Gov. Sarah Palin, while on the campaign trail, touted the mantra “drill Baby drill” when discussing the energy concerns facing the United States. But, in addition to drilling in our own country, she is an ardent supporter of looking at ALL energy strategy plans.
In the South, a new strategy is emerging: a partnership between the Consumer and the Producer.
For example, Duke Energy in North Carolina is leasing space from business customers. The space they are leasing — the ROOFTOPS of large warehouses, storefronts, and in some cases, even homes. The space they are leasing is then equipped with SOLAR PANELS, and the power generated is put directly into Duke Energy’s power grid stream. The key factor in this plan is that Duke Energy is not installing solar panels in sprawling acreages, but is instead utilizing space in conjunction with that space’s primary use.
This program will be interesting to watch in the coming years to see if it has an economic viability.
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November 23, 2008 at 6:30 am
Interested Bystander
JAMES,
The technology is available now for us to be off of oil as far as transportation goes. We could probably pump enough oil here in the US for the rest of what oil is needed for.
Not sure if these new energy sources are feasable now with the price of oil down do about 50 bucks a barrel now. Maybe when it was 147 dollars a barrel alternative energy could have been competitive. Kind of shows us that consumers do affect the prices.
It has been great svaing all of that money at the pump. I paid $1.71 a gallon this week, and Friday the price was down to $1.54.
I would also like to comment on the auto bailout.
With the head of the UAW on TV saying that the Union wasn’t willing to give anything up to help the big three, I say then punish them by not “loaning” them money.
Did you see the look on their faces when asked to raise their hand if they flew to DC on a Commercial airline? And then they were asked if they were willing to sell their private jets “where they sit”, and fly back commercial, and they had that same “who me?” look.
It is my belief that the best course for GM, Ford and Chrysler would be to file bankruptcy, and let the courts decide.
They have no plan as to how to get out of their mess. How can you “loan” with no plan being put on the table? Just keep throwing money at them. They made money hand over fist the last 20 years or so, what did they do with all of that?
Another thought would be to have the oil companies bail out the big three. They benefit the most from what is produced by the big three.
Let me end my post by putting out there that I believe all of this finacial “crisis” we are in, has to do with the example that Government sets for the rest of us. Talk about living beyond our means? Look at what the Federal Government “pays” out compared to what they bring in. Why wouldn’t everyone (including businesses) follow their example? I’m thinking about not paying our mortgage for the next few months to see what the Government will do for me.
We need to get our fiscal house in order, before we go trying to “bail out” others.
November 23, 2008 at 8:03 pm
JAMES
IB: You are so correct that the government set a very poor example. And after sending the Big 3 back to come up with a plan, that moron that is the Speaker of the House has the unmitigated audacity to tell them that if she likes the plan, she’ willing to have you and I give them 75 BILLION.
Since when is failure so well rewarded!?