Comments (10)

1. 

   Community Member

   In general it seems like a good idea. Solar power/hot water heater panels are expensive to install. It makes the most economic sense in areas with high cost of electricity like Hawaii or remote areas like Alaska where power may not be available. Although they should do well in So-California or Arizona.

   A refinement I may suggest is to make the roof available for a company/utility to install the solar panel. It works out cheaper to fold the cost into new construction vice modification of existing roof. Let someone else take responsibilty for the cost of installation, maintanence, permits, and administrative cost. The gov't can rent the roof and/or agree to a price to buy the power/hot water. The tax breaks and incentives are set up for businesses to take advantage of instead of the gov't.

   2 years ago

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2. 

   Community Member

   Comment 1, great ideas. You certainly have refined this thought.

   2 years ago

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3. 

   Community Member

   Solar power is not always cost effective to the average consumer. But in terms of federal spending it makes sense.

   The money spent isn't just gone. In terms of the federal government. It feeds back into the economy and comes back in the form of taxes.

   All the while the federal government creates clean power and saves money it would have had to spend otherwise. The money that would have been spent on power thus can be pumped into other areas of the economy.

   2 years ago

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4. 

   Community Member

   The army (TARDAC) in Hawaii has created a micro-grid with solar energy to charge electric vehicles. They can use the microgrid to back-up 3 buildings up to 72 hours. Pretty ingenius.

   2 years ago

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5. 

   Community Member

   Wow, 28 ideas in 10 days, you are a machine! Maybe instead of working for the federal government you should run for elected office and get some things done! You have a lot of ideas pent up in your head. I would have never thought of making tele work mandatory or passing immigration reform to get the government on track to being efficient. Awesome thanks for the ideas, keep em coming.

   2 years ago

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6. 

   Community Member

   If something comes to mind I add it. Some are more commentary and several are ideas I submitted from last year. The key here is peer review - if it is good it can rise up and may get attention.

   2 years ago

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7. 

   Community Member

   We are a free think tank here. Lots of good ideas coming from this site.

   2 years ago

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8. 

   Community Member

   Great idea

   2 years ago

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9. 

   Community Member

   This is good touchy feely, but not good to make the US more productive. It is a great way to squander tax dollars and require more taxes, but a bad way to help the country become competitive. If we want to burn up more tax dollars this is the way. It is hard enough to maintain a roof (ask your physical plant team - it is a nightmare). Now you want a solar panel on the roof! It will not take care of itself and will be put on by the lowest bidder with a host of other requirements guaranteeing the job will be a mess.

   2 years ago

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10. 

    Community Member

    Ours has been up since 1994 with no maintenance.

    2 years ago

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