There is another aspect of this debate...and while I know I am repeating myself to many of you...here goes...
As many of you know, I am originally from Ontario.
And as CEO & Founder of an emerging aerospace manufacturing firm, I am with colleagues, and 15 Angel investors, on track to produce an innovative system for the airlines of the world that will reduce their carbon footprint. And I have invested everything I can personally, so I am dedicated to taking action...not just talk.
And we are disrupting a complacent global industry that has ignored the increasing demands to address climate change...until now.
That said, and in contrast to the complacent AEP’s, there are electric utility firms that are accepting the challenges that the climate change crisis demands. Not everyone has the “cling to the past”, or “there’s a war on coal” attitude.
Ontario examined the real cost of coal fired power back in 2005, and determined renewable energy was cheaper when you add the horrific costs and very real external costs of health care and the environment directly attributable to coal. So they embarked on a program to shut down all their coal fired power plants, and completed it by the fall of 2014...and were able to lower their utility rates. (Ontario used to be Arch Coal’s biggest customer!)
So much for the argument that renewables will raise utility rates. Read about it at www.ieso.ca.
And I recently read that all of Canada is now without any coal fired power plants, and there are more jobs in renewable energy than in fossil fuels there...in spite of the Tar Sands Oil push by the Harper Conservative Government.
And in this country, there is another solar success story. One is the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or “SMUD”. I urge all of you, if you have not already from my earlier rants, to go to www.smud.org., scroll down to “Wondering if solar is right for you?”
SMUD executives recognized 30 years ago that they were not going to be able to keep up with the demand for power as the Sacramento are kept growing...so they developed a strategic plan to make their customers their partners in expanding their power capacity by structuring a leasing program to install solar cells on churches, shopping centers and multi and single family residences.
From everything I have been able to read, it’s a solid success.
I simply ask the question...”Why not here?”
Ok, yes I know why the coal industry and the AEPs will answer that...but what about all of us...where is the groundswell of demand and rabble rousing in every PSC and Legislative hearing to get a change in attitude? And make PROGRESS to addressing the very real threat of climate change while accelerating the transition to renewable energy!
At my age, I’m tired of being nice to these “keep my profits safe” opponents.
Your good thoughts?
Allan
From: Allan Tweddle Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 2:20 PM To: Jim Sconyers ; Beth Little Cc: WVHCBOARD@yahoogroups.com ; WVEC ; WV Chapter Energy Committee Subject: Re: [EC] [WVHCBOARD] Utilities want higher charges placed onrooftop solar customers
Jim
I do NOT agree. The utilities are just clinging to the 19th Century concept of large central plants and the inefficient long long lines of a power grid.
It’s the 21st century.
I can make the better case for generating power where and when its needed. It makes more sense financially for the economy, the efficiency of electric power generation (drastically reducing the current line losses), and obviously by dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions which we must do NOW...not in the future.
Huge central plants are as obsolete as horse and buggies, which were the means of transportation when they were invented. They made sense then...but are a Neanderthal today.
And of course we cannot transition to all clean, renewable distributed power over night, but we must accelerate that transition if we are to keep the planet from having a fatal fever...and I am committed to preventing that even though at 83 I may not see it get there...but I do not want it to for my grandchildren and theirs.
And the scientific literature is quite clear...the data overwhelming...we are on a very dangerous course of climate change...or climate disruption as I prefer to call it.
the utilities are pure and simple trying to protect their profits at your expense.
And if you’d like to see what a progressive utility is doing, go to the SMUD* web page and link into their solar energy program...a 20+ year success story of transitioning form a large central plant concept to distributed power making their customers their partners. (*Sacramento Municipal Utility District.)
From: Jim Sconyers Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 1:46 PM To: Beth Little Cc: WVHCBOARD@yahoogroups.com ; WVEC ; WV Chapter Energy Committee Subject: Re: [EC] [WVHCBOARD] Utilities want higher charges placed on rooftop solar customers
I have to say I'm just slightly sympathetic to the elec companies in this one. Net metering customers DO use the distribution system with the expenses that entails.
On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 12:04 PM, Beth Little blittle@citynet.net wrote:
Ooooh, so I’m subsidized. I’m beginning to feel less guilty for not going solar.
At $20 - $25 a month, my bill must be lower than the average. This is despite the fact that I have the full complement of electric appliances – freezer, fridge, water heater, washer, drier (just the motor, the fuel is propane), and various electronics (computer, printer, radios, microwave), even a 220 water pump in the well. I did get energy efficient appliances over the last few years, which lowered my bill noticeably.
The only thing I don’t have is electric heat, although I do use those oil-filled space heaters in the bathroom and office occasionally. Oh, and I don’t have a TV or a coffee maker (use a hand grinder and manual drip).
Does anyone know how this compares with the charge for hooking to the grid with net metering?
From: WVHCBOARD@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WVHCBOARD@yahoogroups.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 1:06 PM To: wvec-board@yahoogroups.com; WVHCBOARD@yahoogroups.com; 'WV Chapter Energy Committee' Subject: [WVHCBOARD] Utilities want higher charges placed on rooftop solar customers
“To be sure, any customer who purchases less electricity than the average is ‘subsidized,’” Young wrote. “It is the average rate structure, not net metering, that shifts costs among retail customers.”
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151005/GZ01/151009735/1102
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