Kittitas County, Washington, is experiencing sticker shock for a proposed 75 megawatt solar power plant as the true cost of solar power is coming in at more than three times the promised price, says H. Sterling Burnett, a senior fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis.
- On July 9, Howard Trott, managing director of Teanaway Solar Reserve, the company proposing the plant, estimated it would cost approximately $100 million to build what would be the largest solar power plant in the world.
- By mid-August, Teanaway revised its estimate to more than $300 million, and other analysts fear the final cost may be much higher still.
- Based on calculations by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the price tag of the Teanaway solar power plant would be a minimum of $525 million and could rise as high as $750 million.
The council was established by Congress in 1980 to develop a regionwide electric power plan to guarantee adequate, reliable energy at the lowest economic cost while protecting environmental resources.
Solar power is an expensive alternative source of energy, says Burnett:
- Solar power currently costs three-and-a-half to four times the price of conventional power purchased on the spot market.
- When stripped of subsidies and preferential tax treatment, moreover, solar power is between 570 percent and 887 percent more expensive to produce than coal power, according to a recent study by Tufts University economics professor Gilbert Metcalf.
- Adding to the costs of solar power is the fact that solar panels deliver direct current, while the Northwest power grid uses alternating current.
- Converting from direct to alternating current boosts costs, and power is lost in the process; Trott estimates the loss would be about 2 percent but could be higher.
- In addition, power from solar plants fluctuates with the intensity and amount of sunlight and passing clouds, so the Northwest power grid will have to be upgraded to adjust for such fluctuations.
Source: H. Sterling Burnett, "Solar Sticker Shock Hits Washington County," Heartland Institute, November 1, 2009.
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This is just the beginning… If Cap and Trade passes (Kerry/Boxer Bill worse than even House Bill, we will all be sitting in the dark wearing Snuggies, eating crackers and cheese, if we are lucky!
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Environmental Swine
My friend Mary wrote the other day to tell me of her grandfather’s dilemma. He’s involved in important litigation aimed at saving his farm, his family business, and hundreds of agricultural jobs in North Carolina. His problems have been produced by a series of unfortunate events. Among them is a radical environmental movement that cares more about trees and fish than it does about human beings (FULL STORY)
Of course, you can just look at the situation in California’s Central Valley, allowing people to go hungry and lose they livelihood over a 2” Minnow… Thank you Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein; 3 liberals that have to go!! - Sean Hannity Travels to California’s Fields (Updated)
The Great Man-Made Global Warming Swindle
Arctic Sea Ice Video (Jan 2000 - May 2009)
(Obama) Kerry and Boxer Despair and and Negative Transformation that you can believe in. These radicals need to go!!
The Kerrys are largely involved with the notoriously radical Tides Foundation
Kerry, Boxer and Obama are all pushing the global warming hoax and and Cap and Trade… a huge power grab and tax on America.
Barbara Boxer and Secy Hillary Clinton are leading the charge to pass the global children’s rights treaty, which will help the United Nations Usurp American Parent’s Rights… On Parental Rights
Related Resources:
Gore-Backed Car Firm Gets Large U.S. Loan
Senators to Unveil Draft Climate Bill
HYSTERIA: Exposing the secret agenda behind today's obsession with global warming
Read the book that started it all: Al Gore's "Earth in the Balance"
"The Sky's Not Falling! Why it's OK to chill on global warming"
“Beware the prophet that has much to profit!” … Dennis Miller (Al Gore anyone…?!?).
Watch and take Part in Big Hollywood Premiere: Not Evil Just Wrong – The Movie Al Gore does not want you to see!!!
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