The NASD has decided to drop the LNT solar panel project and will instead place panels on the roof of the new Middle School after its energy partner Kenyon did not want to pursue further legal action against LNT according to articles in the Express-Times (read it here) and Morning Call (read it here).
5 comments:
Have you found it interesting that all solar contracts seem to run for 20 years. You want to know why? They wear out and we will have the information for that by next meeting.
Isn't it also interesthing that solar panels were the story not the use yet again of exceptions to raise our taxes some 5.5% year over year. These people must be stopped.
Why do we have to lease equipment and buy back the energy generated? With the amount of the grant, we should do OK buying what panels we can afford and keeping the energy generated without paying extra for anything. I don't understand this. If I installed solar panels or a windmill, I would PAY for it and I would get the energy generated without paying a 3rd party for anything. Not?
@since1962: the arrangement is that the NASD provides the space to locate the solar panels. In exchange for the space they receive a discount off their electric bill.
We do not have any ownership, nor receive any profit.
The grant is to give to the solar energy company that is operating for profit on public property, which means they don't pay property taxes, either.
NOC: Wouldn't the electricity generated provide a discount off the electric bill anyway? We lease the space to a company and receive a discount on the bill AND give them a ton of money (the grant $)? I still don't understand why we don't use the grant money to buy the solar panels, hook them up, derive the benefit of having them and at least cut out the middleman. Why does someone else ALWAYS have to be involved? If I bought solar panels, I would own them and I would reap whatever benefit they provide. Yes, I would also be responsible for the maintenance of such, but they would still be MINE and the energy I generate would be mine to use or would be bought back by the electric company or however that works. It just seems weird to lease space to a company to do what we can do ourselves. If there is any profit to be had, we should get that. We need to gain out of this at least as much as the grant is for or we've 'lost' money. Right?
These programs are about the government subsidizing the solar panel industry to provide alternative energy sources.
The company will use public dollars and public land to build and locate its facility, while avoiding local taxes by not purchasing property.
The company will then generate electricity and sell it to residents for profit. Nazareth was to save $50,000 or about one half its annual electric costs.
This means the company is providing less than $50,000 in product in exchange for all its benefits.
But at the end of the day the government can say it is supporting alternative energy and can site the shift to solar from coal.
This has very little to do with saving money for the taxpayer or school district - one of the reasons I don't like the program.
And don't get me wrong, I don't disagree with you, but that isn't what the program is about.
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