Renewable Alternative Energy vs. Grid Power

I don't normally play tit for tat, but I felt someone should say something in favor of renewable alternative energy. 

The Big Beautiful bill doesn't have to save the Power Grid, it’s time for the Fossil Fuel Part of the Power Grid to go the way of the steam locomotive and be replaced with cheap non-polluting power sources, like solar, wind and hydro. 

The government and industry, especially the communication industry, have all been using alternative energy and still are in remote areas for power and communication systems.

I have been on solar power for 44 years now. The first set of batteries I bought were government surplus and were 10 years old when I bought them. Those batteries are now 50 years old and I'm still using them today. In 1975, that battery “(lineage 2000)" was developed by AT&T at Bell Laboratories, with a life expextancy of 50 to 70 years.

For the current administration to stop funding renewable energy programs is a huge mistake, while the rest of the world is moving full speed ahead on alternative technology.

To use SOLYNDRA as a reason not to fund green energy is really lame. The local, state and federal government have always invested in new company startups. Just for the record $52.5 million of that money was recovered by the federal government.

Fifteen years ago, I purchased a new set of batteries, but I am still using the old set as well. By doing some simple rewiring those old batteries now power 10 outside and 10 inside lights, connected to a  photo cell. , So the lights go on at dusk and off at dawn. 

I have invested $20,000 in my system. Forty-four years ago, the power company wanted $55,000 just to bring power up to my place. Today it would cost, $230,000 up to $730,000, depending on terrain, above ground or under ground wiring, plus a monthly bill, which I don’t have.

In 44 years, I have not had to replace any of my solar panels or electronic equipment.

Anyone who can say that alternative energy doesn't work or won’t work, and will never pay its way, is either on the payroll of the fossil fuel industry or living in a bubble.

There are thousands and thousands of satellites being powered by solar energy, as well as the International Space Station. There are no power lines in space.

As far as robbing land, solar farms and wind farms are set up where no one wants to live anyway. Wind turbines are not the only things that kill birds and other wildlife. So do planes, trains, automobiles, tall buildings and ships at sea.

Green energy is no uglier than power poles, power lines and transformers. As far as green energy not being recyclable, everything is recyclable. Especially the lead in the batteries, which has been recycled for decades.

In 44 years my power has never gone off because of weather. A claim that grid power can never make. Right now, renewable alternative Energy Systems are as close as it gets to free energy.

Joe Iovino, Libby, Montana