[tlj009]

Almost all states have some kind of incentive program--including allowing you to sell power back-- if you can produce your own. Unfortunately solar requires a sizable initial investment. Here's a sample--and these are cheaper than some I've seen. I really think, based on my limited research I would have to invest at least $30,000 for the size of my home and my family. So even with government help that would be a large investment. And if I had had one last month, I probably wouldn't this month--I think hurricane Ike would've taken it.

http://www.solarhome.org/solarhomekits.html

I agree. It would take about $30,000 to run the average home. And that is for a grid tied system. Louisiana does allow you to basically cancel out your electric bill and even sell back at a lower rate. At 5% interest for 10 years that amounts to $325/month. Basically twice the electric bill. I do believe that there are enough people to purchase this anyway if they could do it easily. People will pay for what they want but it is harder to get them to do something if they don't have step by step instructions on how to get it done.

Now if they could cut the price in half or if your electric bill doubles, that would be great. But it would still need to be made easy for people to get.

I have found some home windmills in the $10,000 range. There are problems with on again off again and tying into the regular electric grid but they are available.

Yes, I think it would help if the government would put money into research. Does the government have any money left for that?

Windmills would take a long time to pay for theirself in Louisiana. And they are more obtrusive.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by grand_master_d

So if we're "independent", what happens if we're hit by another Hurricane Katrina? Sure, the impact would be short term, but devastating none-the-less.

If you loose enough of te infrastructure that makes you independant, then you won't be independant any longer.

If you are not short-sighted, then you plan for predicable events... hurricanes, fires, etc.

[The wirerat]

Personally I am not for the government spending money on research. I think there are enough ways to resource yourself in this country that the government does not need to stick its nose into it. Now, I am all for tax breaks or things of that nature for those places that research alternative energy, but when the government is gambling with my hard earned money, I am not happy.

[shamgar001]

I say leave it to the free markets.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by shamgar001

I say leave it to the free markets.

the free markets don't move fast enough. We need a massive shift in our energy supplies yesterday, not when the market gets around to it.

[skyhorse]

Regardless of this crisis, God is in control.

[bravesfan007]

Originally Posted by shamgar001

I say leave it to the free markets.

Originally Posted by Bryan

the free markets don't move fast enough. We need a massive shift in our energy supplies yesterday, not when the market gets around to it.

I think there is some truth in both of your statements. The free market needs to take care of it, but the government needs to intervene too. I don't think that we should quit doing what we're doing and wait until we find a solution. We need to continue operating as normal until we find a resolution.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by shamgar001

I say leave it to the free markets.

The same free markets that got us here? The same ones that have put the pollutants in the air (controlled even now only to governmental regulation), who have failed to improve MPG (again, with the factor keeping it as high as it is being CAFE), the same free markets that have destroied one ecosystem after another, one resource after another (again with some of the exceptions being throuhg regulation)?

Is there a lesson in the current financial crisis about free markets? How many diseases have free markets wiped out (agencies have gotten a couple).

No. Let's not "leave it to the free market". That was Carnigie, and US Oil. That is Somalia.

[bravesfan007]

Jerry, don't take offense to shamgar he was running around yesterday posting randomnly in dead threads just to get some posts in for the contest.

[Qingu]

Originally Posted by skyhorse

Regardless of this crisis, God is in control.

Thos sounds a lot like the "leave it to the free market" answer.