Renewable Energy is Struggling against Polluting Firms
The global transition towards greener power sources such as wind, solar and water is being obviated by businesses heavily relying on polluting sources of energy
Jimmy Eriksson | Renewable Power News | Apr 4, 2010
In Atlanta, Georgia, the energy firm Georgia Power is lobbying to make it difficult harness solar power for residents. For instance, the Dekalb County System was willing to install solar cells on the rooftop of their school. In their surprise, it was too costly to set up the photovoltaic structure due to the Territorial Electric Service Act of 1973, which authorize Georgia Power with monopoly power.
According to James Marlow, vice chair of the Georgia Solar Energy Association, there are several regulations that are preventing solar energy to grow in Georgia.
The hugest hindrance encountered by any business when trying to change to solar energy is the initial cost involved. However, usually PPA schemes are used to alleviate this obstacle. The scheme allows the businesses to buy the panels at no cost as the company providing the panels will finance them.
When using such scheme the solar installation company would be the owner of the panels for up to 20 years. According to Marlow, PPA clients do usually pay the cost of the panels after a span of 5 years. They can then save money for the remaining 15 years. It would also reduce the dependency on dirty energy.
The gloomy Territorial Act in Georgia prevents private business from using the PPA. The very fact that Georgia Power is a monopoly means that the energy can only be sold to them. The result is that businesses fail to pay the cost of installing solar panels at the very start.
Solar Energy Should be promoted
In other states, solar energy is being promoted. In Colorado, another approach is used to promote solar energy. Households who do not generate energy from solar panels are charged a monthly fee of 50 cents. The fee is diminutive but it shows that the trend is towards solar power.
Other companies such as Florida Power & Lights are expanding and constructing 3 solar facilities that will provide 110 MW of electricity. Another solar player is Duke Energy in North Carolina, which are about to invest 50 million on rooftop installations.
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is opposed to solar development as it follows the regulations laid out by the earlier act. However, it is also directly hindering the birth of clean energy by investing in cheap and unclean sources of energy. The company is already trying to construct two new coal reactor and two new coal plants. The construction of dirty cheap sources of energy will tarnish the demand for clean technology.
It appears that some polluting companies are blocking green technology from emerging into the market. Many big energy companies are lobbying against policies supporting renewable energy. They say that going for renewable energy will drive up the cost of energy. The ultimate payer is the consumer.
Marlow says that cheap dirty energy has a cost that people usually neglect. For instance, an indirect cost could be that people who live near to coal plants have a higher risk of suffering from asthma.
It is sad to see renewable energy grow only in some concentrated areas. Twenty-nine states have renewable goals established. California and Colorado are the leaders whereby they are heading for a portfolio of 30 percent of renewable energy by 2020.
Georgia has no green objectives enacted yet. They are foregoing clean and green technology due to legal restriction. In some areas new polices and legislations would be required to facilitate the introduction of clean sources of energy such as solar and wind.
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