Electricity forecast for 2009 is up sharply from last month; increase in price of natural gas a factor.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Americans may face dramatically higher electric bills next year, according to a government report released Tuesday.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast that electricity prices will climb an average of 9.8% in 2009. Only a month ago, the agency was forecasting a 3.6% increase for next year.
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Not sure how higher energy prices is still "news," but okay...
__________________ "Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
So Helena how do you feel about the higher prices?
I say it's a good thing my house is paid off. Here in Texas,
my electric bill goes through the roof in the summertime.
The future belongs to space solar generated electricity...
but hardly anyone speaks of it anymore. Back in the 70s,
during our last energy crisis, NASA had men on the moon.
Today, NASA has returned to Mars, but still no one hardly
speaks of space solar. In the 1990s Congress asked NASA
officials to develop space solar. In 2001, after a positive
three year study, NASA asked for funding and received
government funding for a space solar program. Then, just
a few months later... right before 9-11... NASA's space solar
program was [supposedly] suddenly canceled without explanation.
I asked my [NASA scientist] brother about space solar and he
said: " it would initially be quite expensive, but the $$$ spent
on the war in Iraq would be a good start. "
I say it's a good thing my house is paid off. Here in Texas,
my electric bill goes through the roof in the summertime.
The future belongs to space solar generated electricity...
but hardly anyone speaks of it anymore. Back in the 70s,
during our last energy crisis, NASA had men on the moon.
Today, NASA has returned to Mars, but still no one hardly
speaks of space solar. In the 1990s Congress asked NASA
officials to develop space solar. In 2001, after a positive
three year study, NASA asked for funding and received
government funding for a space solar program. Then, just
a few months later... right before 9-11... NASA's space solar
program was [supposedly] suddenly canceled without explanation.
I asked my [NASA scientist] brother about space solar and he
said: " it would initially be quite expensive, but the $$$ spent
on the war in Iraq would be a good start. "
I say: Make space solar electricity, not war !!
~
Why not earth-based solar? It's already been developed. All that's needed is a ramp-up in production and economies of scale will make it economically viable.
__________________
"Who among us is smart enough to learn from the mistakes of others?" - Voltaire
Why not earth-based solar? It's already been developed. All that's needed is a ramp-up in production and economies of scale will make it economically viable.
A friend of mine who runs his ranch on earth based solar energy
told me why... because in space the sun shines 24/7.
A friend of mine who runs his ranch on earth based solar energy
told me why... because in space the sun shines 24/7.
~
How do they propose to get the power down to earth? Reflect it down in a beam? If so, I hope they don't miss the target area. Don't tell me they want to use a really long extension cord . . .
Also, if the collector is a satellite, it will probably be subject to blackouts anyway, especially if it's geosynchronous over the U.S.
__________________
"Who among us is smart enough to learn from the mistakes of others?" - Voltaire
How do they propose to get the power down to earth? Reflect it down in a beam? If so, I hope they don't miss the target area. Don't tell me they want to use a really long extension cord . . .
Also, if the collector is a satellite, it will probably be subject to blackouts anyway, especially if it's geosynchronous over the U.S.
If it is geosynchronous, they will be able to use an extension cord. I'm still waiting for the space elevator.
Harley
__________________ A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. DW and I - FIREd at 50 (7/06), living off assets
How do they propose to get the power down to earth? Reflect it down in a beam? If so, I hope they don't miss the target area. Don't tell me they want to use a really long extension cord . . .
Also, if the collector is a satellite, it will probably be subject to blackouts anyway, especially if it's geosynchronous over the U.S.
Giant batteries that will be shot down to our individual homes guided by GPS?
Quote:
I say it's a good thing my house is paid off. Here in Texas,
my electric bill goes through the roof in the summertime.
Helena, does electricity cost less where you are if your house is paid off?
We haven't run our AC yet (we're in Chicago) and summer is almost half over--take that, electric company! Our new $12 Walmart window fan in the bedroom is doing the trick at night--it blows hot air out until we go to bed, then we turn it around and it blows cooler air in. Bonus is the white noise. Suppose it gets a little too warm in Texas to rely on this method....
How much would a 35,000 km long cord weigh and what would the resistance losses in the wire be? Sounds like a pipe dream to me.
Sorry, should have used a smiley. That was sarcasm. But don't feel bad, I've been married for 29 years and my DW still hasn't figured out my alleged sense of humor either.
Harley
__________________ A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. DW and I - FIREd at 50 (7/06), living off assets
Quote:
That was sarcasm. But don't feel bad, I've been married for 29 years and my DW still hasn't figured out my alleged sense of humor either.
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