The United States is finally starting to develop its first large-scale solar energy plants, beginning with the $2 billion Ivanpah project. This plant is the first of nine solar farms slated to begin construction before the end of the year. These projects have been made possible by billions of dollars in federal grants and loan guarantees, and will generate enough electricity to power three million homes.
The problem is that these grants and loan guarantees expire in about a year. With the midterm elections and a round of spending cuts so close, energy experts are worried that these projects will gain momentum, and then without more government incentives the solar energy trend will taper off again.
This situation demonstrates that while tools of government action, like grants and loan guarantees, are effective in starting projects, there needs to be continuity in their efforts or the projects will eventually be abandoned. We can only hope that the "green revolution" among American citizens will cause grassroots support for these projects that draws government attention.
-Stephanie Doctrow
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/business/energy-environment/29solar.html?ref=us
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I agree with you that if there ever wants to be a full scale national effort to become more "green" there must be continued support shown from our government and organizations offering some type of incentives to make being "green" become a day to day effort. If we continue to try and become greener yet have the public agenda switch to something else each year than becoming totally green as a nation wont be for a long time
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