Solar power outshining Colorado's gas industry

[Baack]

DURANGO, Colo. – The sun had just crested the distant ridge of the Rocky Mountains, but already it was producing enough power for the electric meter on the side of the Smiley Building to spin backward.
For the Shaw brothers, who converted the downtown arts building and community center into a miniature solar power plant two years ago, each reverse rotation subtracts from their monthly electric bill. It also means the building at that moment is producing more electricity from the sun than it needs.
"Backward is good," said John Shaw, who now runs Shaw Solar and Energy Conservation, a local solar installation company.
Good for whom?
As La Plata County in southwestern Colorado looks to shift to cleaner sources of energy, solar is becoming the power source of choice even though it still produces only a small fraction of the region's electricity. It's being nudged along by tax credits and rebates, a growing concern about the gases heating up the planet, and the region's plentiful sunshine.
The natural gas industry, which produces more gas here than nearly every other county in Colorado, has been relegated to the shadows.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091010/...winners_losers

[trigger]

Basically, it seems that the only way solar has / will get any traction is by being pushed hard by local governments. What concerns me about this article is that it explains how exactly it is not in the government's best interest to promote solar - they are getting a huge chunk of their revenues (aka. taxes) from natural gas companies.

From my perspective, it's a question of economics. "In the typical business model, it doesn't work," - That's totally right. It's hard for me to envision a long-term plan for the government if they continue to push for renewable resources. Maybe solor installers and repairers would be hit hard with taxes to make up for the loss from natural gas. The money has to come from somewhere, the other option being that all people who installed solar panels will start paying higher taxes - - isn't saving money the reason they switch in the first place?

[spork.man]

Originally Posted by trigger

From my perspective, it's a question of economics. "In the typical business model, it doesn't work," - That's totally right. It's hard for me to envision a long-term plan for the government if they continue to push for renewable resources.

You're exactly right. I regularly read a guy's blog who lives in Pheonix. His summary, with an economic view and a realistic measurement can be found [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. .

It is probably one of the most realistic assessments coming from a homeowner and a Harvard grad who had done plenty of financial analysis.

[stranger]

"You can't drive an industry on people doing the right thing. The best thing for this country is if gas were $10 a gallon," said Shaw, as he watched two of his three full-time workers install the last solar panels on a barn outside town.

This is what all these wacko greenies want.