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US to provide nearly $2bn for two solar energy projects
Nearly $2bn (£1.3bn) in loan guarantees will be given to two companies to kick-start the US solar energy industry, President Barack Obama has announced.
One of the firms, Abenoga Solar, says that it is planning to build the largest solar power plant in the world in Arizona.
Mr Obama said the projects would provide more than 5,000 new jobs.
The Arizona plant should power 70,000 homes and cut carbon dioxide emissions.
The money will come from government stimulus funds designed to boost the economy during the recession.
Outlining the "Solana" project at Gila Bend near Phoenix, Abenoga said it would have an area of 1,900 acres, using thermal storage-equipped parabolic trough technology, with 280 MW of power output capacity.
According to the company's website, 1,500 new jobs will be created during the plant's construction with 100 positions for staff to maintain it.
'Aggressive'
The second company, Abound Solar Manufacturing, will manufacture state-of-the-art thin film solar panels, the first time anywhere that such technology has been used commercially, the BBC's Jane O'Brien reports from Washington.
Plants will be built in Colorado and Indiana, creating 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs, the Associated Press reports.
President Obama had promised during his election campaign for the White House to create manufacturing and construction jobs in the green power industry.
"We're going to to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America," he said on Saturday.
The renewable energy industry in the US faces tough competition from developers in China.
Mr Obama also acknowledged the loans would not be an instant solution.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
One of the firms, Abenoga Solar, says that it is planning to build the largest solar power plant in the world in Arizona.
Mr Obama said the projects would provide more than 5,000 new jobs.
The Arizona plant should power 70,000 homes and cut carbon dioxide emissions.
The money will come from government stimulus funds designed to boost the economy during the recession.
Outlining the "Solana" project at Gila Bend near Phoenix, Abenoga said it would have an area of 1,900 acres, using thermal storage-equipped parabolic trough technology, with 280 MW of power output capacity.
According to the company's website, 1,500 new jobs will be created during the plant's construction with 100 positions for staff to maintain it.
'Aggressive'
The second company, Abound Solar Manufacturing, will manufacture state-of-the-art thin film solar panels, the first time anywhere that such technology has been used commercially, the BBC's Jane O'Brien reports from Washington.
Plants will be built in Colorado and Indiana, creating 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs, the Associated Press reports.
President Obama had promised during his election campaign for the White House to create manufacturing and construction jobs in the green power industry.
"We're going to to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America," he said on Saturday.
The renewable energy industry in the US faces tough competition from developers in China.
Mr Obama also acknowledged the loans would not be an instant solution.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Isn't that what I said?? LOL
But let's go back to the original intent of the thread.
We "still" need alternative forms of energy; they just need to figure out a way to pay for them without tapping the working people, yet again.
But let's go back to the original intent of the thread.
We "still" need alternative forms of energy; they just need to figure out a way to pay for them without tapping the working people, yet again.
"*I* had planned to retire next year -- well, guess what, now they are talking about raising the retirement age in order to keep more people working -- of course, someone has to pay the bills; someone has to pay for the health care reform; someone has to pay for the bailout; someone has to pay to keep the illegal aliens and "career lazy's" on welfare and with medical care; someone has to pay to help those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, to keep their families afloat -- who's going to do that, except the ones of us who have jobs? "
I believe that this quote from Margaret Thatcher best expresses my opinion on it:
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
So those who do work must continue past their planned retirement dates. And why? To ensure this socialist agenda doesn't go bankrupt, yet. Perhaps we should look at Europe for a glimpse into our future.
I believe that this quote from Margaret Thatcher best expresses my opinion on it:
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
So those who do work must continue past their planned retirement dates. And why? To ensure this socialist agenda doesn't go bankrupt, yet. Perhaps we should look at Europe for a glimpse into our future.
Thanks for answering. It helps clear things up for me a fair amount. It was one of those issues where I was having a hard time understanding the opposition to the bailout. I also see what you are saying about solar energy exploration. The bailouts have a dominio effect I guess. I am not sure exactly what my current opinion is after reading what you had to say. I need to reread it and put some thought into it. Thanks!!!
Yes, you are digressing, but I'll answer your question anyway. I was totally against bailing out the banks. If *I* do not tend to my finances properly, no one is going to bail me out; I would fail; I would have to file bankruptcy; I would lose my home, my belongings, etc.
I believe that there are times when people/businesses have to be allowed to fail. There were/are banks that took care of business and remained strong; they would probably have been able to pick up the slack of those that failed. The president of the bank my husband and I bank at, even wrote a letter requesting that the bail out NOT be passed. Did he see more $ in his pocket?? Sure he did, but he was tending to business and his business was strong.
In spite of my opposition (seems that both Bush and Obama failed to call and ask my opinion.......LOL), if some of the banks who were bailed out, hadn't used the bail out $ to go ahead and pay the huge bonuses; have their "conventions" in lavish hotels/resorts, etc, it wouldn't have been so hard to swallow. Just so happens that it came at a time when *I*, personally, was being threatened with my job because of the lack of funding; and I was watching friends and neighbors get laid off one after the other.
The people running those banks, paid nothing for their actions; in fact, they actually MADE money. They gave loans to people they knew would eventually default, they got their bonuses and lived as though nothing had happened; and I'm sure their lives have not changed one bit. Now the American people (our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren) will suffer the consequences and I watch lives changing on a daily basis.
Not only did they give this money to the banks, who were allowed to continue "business as usual", they didn't even keep track of who got what; or what they used it for. As far as I'm concerned, that's just flat out irresponsible.
If my bank were handling my $ that irresponsibly and I found out about it, I'd get a different bank...........now, I want a different government.
*I* had planned to retire next year -- well, guess what, now they are talking about raising the retirement age in order to keep more people working -- of course, someone has to pay the bills; someone has to pay for the health care reform; someone has to pay for the bailout; someone has to pay to keep the illegal aliens and "career lazy's" on welfare and with medical care; someone has to pay to help those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, to keep their families afloat -- who's going to do that, except the ones of us who have jobs?
Now, I'll take the thread back to it's original intent -- solar energy projects, wind energy projects and any other alternative type of energy is absolutely necessary, if the US is stop being dependent on foreign oil; however, I stand by what I said before:
If they'd have used the $787 billion they spent on the bail out, we might already have new jobs being created; people might already have gone back to work; there might be less pollution; our country might be safer. Or if they'd used that money to help small businesses to keep from laying off their employees................with $787 billion, the possibilities could have been endless.
There's a lot of "IF's involved - none of those things happened at a time when the American people might have been open to it.
I believe that there are times when people/businesses have to be allowed to fail. There were/are banks that took care of business and remained strong; they would probably have been able to pick up the slack of those that failed. The president of the bank my husband and I bank at, even wrote a letter requesting that the bail out NOT be passed. Did he see more $ in his pocket?? Sure he did, but he was tending to business and his business was strong.
In spite of my opposition (seems that both Bush and Obama failed to call and ask my opinion.......LOL), if some of the banks who were bailed out, hadn't used the bail out $ to go ahead and pay the huge bonuses; have their "conventions" in lavish hotels/resorts, etc, it wouldn't have been so hard to swallow. Just so happens that it came at a time when *I*, personally, was being threatened with my job because of the lack of funding; and I was watching friends and neighbors get laid off one after the other.
The people running those banks, paid nothing for their actions; in fact, they actually MADE money. They gave loans to people they knew would eventually default, they got their bonuses and lived as though nothing had happened; and I'm sure their lives have not changed one bit. Now the American people (our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren) will suffer the consequences and I watch lives changing on a daily basis.
Not only did they give this money to the banks, who were allowed to continue "business as usual", they didn't even keep track of who got what; or what they used it for. As far as I'm concerned, that's just flat out irresponsible.
If my bank were handling my $ that irresponsibly and I found out about it, I'd get a different bank...........now, I want a different government.
*I* had planned to retire next year -- well, guess what, now they are talking about raising the retirement age in order to keep more people working -- of course, someone has to pay the bills; someone has to pay for the health care reform; someone has to pay for the bailout; someone has to pay to keep the illegal aliens and "career lazy's" on welfare and with medical care; someone has to pay to help those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, to keep their families afloat -- who's going to do that, except the ones of us who have jobs?
Now, I'll take the thread back to it's original intent -- solar energy projects, wind energy projects and any other alternative type of energy is absolutely necessary, if the US is stop being dependent on foreign oil; however, I stand by what I said before:
If they'd have used the $787 billion they spent on the bail out, we might already have new jobs being created; people might already have gone back to work; there might be less pollution; our country might be safer. Or if they'd used that money to help small businesses to keep from laying off their employees................with $787 billion, the possibilities could have been endless.
There's a lot of "IF's involved - none of those things happened at a time when the American people might have been open to it.
I know this is digressing a bit from the initial post, but I am curious about one of your comments Barb. Bailing out the banks. I know this issue has really divided people..some feel it had to be done, others that they should have been allowed to fail. In my mind, it would seem that allowing them to fail would have had absolutely disasterous consequences for the economy. Even worse then the situation got. Is that not correct? I am not being sarcastic, again am just genuinely curious as to what might have happened had they not been bailed out. And I don't mean for the banks themselves, but for the American people. Would the economy have not baically collapsed?
It will create a stronger country. Yes, spending the money may cause a little pain in the meantime. However, you will be looking at job creation..a positive. You will ultimately wind up less reliant on countries who are not your biggest fans, creating a safer country..a positive. It will create less pollution...a positive. As I said, this probably should have begun being aggressively explored 10 years ago or more. There is so much potential long term gain. Many countries have been looking at this as an option for a very long time....Pres. Obama is dead on right to look for plausiable alternative energy sources.
You are right, this should have been started a long time ago; not when we have no money left to invest. Maybe investing in the future would have been more reasonable than bailing out banks.
I agree with teko that this has the potential to create jobs -- real jobs, not just temporary, "pretend" ones; however, I fear that it's not going to go over well at all because the American people are tired of having their money taken away to benefit someone else.
I agree with teko that this has the potential to create jobs -- real jobs, not just temporary, "pretend" ones; however, I fear that it's not going to go over well at all because the American people are tired of having their money taken away to benefit someone else.
Well now, as usual I have to disagree with the naysayer. I think they call that progress and if you look at the results of going on like we have been and where it is going to lead, it might make more sense and at the same time, how many jobs is this going to create? Yea! Makes sense to me....
OBama investing in our future.........he has spent our future and our childrens look it up and he is talking about another Stimulous ..its not investing....
Sometimes you have to invest in the future in order to get yourself out of the situation you are in today. Renewable energy sources are an absolute must for the future and this probably should have been started quite some time ago.
A worth while alternative would be like Europe is doing 'Stop Spending moey you dont have '
A worthwhile alternative should be prove realizable which it has in individual places though not yet as means for providing electrical power in full to a country though the technology has advanced and is continuing to with research and development.
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