Energy Matters

Today's LATimes has two articles related to energy.

The first invloves Southern California Edison's hope to convert to "smart meters". The plan is controversial because of costs, which obviously would be passed along to consumers. In the long term , SCE argues, the devices will pay for themselves by reducing energy consumption by residential users and operating costs for SCE. One of the best, immediate benefits that I saw was the fact that the smart meters don't require humans to drive to the location to read the meter. It's all done electronically. This will mean huge savings from reduced gas consumption and fewer carbon emissions. Of course, we'll need to find new employment for all the former meter readers! I support the new meters and would volunteer to have one installed at my home.

The second article was a story on solar power in Germany. While Germany doesn't have nearly the sunshine that the American west does, they currently get 3% of their energy from the sun. They expect that number to increase greatly over the next several years. 13% of Germans' power comes from renewable sources. 55% of the world's photvotaic power is generated on solar panels installed in Germany.

Solar is so popular in this often overcast country because of goverment incentives and German's enthusiasm in accepting new technology. The goverment, on its part, makes it quite attractive financially for people to install photovotaic panels on their roofs. There is a "feed-in tarrif" that requires all power companies to pay anyone who generates power fron the sun, wind or from hydo 49 cents per kilowatt hour. There is a huge incentive to invest in renewable power sources.

I imagine that this country would see a huge investment in solar power if our goverment were as progressive as Germany's. Perhaps we can do it on a state level?

Russell Hill, 760.902.3121, RussellHill.net