THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume IX, Issue # 181, September 30, 2007
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
SOLAR POWER: SUNNY, BUT EXPENSIVE, DREAMS
By Alan Caruba
THE POLITICS & ECONOMICS OF POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTALISM: THE GREEN PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA & ITS
IMPACT UPON LIVING & BUSINESS COSTS -- THE NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL FOR A STATE GOVERNMENT
MANDATE TO REQUIRE MORE SOLAR POWER, WITH THE AIM OF HAVING, BY THE YEAR 2030, AT LEAST TWO PERCENT OF
THE ELECTRICITY CONSUMED IN NEW JERSEY COMING FROM SOLAR PANELS -- YET ANOTHER IDIOTIC ENVIRONMENTALIST
PROPOSAL WHICH, IF ENACTED, WILL RAISE THE COST OF LIVING & DOING BUSINESS IN NEW JERSEY, WITH NO ECONOMIC
BENEFIT TO ANYONE EXCEPT THOSE WHO MANUFACTURE & INSTALL SOLAR PANELS -- ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTALIST
PIPEDREAM & PROGRAM TO DENY ACCESS TO THE ABUNDANT RESOURCES OF COAL, OIL, & NATURAL GAS KNOWN TO
EXIST IN THE U.S.A. & ITS CONTINENTAL OFFSHORE AREAS
FULL STORY:
New Jersey has a multi-millionaire Governor, Jon Corzine, whose monthly energy bill is not a problem. That leaves the rest of
the State’s citizens out in the cold because, as the largest daily newspaper recently noted, “New Jersey already is one of the
most expensive states for business” and, may I add, for auto insurance, property taxes, and a sales tax.
So naturally, the Governor is all for a mandate to require more solar power, with the aim of having at least two percent of the
electricity consumed in New Jersey coming from solar panels by 2030.
The New Jersey Governor is not alone in his support for these sunny, but very expensive, solar and other energy-related
dreams. In early September, 2007, the National Governors Association committed itself to “promoting clean energy policies
across the nation.” Among its goals were to “use our existing energy resources more wisely through efficiency and
conservation.” Let me translate this for you. This is Green talk for not permitting the extraction of oil, the mining of coal, or
the exploration and use of natural gas to warm people’s homes and keep the engines of the economy functioning smoothly
and affordably.
Just to make sure you understand what the governors want, another policy they advocate would “promote non-petroleum
based fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel.” This policy ignores the way the mandated use of federally subsidized production
of ethanol is driving up the price of corn and thus of food and countless other products for all of us.
The governors also want to “take reasonable steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” when the socalled "science"
behind the global warming hoax continues to be debunked to the point where most people understand that the earth’s climate
is largely driven by the activity of the Sun. Requiring the installation of solar panels will not change this, but, for the average
home in New Jersey, it costs an average of between $48,000 and $60,000.
Lastly, the governors want to “accelerate the research and development of advanced, clean energy technologies.” We already
have “clean” energy. It’s called nuclear energy. The use of nuclear and other energy resources is the reason the United States
is an economic superpower.
An example of how dense the National Governors Association is was a letter signed by thirteen governors sent to automotive
corporations asking them to support the governors’ commitment to address climate change. American cars are already miracles
of technology. Fighting “climate change” -- code words for “global warming” -- is the least of their problems in the marketplace.
The largest circulation New Jersey daily newspaper published an editorial urging “Caution on solar plan.” The
Star-Ledger noted:
“A healthy economy and a clean environment are both
crucial to the quality of life in New Jersey…. Unfortunately,
not only is it not easy being Green, it is also expensive.”
For a multi-millionaire Governor, that is not a problem. “The problem is that the solar program is founded on a complex web of
economic assumptions that may or may not prove realistic,” opined the newspaper’s editorial. “Solar costs will have to drop
sharply to become more competitive.” No kidding! The State has already spent $4.6 million in rebates designed to promote
solar power. The mandate for increased use of solar power by 2030 is estimated to cost electric ratepayers “an estimated $11
billion, according to the state Office of Clean Energy.”
The new plan “would scale back a current rebate program that provides homeowners and businesses grants to cover up to 70
percent of solar installations. The grants are funded by a small surcharge on every utility customer’s bill. So, if you live in New
Jersey, you’re paying for solar energy whether you use it or want it.
So far, no one has stepped forward to say this is yet another idiotic Green proposal that will raise the cost of living and doing
business in New Jersey, with no economic benefit to anyone except those who manufacture and install solar panels. Indeed,
as the managing director of one solar installer, said:
“The industry can start selling again in New Jersey. It
has been virtually shut down.”
I wonder why? Could it be the high cost of solar panels and their use, as opposed to the cost of inexpensive alternatives that
already provide abundant electricity? Could it be the only way the solar panel industry can survive in the capitalist, competitive
business environment is to find ways for government to require its use? Could it be just another Green pipedream and program
to deny access to the abundant resources of coal, oil, and natural gas known to exist in the United States and its continental
offshore areas?
If this moronic mandate is not removed from the backs of homeowners and businesses in New Jersey, I am going to start
sending my monthly utilities bill to Governor Corzine.
He can afford it, even if New Jersey cannot
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Political Environmentalism Versus Human Progress & Prosperity:
Policy Issues Relating to Energy, Environment,
& Natural Resources
Political Economy -- Philosophies, Systems, & Public Policies:
Government, the Economy, & Economic Prosperity
The Earth's Natural History, Global Climate Changes,
& the Future of Human Life & Civilization on the Planet:
Science, Ideology, & Public Policy
Science, Ethics, & Human Health:
Human Health & Public Policy
Alan Caruba is a veteran business and science writer, a Public Relations Counselor, and Founder of the National Anxiety Center, a
clearinghouse for information about media-driven scare campaigns. Caruba writes a weekly commentary, "Warning Signs," posted
on the Internet website of the National Anxiety Center, which is located at
www.anxietycenter.com.
Caruba has a daily blog at http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com.
Caruba’s new book, Right Answers: Separating Fact from Fantasy, has been published by Merril Press.
© Alan Caruba 2007
Published with Permission of Alan Caruba
ACaruba@AOL.Com
Return to Top of Page
Go to the WEBSITE INDEX
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Public Issues & Political Controversies
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
Most Recent Articles
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Volume IX, 2007
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Subject Matter Highlights
Return to POLITICAL EDUCATION Homepage
CONTACT & ACCESS INFORMATION
This is not a commercial website. The sole purpose of the website is to share with interested persons information regarding civics,
civic and social education, political science, government, politics, law, constitutional law and history, public policy, and political
philosophy and history, as well as current and recent political developments, public issues, and political controversies.
POLITICAL EDUCATION, CONSERVATIVE ANALYSIS
POLITICS, SOCIETY, & THE SOVEREIGN STATE
Website of Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr.
Government, Politics, Public Policy, Legal Issues, Constitutional Law, Government & the Economy, Cultural Values, Foreign Affairs,
International Relations, Military Defense & National Security, Geopolitics, Terrorism & Homeland Security, American National Interests,
Political Systems & Processes, Political Institutions, Political Ideologies, & Political Philosophy
INDEX FOR THE ENTIRE WEBSITE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Conservative & Free-Market Analysis of Government, Politics & Public Policy, Covering Political, Legal, Constitutional, Economic,
Cultural, Military, International, Strategic, & Geopolitical Issues
Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity