If there wasn't money to be made in wind projects you wouldn't get the likes of Google and Citi investing in it. You wouldn't have Southern California Edison signing a 25 year power purchase agreement for power from the Alta Wind Farm. The Altamont Pass wind warm provides a fair chunk of the power for the San Francisco Bay Area and doesn't do it at a loss.Originally Posted by Dave Cutter .
It seems that forums are packed full of "tax payers" that want to invest countless dollars in both taxes and devalued savings [dollars]. Yet... in my rich and full "real life" I never meet such individuals. All the tax payers I know realize how foolishly throwing money away is unaffordable to everyone. The only people I've ever meet [in real life] that want to double-down with tax spending are people who don't actually pay taxes. Or those who believe they can profit from the wastefulness.
Of course... I guess everyone [likes to] think of themselves as tax payers. Since they pay taxes on their cigarettes, beer, gasoline, and sales tax in most states. But [real] tax payers that lay out thousands and thousands [10's of 1000's] every year, of real hard earned [sweat, blood, and long hours over decades] cash money.... really hate to just **** away that wealth.
I've never found it easy to earn money! So forgive me for not wanting to gamble it away for half-baked pie-in-the-sky [old worn out] ideas. If you really think there is profit in your ideas... invest in your ideas and dreams. Even if you lose every cent you have... you'll still be better off than just being an Internet name-calling mooch... wanting to spend the hard earned cash of others. And... maybe you'll be smart and right and I will surely look foolish then.. won't I? You will make millions with solar panels on your roof and a windmill in the back yard. And I will be the foolish old guy that didn't invest in "NEW technologies".
Yeah.... that's the ticket! Use that earned income tax credit to make investment millions. That will show me... and everyone else!
Years ago people said that hydroelectric power would never really be feasible. Now the largest power plants in the world are hydroelectric facilities. The largest in the US is a hydroelectric facility.
You like to make it seem as though these facts aren't somehow facts but things have progressed a little in the last 20 years
As for gasoline and progress... What is the future for the internal combustion engine powered by gasoline? Refined technology has allowed fun cars such as the Tesla Roadster and more the more mundane Nissan leaf to run on electricity for a fairly respectable range. You won't be driving across country in one any time soon in a hurry but for the average commute the Leaf might be one way to go. There's CNG - which also gets you into the HOV/Carpool lanes in most states. Cheaper fuel, reasonable range,a growing installed base of refueling stations and a reduced commute time in a good number of metropolitan areas. Hydrogen... that'd be an interesting prospect but despite the facts that say that a hydrogen fuel cell will survive any impact that would have killed the occupants of the car, the thought of having a Hindenburg in the trunk does seem to sit too well with most folk. If most folk knew that gasoline was just as deadly and in most cases was in something that really isn't massively strong, they might be a little scared. Hydrogen required a lot of electricity to produce it - something that is the bane of life at the refinery that I work at. We're trying to build a new hydrogen plant, the plans were approved, construction started but a small group of protesters protested and we now have a near $200million plant half built and starting to rust... Doh! But due process is due process and more court dates are in order.
As much as people ***** about the cost of gas, not that many seem willing to give up their personal tank (mid to large SUV or 1/2+ ton truck) but always comment about the $100 required to fill the tank. Fark that - I'd never commute in the old Camaro nor would I want to **** away 91 octane gas in the S2000 because when I drive it keeping it between 6,000 and 9,000rpm is just too much fun and nets about 12mpg - so while the HOV lanes allowed the Prius in them with a single occupant, I snapped up a used one of those (the Gen 2) for $10k. 210,000 miles and still pulling 45mpg at 75 to 80mph during the early morning commute and life is good. Life Dr Who's Tardis it'll seat 4 adults and a kid, with luggage and has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. Still on the original brake pads, rotors and shoes... The only thing requiring anything beyond regular maintenance was the inverter coolant pump and at just over $100 I'm not really complaining about that do it at home, 2 hour fix.
Money needs to be invested in new technologies. If that wasn't the case then we wouldn't be where we are today and we'd still be chasing beasties across wild plains without the aid of spears or knives. At least we wouldn't have to deal with the problems of obesity or Obama care...