[cecnj]

The potential for storing solar energy....another possibility. Imagine how much energy this guy could store if he lived here in Nevada instead of western New Jersey!

Completely Off The Grid

[olecapt]

The Las Vegas area and the SW will be the first in this sort of technology. We do not need any storage. Our solar output peaks at the same time as our demand.

When solar reaches the point at which it pays Las Vegas will be among the first...and one reason is that storage is not an issue.

At the moment though it is still a factor greater than two too expensive.

Ten years though it may make it.

[logline]

This is exactly the kind of "Manhattan Project" that Obama needs to implement NOW. The trillions already wasted on 2 wars over the last decade would have already funded it.

Whatever jobs plan he releases next month, it better be as big as the WPA from the 1930's or else he's sunk. Clean, renewable energy is the most logical means of getting millions of people back to work. The benefits are multiple, both economically and geo-politically.

[cecnj]

Originally Posted by logline

This is exactly the kind of "Manhattan Project" that Obama needs to implement NOW. The trillions already wasted on 2 wars over the last decade would have already funded it.

Whatever jobs plan he releases next month, it better be as big as the WPA from the 1930's or else he's sunk. Clean, renewable energy is the most logical means of getting millions of people back to work. The benefits are multiple, both economically and geo-politically.

I agree with you whole heartedly. The idea of storing the abundant power we can harness from the sun can allow Nevadans to not only have all the energy they need but could also be an revenue source if it could be sold back to the grid. Wouldn't it be cool for every Las Vegan to get a little rebate check each year based on how much solar power is sold to other states?

[logline]

Hard to do, but not entirely crazy. Alaskans get a yearly check as a result of their own energy surplus (oil). Admittedly, I'm not sure how their system works, but getting free energy from the sun (and wind) would alone be enough of an economic stimulus to get people back on their feet.

[jhiker1o]

Originally Posted by cecnj

I agree with you whole heartedly. The idea of storing the abundant power we can harness from the sun can allow Nevadans to not only have all the energy they need but could also be an revenue source if it could be sold back to the grid. Wouldn't it be cool for every Las Vegan to get a little rebate check each year based on how much solar power is sold to other states?

But where is NV as far as Solar energy production, why are our local officials not pushing for this renewable energy to benefit locals?? Why is it that another State benefits from Solar energy produced in this State instead of Nevadans?

[dynimagelv]

because our local officials are too busy selling out to Jim Rhodes....more profit in that

[Robustus]

Originally Posted by jhiker1o

But where is NV as far as Solar energy production, why are our local officials not pushing for this renewable energy to benefit locals?? Why is it that another State benefits from Solar energy produced in this State instead of Nevadans?

$/Watt is coming down through the natural progression of PV tech. Another few years, and we'll see the payback period on residential installs dropping to 10yrs or less. Commercial installs will also obviously be a lot more viable. Tons of people and companies will do solar installs here in NV for obvious reasons. Sure, the state could probably kick-start it and get the tipping point to happen slightly sooner with sufficient incentives and whatnot, but it's going to happen anyway - and not through people's desire to be "green"; it'll happen because it saves/makes people money.

[jhiker1o]

Originally Posted by Robustus

$/Watt is coming down through the natural progression of PV tech. Another few years, and we'll see the payback period on residential installs dropping to 10yrs or less. Commercial installs will also obviously be a lot more viable. Tons of people and companies will do solar installs here in NV for obvious reasons. Sure, the state could probably kick-start it and get the tipping point to happen slightly sooner with sufficient incentives and whatnot, but it's going to happen anyway - and not through people's desire to be "green"; it'll happen because it saves/makes people money.

Yes City Hall will be Leed certified but we lost so much opportunity with all these institutions like the Smith Center, World Market, Nevada State Museum, Bonneville Transit Center....you'ld think they will install solar panels to take advantage of the renewable energy abundant in our State.

Nellis Air Force have had their solar panel installations for many years now and yet our city never really developed it further to benefit the general public. Now they are building more solar panels in our desert to benefit others from out of State.

[olecapt]

It is not cost effective. It is not even close.

The cheapest operating system is thermal solar...but the capital costs make it of limited competitiveness. Note that none of these plants would be built if they had to compete directly with fossil fuel. They exist only because of requirements that power come from non-polluting sources.

PV is still out by a factor of three in commercial installations.

Cheapest is coal...than gas.

Storage is a non issue in the first implementations. The sun belt can probably handle half its power with daylight only capability.

Storage cuts the power yield roughly in half. So it is gonna cost twice as much. That is going to be a while before it is cost effective.