Danny Newton

Solar Stocks: J.P. Morgan Shuffles Ratings

I don't understand the connection between oil and solar. Very little generation is done by diesel and gas. Solar can not take over the fraction produced with oil. If you need that much energy, a fuel cell would be better and cheaper than a large array and it would work any time of the day. The fire marshall will be a little squimish about having the hydrogen and the oxygen in the building, though. When we get fire marshals in space, we will have to retire the shuttle.

The whole idea that utilities will use a higher fraction of renewables by increasing renewables is predicated on the theory that more renewable sources are easily built. To meet Cap and Trade goals at least $688 Billion in solar must be built and the energy produced would only take care of the population increase for about 8 years if you ignore the 30% loss in converting from DC to AC and the line losses which could be as high as two kilowatts lost for every three produced. Energy generation is not immune to Cap and Trade Legislation. All forms of generation will be more expensive but turning off the offending power will not cost the utility a lot of money. The effect of making everything more expensive seems no different than suffeing a massive inflationary surge. It was high inflation costs that were implemented in cost overruns in the atomic power programs in the 70's.

Turning off the coal spigot will mean rotating blackouts which will be cheaper for the utility companies but not for, hospitals, ISP's credit card companies and air traffic control facilities. They have their own back up systems which are based in oil. It won't be long before the power company charges higher fees for being onn 24 hours a day. All of the general rules about doing the wash and the dishes at night might have to be revised.

The first blackout should be in Washington,