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An alliance of corporations and conservative activists is mobilising to penalise homeowners who install their own solar panels – casting them as "freeriders" – in a sweeping new offensive against renewable energy, the Guardian has learned.
Over the coming year, the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec) will promote legislation with goals ranging from penalising individual homeowners and weakening state clean energy regulations, to blocking the Environmental Protection Agency, which is Barack Obama's main channel for climate action.
Further details of Alec's strategy were provided by John Eick, the legislative analyst for Alec's energy, environment and agriculture program.
Eick told the Guardian the group would be looking closely in the coming year at how individual homeowners with solar panels are compensated for feeding surplus electricity back into the grid.
"This is an issue we are going to be exploring," Eick said. He said Alec wanted to lower the rate electricity companies pay homeowners for direct power generation – and maybe even charge homeowners for feeding power into the grid.
"As it stands now, those direct generation customers are essentially freeriders on the system. They are not paying for the infrastructure they are using. In effect, all the other non direct generation customers are being penalised," he said.
rickymouse
So just don't tell them you have solar panels. If the circuitry is separate from the grid who would know. Still keep the meter hooked up and pay the minimum and maybe keep the fridge on it.
As it stands now, those direct generation customers are essentially freeriders on the system. They are not paying for the infrastructure they are using. In effect, all the other non direct generation customers are being penalised," he said.
rickymouse
So just don't tell them you have solar panels.
Skadi_the_Evil_Elf
Because many of these conservative groups support the energy industry, and despite their claims of wanting people to be more self sufficient and independent from the government, they still want to enslave you financially via energy, fuel, and other things. The more people that go off the grid and generate their own electricity, the less you give to the energy giants. Can't have that.
According to ALEC watch and IRS documents, ALEC receives 95% of its funding from foundations, corporations, other nonprofits, meeting revenue and the sale of its publications.[77][78] In 2010 NPR reported that tax records showed that corporations had collectively paid as much as $6 million a year
Phoenix
Skadi_the_Evil_Elf
Because many of these conservative groups support the energy industry, and despite their claims of wanting people to be more self sufficient and independent from the government, they still want to enslave you financially via energy, fuel, and other things. The more people that go off the grid and generate their own electricity, the less you give to the energy giants. Can't have that.
What ALEC is doing is NOT conservative nor does it fit ALEC's mission statement, which mentions greater liberty as one of its goals. The words are fine but the deeds are altogether stifling to individual freedom.
Unfortunately it is but another corporate mouth piece, I personally hate it when what's better termed oligarchy and patronage is couched in calling itself conservative - that is so far from the truth it's not funny.
It is groups like these that keeps all of us so far apart in the political arena by hijacking terms to describe itself that do not apply.
Wiki
According to ALEC watch and IRS documents, ALEC receives 95% of its funding from foundations, corporations, other nonprofits, meeting revenue and the sale of its publications.[77][78] In 2010 NPR reported that tax records showed that corporations had collectively paid as much as $6 million a year
Anything limiting peoples choice and independence like this proposed limit on solar or instituting fees and taxes is just harebrained to be mild about it, Criminal in another way.
Just as I believe the traditional liberal movement has suffered a hijacking by extremists I too believe same can be said of traditional conservatives by a case like this.
Put as simply as I can, anything that takes the rights of others or gives favor to a group over others to fit an agenda is just plain wrong no matter its source.
rickymouse
So just don't tell them you have solar panels. If the circuitry is separate from the grid who would know. Still keep the meter hooked up and pay the minimum and maybe keep the fridge on it.
"As it stands now, those direct generation customers are essentially freeriders on the system. They are not paying for the infrastructure they are using. In effect, all the other non direct generation customers are being penalised," he said.
The meeting will also focus on Obama's plan, announced last June, to use the EPA to limit greenhouse gas emissions from future and existing power plants.
"The EPA's forthcoming regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and specifically carbon emissions from power plants will be of incredible interest to states and membership so we are going to be focusing on that. Absolutely," Eick said. Power plants are the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 40% last year.
The EPA last September proposed new standards for future power plants, and will tighten limits for existing power plants next June.