Is solar energy a viable solution to reducing oil dependence?

Yes

9 of 17

by Ron Busby

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This is nothing new people. Ronald Regan had renewable energy tax credits in the 80's. Now when we find ourselves paying over $4 a gallon for gas at self serve it has become critical. It seems like maybe the Regan administration might have known a little bit about the future predicament a heavy dependency on foreign oil could prove to be a burden on our economy. "As they say, whoever they are, hindsight is 20/20." A tax credit can be a strong motivating factor to jump start a badly needed shift in the American market place.

The biggest problem we as Americans have is change. Oh don't misunderstand we are all for change, as long as it is no major inconveniences to our daily life and the quality that we have grown accustomed to. If it is easy, bordering on effortless on the end users part, the better acceptance the change will encounter.

With a government tax credit incentive along with the possibility you can generate all the electricity needed to run your home, why wouldn't we do it? Look at it this way. You do pay federal income taxes, right? Do you get an electric bill in the mail every month that requires payment? If there was a better way to have power to your house, at less money than you were currently spending on utilities and taxes, can you think of any logical reason why you wouldn't want to generate your own electricity?

To my way of thinking I would rather get what I pay for. If my taxes and utility bills are more money than it would cost to generate my own electricity why should I just keep lining the pockets of government and big business?

Let's not forget a few little perks I like to call, side benefits. First the sun heated solar panels, to the best of my limited knowledge, doesn't pollute the air. It is a renewable source of energy that will probably be here till the end of time. Oh the best part, it is free. To the best of my research I can't find a corporate owner of the sun. Another side benefit, when you have paid your equipment in full, you no longer have a monthly electric bill.

I would also bet that it would most probably increase the value of your biggest investment, your home, in the form of added equity. Let's face it telling a prospective buyer, oh by the way see those panels on the roof? They generate all the electricity this house needs to operate efficiently. I know that would be a big selling point for me.

The US Government had the chance at the end of 1985 to extend the renewable energy tax credit, but I guess OPEC got to them. I also believe that this is a law, though I would research it further than I have, but if you happen to generate more electricity than you can use, the local utility companies has to buy the excess from you. Wow that would be different, getting a check from the electric company.

Just some food for thought, however, solar power is not to be scoffed at. It is a viable source of electric power that we would be fools not to exploit. But hey I'm just one guy, what do I know?

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