Obama's Sunny Stimulus Succeeds
Slate Magazine's The Big Money recently profiled Namaste Solar, a Colorado-based solar panel company that is experiencing a nice boost from the Obama administration's economic stimulus. The company is one of many alternative energy businesses that received generous tax cuts and government stipends as stipulated by the stimulus package.
Thanks to these eco-friendly economic benefits, Namaste has been able to make solar paneling — an expensive venture for any family or business — more affordable for both the company and its patrons. The details of the stimulus are extremely complex, but essentially, tax breaks allow for the cost of going solar to compete with it's traditionally cheaper rival, natural gas.
The impact of the economic stimulus has yet to be determined, but Blake Jones, the head of Namaste, predicts that success in the field of alternative energy will be it's proudest achievement.
Jones patiently talked me through the stimulus' solar treatment for an hour and a half, and he couldn't say enough good things about it. If the solar industry ever fulfills its potential as a national energy source, the stimulus will deserve the credit. It could become one of the bill's chief legacies.
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Hard to afford
This is one of those situations where only the people who can afford to put up the very large fees to install solar panels are going to benefit. There are not many people who can come up with $35,000 upfront to have this done and then wait for their tax rebate. Another plan is needed, unless it is only the rich that Obama is concerned with. casino online
We'll get there...
I really like the idea of creating loans for houses, rather than home owners, as mentioned in the original article, as it creates additional ways (on top of tax breaks) for home owners to afford the installation of solar panels. It is also important to note that Namaste, and probably other solar and wind companies as well, is benefiting from the economic 'trickle-down' of grants and tax breaks provided for research and development. All of these - house loans, tax breaks for home owners, and research and development - are the things that will lower the cost of solar power to consumers, making it more widely available to all types of commercial and residential properties. If more people and businesses take advantage of these kinds of opportunities that make it more affordable, the broader consumer base and increased money for research and development will be what makes the solar industry stand on its own when subsidies and tax breaks provided in the stimulus end.
An Environmentally and Business Friendly Impact
Although many have been skeptical about the impacts of the stimulus package, this, by far, is one of the greatest achievements. Not only is this movement jumpstarting alternative energy businesses and possibly contributing to job creation, but it is also encouraging more people and other businesses to use alternative energy, as global warming is becoming more and more of a concern in today's world.
Now is the time to go green!
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