Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
Nor are hydroelectric generators. Nuclear, geothermal, and solar thermal are heat engines, but don't generate any CO2.
And the person who pays an extra $10K for the batteries in a plug-in Prius could also spend a few thousand more for his own solar panels, and still be spending only about as much as he'd spend on a similar-sized BMW or Lexus.
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Ok, but be sure not to take a rebate. Otherwise the rest of us own the right to allocate the power. Then when you get done putting up the solar panels, stop and think. "Should I also convert my Prius?"
I think these are separate decisions. If the rest of us get to allocate the power you produce during the day, we will use it to cut out natural gas use in peaking plants that handle the hot afternoon load peaks, when the sun is hot. Then the night time loads will be filled by cranking up the coal plants, which are in general the cheapest way to meet the load.
Maybe this is why the utilities sometimes offer night time charging rate discounts, which they can afford to do if the power comes from coal. Otherwise, they have to get their money back using government rules that all them to charge the rest of us extra.