Greater Phoenix Economic Council asks CEOs to Push State for Solar Incentives

...sounds great, huh? As usual, the devil is in the details! The whispering has started and I hear that this is something that the legislature is going to be asked to entertain before session ends in two weeks.

Wind ($23.37) v. Gas (25 Cents) - WSJ.com

"Some clarity comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), an independent federal agency that tried to quantify government spending on energy production in 2007. The agency reports that the total taxpayer bill was $16.6 billion in direct subsidies, tax breaks, loan guarantees and the like. That's double in real dollars from eight years earlier, as you'd expect given all the money Congress is throwing at 'renewables.' Even more subsidies are set to pass this year."

Page Nine: What if government harming were covered as extensively as global warming?

A sample of Columnist Craig J. Cantoni's article:

"A recent issue of Time magazine has a cover story about global warming. How original. It’s just one of hundreds of messages that drip on our heads and our children’s heads each day about global warming.

Drip-drip-drip.

Hundreds of other messages drip on us about Big Oil, evil corporations, rampant racism, rising income inequality, and the glories of diversity. The drops come from the media, K-12 schools, universities, and, amazingly, even from corporate advertising.

Drip-drip-drip.

The torrent contains some facts, but most of it is hyperbole and hysteria. I’d rather be water-boarded than endure this form of water torture.

Curiously, messages about government harming are as rare as rain in Death Valley. By “harming,” I mean the insidious and pervasive harm that government is inflicting on the economy and society.

For example, you won’t see this on the cover of Time: THE $800,000 INJUSTICE

The staggering sum of $800,000 is what the unfunded liabilities for entitlements and public pensions will come to -- per child -- if they are bequeathed to the 75 million children under the voting age of 18."

A read that is well worth a minute or two of your time, IMO.

www.windaction.org

Since Mohave County has approved wind generation facilities, I urge everyone to gather all of the facts they can related to this issue. I myself am going to be investigating this proposal and will bring the facts I learn to light.

From this website:

"It's also apparent the Federal government does NOT treat all renewables equally. Subsidies for wind far exceed those paid for Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro, and Landfill gas combined."

and

"Yet, given the unpredictable, intermittent nature of the fuel source, wind energy is the least able, of all renewables, to reliably supply generation during peak periods. Further, wind requires companion generation to address low or no winds conditions, and extensive, costly transmission upgrades to deliver power long distances to load centers."

Who knew a “free” source of energy could be so expensive?

Arizona Beware! Tales from Texas tell of trouble! From the blog Planet Gore on National Review Online:

"Robust wind power expansion is expected, as Texas’ Senate Bill 20 (2005) mandated 5,880 MW of renewable energy by 2015 and set a 10,000-MW target for 2025. (There was a similar bill sponsored this year in Arizona.)

To this end, $700 million went into new wind Texas farms in January, thanks in part to government subsidies. In addition to generous federal assistance — namely a 2 cents/kWh production tax credit and five-year, double-declining balance accelerated depreciation for wind-generating equipment — the state of Texas entices wind developers with

1. a franchise tax exemption to manufacturers, sellers, or installers of wind devices;
2. a corporate deduction from the state’s franchise tax for renewable energy sources;
3. and a 100-percent property tax exemption on the appraised value of an on-site wind power generating device.

But even with these federal and state subsidies, electricity from wind is more expensive per kilowatt-hour than that generated by fossil fuels."

2007 State Budget Win For AZ Families

GROE NOTE: I do not agree with this perspective from the AZ Department of Commerce, a bloated government agency, but am including this press release to highlight a different perspective.

This week, the legislature passed and Governor Janet Napolitano signed into law Arizona’s budget for fiscal year 2007. It is a win for Arizona families, especially when it comes to jobs.

As you know, the scientific research, technology and innovation are keys to the future of the Arizona economy. This budget includes the $35 million 21st Century Fund, proposed by the Governor in her State of the State as Innovation Arizona. Its goal is to attract world-class researchers, accelerate the state’s technology market and bring innovative products to market. The result will be more high-paying jobs for Arizonans, and that will expand industrial growth and increase Arizona’s prosperity.

The Arizona Department of Commerce looks forward to the strong statewide collaboration in this endeavor. It will certainly move Arizona forward.

Gilbert Jimenez, Director
Arizona Department of Commerce
Our Job is JOBS!