Republicans and solar power

[abelenkpe]

I come from a very republican family. They are always stressing being self sufficient and independent. Maybe it's just them but I associate this emphasis on independence with conservatives/republicans. So I don't understand why they aren't 100 percent behind solar and wind power. On a national level pursuing solar and wind makes the US less dependent on foreign energy. On a personal level I know people with solar panels who say their electricity meter runs backwards much of the year. (CA) So why would a group of people who pride themselves on self sufficiency support big oil over solar power?

[Scootaloo]

1. Because "liberals" are for it

Really, that's it.

The conservative movement today is not based around conservative ideals. It's a reactionary cult movement that looks at whatever liberals are for and decides to be against that. Since it is increasingly made of misanthropes and sadists - sane "conservatives" either having ditched or gone into hermitage long ago - it becomes a self-reinforcing ideology. opposition to everything liberals are for brings injury to people and since that brings pleasure to the modern conservative, they become ever-more convinced that knee-jerk opposition to all things "liberal" is a good idea.

[immoderate]

2. Prepare yourself for a shock...

They are, ah... not very bright.

They might even be nice. But not bright.

--imm

[badtoworse]

3. Because it's expensive and not competitive without tax benefits which cost money

[msongs]

5. of course you mean like all the billions of tax benefits given to oil and nuclear nt

[badtoworse]

7. Wind & solar had been getting Section 1603 grants in lieu of tax credits but they expired last year.

Wind also lost production tax credits last year and solar will lose them after 2016. The result? Nobody is doing wind anymore because natural gas has gotten so cheap. Barring substantial further reduction in the cost of solar (which may happen), solar development will tail off when it loses its tax credits.

Natural gas is currently selling for about $2 per MCF. At that price, a modern combined cycle plant can make money generating electricity at $30 or so per megawatt-hour. Even with tax benefits, wind and solar can't come close to matching that price.

What tax benefits does natural gas get? What would gas cost if they went away?

[3waygeek]

4. My ultra-reich-wing parents put solar panels & a solar pool heater

on their house in Florida 3 years ago, spending around $20K. The tax credits were certainly a factor in the decision. Dad figures that they're mostly paid for by now thanks to the savings on his utility bills.

[Odin2005]

6. Renewables are for commie hippie tree-huggers who hate 'murika.

That's the extent of their "reasoning". In their minds renewables is, together with Global Warming, part of a "liberal conspiracy" to destroy "The American Way of Life" and turn us into "European socialists"