vitamin_j

Three Things Obama Will Do to Advance Alternative Energy

I want to see an initiative to put solar on government buildings as much as the next guy, but I think it's premature to say it's "clear" such an initiative will occur. I for one have heard nothing definite on solar from Obama. The only energy "source" he has mentioned as a specific initiative in his transition is efficiency, specifically in schools. If he's made an actual statement that he's going to do something involving solar, I'd appreciate a reference. Otherwise, nothing is "clear" when politics are involved.

"Companies who have domestic production should benefit, including FSLR, STP SPWR, ENER." - Factual error. STP does not have domestic US production (if that's what the vague phrase "domestic production" meant). They have a US sales office, and now a US based installation venture, but no production. They've talked about building a US factory, but haven't yet bc of the credit crisis.

"Wind energy has been proven cheaper than solar and has achieved grid parity to some extent." - This shows a lack of understanding of what "grid parity" means. In California, Hawaii, Italy, and other markets, the annualized cost (over 20-25 years) of installing solar on a large home and the cost of buying grid power at current rates is equivalent. Tiered rates and peak power make a big difference. In places like Alabama, where electricity retails for 7c/kwh, solar's a long way off.

So to compare wind and solar in terms of an abstract "grid parity" is really not meaningful.