems are going in by the hundreds of thousands around the country and the globe...more than 2 gigawatts last year alone...the development of solar has been remarkable but not inside the TVA service areas even though the solar resource is much greater there than in many areas where the bulk of equipment is going...it works very well much further north than Tennessee...if you can calculate past 8-years the cost of solar is a great investment at todays prices and with 40+ year generation life with NO fuel costs to operate...!


ahh, but that initial outlay! ouch!!!

most of us can't afford the initial cost of the systems, which have been kept up there by 1. greed, 2. politics trying to keep the technology from the masses, and 3. greed, (you can't tell me that a fourty dollar alternator and some plastic and circuitry cost twelve to twenty three hundred dollars), and that's just the generator, now let's spend another three thousand on the batteries and support electronics to tie it into your home grid, and the cost of labor for a qualified electrician to tie it in, and voila, you just spent between $3500 and $15000 which your good masters,(government), will not give you a break on, to get off the grid. Congratulations, hope your third mortgage works out well for you.


I can't beleive so many people are being duped by Obama

He's got no substance. Change...what change? He's still a politician who will tell you what you want to hear. He will be the worst President ever if he wins. Honestly I don't like ANY of the candidates. Republican or Democrat. Everyone wants to think black men and women are still slaves. They are to their past because they won't let it go. ANY man or woman can be ANYTHING they want to be if they put forth the EFFORT to ACHIEVE it. I know there are still hurdles, but many of them are the same hurdles ANYONE faces. Did you know black MEN had the right to vote before ANY Women? I'm just really tired of the race card always being flashed. I could careless what color of skin you have. Color doesn't make a man or woman. It's who they are as a person that makes them who they are. I know black men/women I'd do absolutely anything for or to help. Just like I know white and black folk I wouldn't give a plug nickel for. Its not the color of their skin, its their actions that come from within that makes them who they are. Good or Bad, Period.


Another "off topic" poster that just wants to mouth off!

You want to talk politics - find the proper forum! You just look idiotic when you post negative hype all over the web.

People are intelligent, they can choose a candidate for themselves, they don't need negative wankers mouthing off all over the net - ESPECIALLY in the wrong places.

As for solar power, there is a fantastic resource I found on the web for those interested in getting access to this technology.
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1506/video/watchonline.htm
This PBS special was great! The 3rd part tells about some new solar material that outpowers the old solar panels, is more durable and less costly too!

Take a look and try to "go green" as much as you can! Each of us help the world, with each step we take towards a greener tomorrow.


"ANY man or woman can be

"ANY man or woman can be ANYTHING they want to be if they put forth the EFFORT to ACHIEVE it."

So, this doesn't describe Obama how?

Well, even if Obama were one of the worst people alive, a slug could perform better than the lying, incompetent George W. Bush.


WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO WITH

WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO WITH SOLAR POWER???????????????????????
WRONG SOAPBOX!


solar Energy

the biggest thing about solar Energy is and was the cost to the individual.


re: solar Energy cost

the cost of Solar Energy is long term, and over a 10 year period of time you WILL make your investment back. In the meantime, you will see inflation kick gas from today until 2010 or so in such a way that your investment will pay back quicker. Cheap energy=lazy citizens. Let's have some faith that some of us will say enough is enough! it's time to use some alternatives.


Solar Energy

I voted all of the above so the last two would be covered. In all the technology did pan out but was not pushed by the gov't nor purchased in great quantities by us. Mainly because of the price, but I believe with the technology advancements of late we could produce this in a much more cost effective manner. It is because it is such a cheap energy source the power companies do not want us to have it. Just like windmill energy, people don't want to see a windmill in their neighborhood. These are the people that should get a life and realize we need to conserve all our resourses because if we don't noone will have coal, oil or enough nuclear energy to go around.


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