I don’t know a whole lot about solar energy. But, I do think it’s time we, the American people, were “treated” to a clean source of energy so we do not have to rely on oil from other nations.
I recognize that there are problems. For one thing, oil companies and electric companies, who employ many citizens, would stand to lose money if everyone were to suddenly switch over to solar for their energy uses.
I heard an advertisement for solar, spoken by Ed Asner on the radio today. I called the phone number given, and asked for their website. Then I read their information and did a little research.
You can either buy several (often from 12 to 30) solar panels for your roof — $10,000 can get you started, but $30,000 is what you’ll likely spend. Once you own the panels, your use of solar to power your home will likely reduce your regular electricity bills.
Or you can lease panels for your roof. The advantage is that your total layout to get the panels up can be as little as $1,000. The catch: You pay the solar company a monthly fee for “their solar power” — it is their power. You are only leasing it from them. That monthly fee can be close to what you are now paying for your regular power consumption.
So to make it easier for everyone to own solar panels, here are some ideas off the top of my head:
(1) Giant corporations, such as General Mills, Google, and Texaco, could initiate a program in which individuals would obtain, free of cost, say, 24 solar panels for their roof. In exchange, the individual would sign a contract to buy only their product for a certain length of time, and would agree to give the companies free advertising rights regarding the program for life. For example, if I sign with General Mills, I agree to have General Mills send me 4 boxes of their cereals each month for a period of, say, 10 years, and I agree to lending my image to them for life. If a box of cereal costs $4, I will have committed to purchase $1,920 worth of cereals from General Mills over the 10 years. The cost of the panels to General Mills is, say, $10,000*, and General Mills gets only $1,920 from me. But, General Mills gets the free advertising and, I believe, that can be worth millions.
(2) A benevolent billionaire, who also believes we Americans should be self-sufficient with regard to the use of energy resources, donates $10,000,000 for the purchase of solar panels for a small town. This, he realizes, is an experiment, which may just motivate others to do similar good deeds. If a set of 24 solar panels costs the billionaire, say, $10,000*, he would provide 1,000 homes with these panels.
(3) That same — or different — corporation or billionaire pays for only 10 solar panels per household (for as many households as he, she, or they can afford). Those 10 panels would be used to specifically power one room in your house – say the kitchen. The expected feedback and advertising revenues would still be there. Once the country sees the results of such an experiment, perhaps other do-gooders would come on the scene with additional offers of assistance.
Help us to light up our lives and give us freedom from other countries’ oil: GO SOLAR!!!
*This figure of $10,000 may be lowered dramatically with panels bought in quantity, and with solar companies in competition for these projects.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com
