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Do Foreign Cutbacks Spell End for Solar?
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Description
Bob Deans of the NRDC argues that solar is still a viable energy option in the U.S.
- Duration 4:15
- Date Apr 16, 2012
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Transcript
This transcript is automatically generated
Gallup poll says just 36% of Americans all worried a great deal about air pollution only 36%.
-- -- loss.
That's down more than twenty points from the year 2000.
There is also a dwindling interest in solar power I would natural gas under two bucks who needs -- anyway good question.
It joined the company from Washington is Bob -- his with the NR BC.
Fund he's the author of a reckless.
Bob -- That you are -- welcome guest on this program I don't wanna be become shouting on top of each other so I proposed to -- the clock on it okay.
Twenty seconds the may thirty seconds for you I get the first forty seconds here we go.
Germany and China.
That -- saying that solar subsidies big time I put it to you.
Sola just doesn't make it.
-- we all wasting billions of dollars money that we don't have with further -- all we're doing is paying for your walk anti common agenda go.
No absolutely not -- solar is an important part of our energy future needs to be part of the mix solar competes with electricity not gas electricity prices -- twelve cents per kilowatt -- are the highest they've ever been in history.
The solar industry -- 70%.
Last year a 100000.
Americans working in this industry in fifty states that's a big fat success story we need to continue to invest in this for our future.
That's where we need to get.
A -- why do we need Sola with such a strong domestic market and such low prices for natural gas.
This surely has changed the and -- energy picture.
On the United States we've got a massive supply chain within the United States and ultra low prices I've put it to.
You don't like natural gas because it is a fossil fuel and it doesn't fit in with -- anti common agenda -- Stewart low gas prices are a boon for the economy it's great news for the American people.
But the same time we need to manage this properly that means we take care of our communities we take care of our air we take care of our water and it means we keep our eye on the prize as far as our long term energy future and that needs to be diversification.
It's always been our friend gas prices will go up they will go down just like -- prices have over the years.
But if we have a diversified package right now gases by 25% of our electricity coal and nuclear 61%.
If we have a diversified picture with solar making up more and more of that we're gonna be a healthier economy stronger country.
Okay it is an informational question.
I want you to Tellme ten years from now what proportion of the American electricity supply will come from -- ten -- -- -- -- 2022.
Tell me.
It's it's impossible to predict so boss Stuart.
We've got wind right now what 3% nobody thought that was going to be there in Texas -- -- capital world it's 8% where solar will be is gonna depend on the economics on the investment what happens to solar prices solar prices have come down 70%.
Over just the past year that's extraordinary effect keeps up we could see between three and -- so -- electricity coming from solar -- three to 5% of our electricity coming from Sola ten years from now.
Bob -- much.
It's a part of a mixed -- that's what we've been saying you have to have -- you have to have solar you have to have other renewables and we're gonna continue to be getting a lot of our electricity.
From coal and from nuclear we understand that but as we grow we need to be growing in a responsible sustainable renewable way wind and solar have to be part of that.
All right we got it Bob -- we appreciate you being with us thanks so much for -- very informed debate good stuff so thank you thank you -- -- opponents -- I'm sorry.
Yeah I was talking about I mean if the if you look at the solar sector lately have a look at the stocks in the performance here today year over year telling crashed into disaster is disaster -- investors who went after those on the promise.
-- we're gonna have tax breaks it was going to be subsidies in place.
Those subsidies -- plays the Chinese ate our lunch on the solar sector it is unfortunate a lot of people lost a lot of money a lot of jobs have been lost.
Yes it would be nice there's plenty -- -- is sunshine out there would be nice.
-- twenty years away from anything meaningful twenty years.
A lot of people that need to invest their money in the next five years and out of the market welcomed the show show -- -- I don't know trying to take.
