[ExI] Small scale solar payback time (was Re: Planetary defense)

[Kelly Anderson]

On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 2:10 AM, BillK <pharos at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 8:32 AM, Kelly Anderson  wrote:
>> All that's left to make happy are the Capitalists... once the
>> capitalists are satisfied with solar, it will become very widespread
>> very quickly. Wind is spreading quickly now because at least some
>> Capitalists have found joy in the wind. I think it's only a matter of
>> time for the Capitalists to be made happy on this one.
>>
>> I really truly can't understand why Rush Limbaugh is so negative about
>> solar. Ignorance is one possibility, but I can't imagine that being
>> the only answer because he's held the position for so long.
>
> The present energy industries, oil, coal, gas, have made huge
> investments in their infrastructure and they anticipate very large
> profits as supplies start to dwindle. They are gradually diversifying
> into solar and wind power, but not so quick as to reduce their
> anticipated profits from the old industries. They are managing the
> changeover so as to try to maximise profits from both the old and new
> technology.
> It's just business as usual.

I can accept that. I can even embrace that. The thing is that there
are a lot of entrepreneurs that are NOT currently part of the state of
the petroleum art. I'm assuming either that you weren't answering the
question about His Limbaughness, or that you are implying that he's
part of the oil conspiracy...

The real trick for today's energy companies it to make sure that they
are also tomorrow's energy companies. They also need to not drain
their customers so dry that demand goes down.

-Kelly