After giving it much thought, I’ve decided that I don’t much want the federal government acting as my investment broker. Only problem is, I have to wait and least another year plus to fire it.
Doesn’t seem like a workable relationship, frankly. At least, not where my interests are concerned.
The primary project (roughly 2/3 of the money) involves relatively mature (and proven) technology, concentrating the sun on a central tower to heat a fluid using a field of mirrors and using that heat to run a turbine. This works fine, but is likely more expensive than coal or oil at this time.
The secondary project is photovoltaic, which to me has a long way to go before it’s viable. Solyndra was, theoretically, manufacturing photovoltaic units.
The usual caveats apply. Solar power is acceptable for adding new power to the grid during peak hours, which are usually in the daytime, but can never be a primary source until we figure out highly efficient ways to store the electricity we don’t need until we do need it.
I’m ignoring the fact of the government appearing to pick winners and losers here. I would much rather we had a flat tax and low business taxes (which are, after all, merely a tax on us anyway), and regulations (not tax breaks or other subsidies) which promoted both innovation and proven technologies, and let the energy companies sort it all out. They have a huge incentive to provide power at the lowest cost possible.
This group has inspired me. In order to help spur the economy and create more “green” jobs, I gave my sixteen year old son a half case of Foster’s Lager oil cans, the directions to the closest girls boarding school and the keys to my car.
low business taxes (which are, after all, merely a tax on us anyway)
So, NO business taxes. Or ONLY business taxes and no personal income taxes or sales taxes. The gubmint needs to knock off the double-, triple-, and quadruple-dipping.
And it’s not hubris, it’s an effort to shove as much money as they can out the door and into the machine’s maw before the voters show up with the torches and pitchforks.
I think we should send these DOE people on a fact-finding trip to see the source of all of that solar energy. I think it would be cheaper than the subsidies in the long run.
Isn’t burning through so much money so fast bad for, you know, global warmerning?
Cronies forever and ever amen.