Rural Power Companies: Forced Greening?

Right now the Colorado legislature is debating forcing rural Colorado power companies to increase green power sources from 10% to 20%. This will raise power prices in some of the poorest counties in the state. Do you support the new mandate? If alternatives like solar and wind were more economical I would. How about instead replacing more coal power with natural gas? An expensive conversion to start the payback is short.

Science Chic wrote: Why is it assumed that renewable energy costs are more expensive and everyone's rates would automatically go up?

Because if renewable energy sources were cheaper... you would see a boon in private industry supplying the materials and methods to generate it. SC... you know I worked at the National Renewable Energy Lab for 15 years and I've gone round and round on that issue here and on Pinecam... and I'm not going to go into a long winded dissertation again.

Simple answer... with over 35 years of cutting edge technological advancements in renewable energy at the premier government laboratory dedicated to that research (NREL)... they have still not been able to transfer any technology to private industry that is self sustaining in cost. That's a simple fact. And that is far from any sort of putdown of NREL. That lab has some of the best scientists in the area of renewable research. But fact are facts.

Exactly. If renewable energy was competitive utilities wouldn't be forced to use it. So many would happily jump on the positive pr of going green.

Of course Fred neglected to inform that the rise in renewable energy mandates only occurs if the rise in retail price is no more than 2%. If the cost of acquiring renewable energy rises above the 2% retail impact, then lower mandates are imposed. Note that xcel was able to meet the initial 20% standard with little or no increase in prices and is well on the way to higher percentages.

Something the Dog Said wrote: Of course Fred neglected to inform that the rise in renewable energy mandates only occurs if the rise in retail price is no more than 2%. If the cost of acquiring renewable energy rises above the 2% retail impact, then lower mandates are imposed. Note that xcel was able to meet the initial 20% standard with little or no increase in prices and is well on the way to higher percentages.

Can you say "federal solar subsidies?" I knew you could.

Where does the legislation incorporate "federal solar subsidies"? Why is that relevant to the present topic of legislation increasing renewable energy standards in the State of Colorado? What are you babbling about?

Something the Dog Said wrote: Where does the legislation incorporate "federal solar subsidies"? Why is that relevant to the present topic of legislation increasing renewable energy standards in the State of Colorado? What are you babbling about?

The only reason Xcel can offer any sort of programs, cost reductions, energy exchanges and so on is because of federal subsidies... read tax money... but of course you know that... don't you. Renewable energy is not cost-sustaining.

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote:

Something the Dog Said wrote: Where does the legislation incorporate "federal solar subsidies"? Why is that relevant to the present topic of legislation increasing renewable energy standards in the State of Colorado? What are you babbling about?

The only reason Xcel can offer any sort of programs, cost reductions, energy exchanges and so on is because of federal subsidies... read tax money... but of course you know that... don't you. Renewable energy is not cost-sustaining.

And of course you provide no facts to support your babble. Xcel has shown that wind energy (.02 - .03$ per kWh) is quickly approaching the cost of dirty coal, and will in the future become even cheaper than coal. And of course you also know that fossil fuel is heavily subsidized by the taxpayer as well.

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/37657.pdf

I'd like to have that $4 BILLION/year subsidy for the oil/gas companies (who are making annual profits in the HUNDREDS of MILLIONS and DON'T NEED MY TAX-DOLLARS) stay in the treasury too. $4-BILLION would cover the cost of renewable subsidies by a factor of THOUSANDS.

But of course, he knew that too...