I've noticed that the K Newsletter continues to ignore discussing any kind of exotic new AE that could possibly make a significant impact. i.e. Rossie, DGT, BLP. But that is to be expected. The publication has always been quite conservative when it comes to their take on the global energy market. Still, the publication this week had some interesting things to say about conventional AE technologies such as solar and wind power. Just how economical are they, particularly since a lot of government subsidies are about to expire? Apparently a tad more economical than one might initially expect. And it's getting better. See below:
******************************************************************* Can alternative energy continue to thrive... As government subsidies for it evaporate? Federal grants to buy wind and solar gear are gone, replaced with a much less generous income tax credit, and that will cease in 2016. A similar tax credit for wind-generated power bites the dust this year. Some states are pulling back, too. And Calif., for one, has used up its solar credits. Despite all this. Yes, wind and solar are here to stay. They won't overtake fossil fuel use soon, but they are becoming mainstream, giving households and business consumers affordable energy options while offering solid growth for many green energy firms. What will feed demand in the years ahead? Declining equipment costs.in part the result of subsidized imports from China and elsewhere. The cost of rooftop solar panels is about half of what it was a year ago and is headed still lower. Wind turbine prices are also sliding. The import flood isn't likely to be stemmed, despite proposed tariffs. good for purchasers, bad for rival U.S. manufacturers. Innovative financing arrangements. Increasingly, businesses and households are leasing rather than buying equipment, reducing the initial investment needed. Companies such as Sunrun and SolarCity wire customers' rooftops for little or no payment, then charge for the power generated, undercutting utilities' rates... a win-win for power users and installation companies. State targets for more green power. Three-quarters of states already call for a share of power generation to come from renewable sources. The targets increase over time, lifting demand for equipment for renewables, but also nudging up prices for utilities and customers. Rising costs for competing fossil fuel. Natural gas is cheap now but won't always be. Slowly climbing prices in coming years will make renewables more competitive. And new technologies.an area where the U.S. shines. Public and private American labs are at the forefront of efforts to raise the efficiency of solar panels and other generating gear, reduce costs of manufacturing key components and develop ways to store wind and solar energy. And American firms will lead in the engineering and sales of the resulting products. By 2020, wind and solar will have taken their place as two other industries. surviving largely on their economic merits and the pace of technological innovation. ******************************************************************* Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
