| Imagine this, every home in the US with solar | | | | roof of some sort, or, at least their |
| panels on the roof. Each one feeding power | | | | apartment building has a roof. The electric |
| into the national power grid. Or, industrious | | | | generation would be good for what I think of |
| individuals producing biodiesel out on their | | | | as the "helpless" members of society. That is |
| suburban or rural homesteads. How about wind | | | | those who either think it is too much bother |
| generators on buildings in cities making | | | | to do something for themselves or they just |
| power and sending it all into the grid. | | | | are too fuzzy brained to understand how to do |
| | | | it. |
| Historically energy has been produced by big | | | | |
| enterprises that build big facilities to | | | | The power companies could provide the solar |
| generate power and then sell the power to the | | | | panels themselves. They could also do the |
| consumer. Maybe it made sense at one time but | | | | installation and maintenance. I know there |
| it no longer does. Please do not think I am | | | | are some utilities that will let you |
| implying we should scrap ourcurrent | | | | interconnect to the grid with the proper |
| infrastructure and start tearing down | | | | equipment. And the price of that equipment is |
| generating plants, although that might be a | | | | coming down all the time. The homeowner |
| worthy goal in the future. But with the | | | | really would not have to do much of anything |
| technology we have now we should be looking | | | | which seems to be the standard for too many |
| at a differnet model. | | | | Americans. |
| | | | |
| Decentralization makes sense. It is far more | | | | The greatest thing about implementing these |
| secure than a big power generating facility | | | | approaches to energy production is the |
| because it is safe from terrorist attack or | | | | reduced need for new massive coal or nuclear |
| sabotage. Decentralized power generation is | | | | power plants. Did you know there are people |
| also more resistant to weather disruptions. | | | | trying to revive the nuclear power industry |
| Last winter a transmission line went down in | | | | on the grounds that it produces no green |
| our area during a storm and we were without | | | | house gases? They fail to point out that it |
| any power for nine hours while the | | | | produces radioactive waste that no one knows |
| temperature was below freezing with a | | | | what to do with. There have been no new |
| blizzard going on. | | | | nuclear power plants built for decades and it |
| | | | should stay that way. |
| Local fuel production seems to be worthwhile | | | | |
| also. Can you imagine who will work at | | | | What this will all take is individual |
| shooting down this idea. But, why not produce | | | | intitative. Government does not seem to have |
| some of your own fuel for your vehicle. I | | | | the will to do much of anything except get |
| live in the country and could produce my own | | | | re-elected. Industry just seems to have its |
| biodiesel. Interestingly enough, a man in | | | | head in the sand and wants to preserve the |
| Central Illinois was fined by the Department | | | | staus quo. Do a Google search on some of |
| of Revenue for producing biodiesel. They said | | | | these ideas or technologies. You can buy |
| he had not paid fuel taxes on his production. | | | | cheap solar panels on Ebay. I bought six of |
| Now they want him to fill out a monthly | | | | them this year to power small fans to blow |
| multipage form just like a major refinery. | | | | heat into the house from heat collectors. |
| | | | They make a small contribution to our heating |
| This idea is not for everyone. Most people do | | | | needs in the winter. I will continue to |
| not have the space to make a fuel like | | | | expand this idea to cut down on my heating |
| biodiesel or ethanol. Especially if you live | | | | energy needs. |
| in a town or city. But, most everyone has a | | | | |