Rising Energy Costs
The cost of energy is up across the board. Gas Prices? Try three bucks a gallon! Electric bills? APS rates increased 8% the past month. Here and Now explores the impact of higher energy costs to both families and businesses in Arizona. Why are we paying more? What are our elected officials doing about it? And how can you save energy and money?
To find out additional background information for this discussion, see the Here and Now "Fast Facts".
To ask a question during the show call 480-774-8200 or you can post a question ahead of time by clicking the "comment" link below.
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KJZZ at
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Arizona boasts a steady 330+ days of full sun with roughly 750 watts per square meter of available energy, why is it that the state is not investing more effort to utilize the power of the sun?
Just yesterday the State House and Senate approved HB2429. The bill exempts solar projects from State & County sales tax, exempts solar property from being included in property tax assessments and creates a new Arizona commercial business investement tax credit for solar projects (capped at $1 million of incentives annually). The bill is on its way to Gov. Napolitano.
Sean Seitz
President
Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association
Last year Arizona's homebuilding industry added 86,000 new housing units. This continued growth is only going to increase energy demands. It is in our states best economic interest to decrease the average person's cost of living. Why shouldn't the government start requiring new homes to have solar panels, solar water heaters (and while were at it, grey water systems) installed?
Energy efficiency and conservation cost only 2 to 3 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is 1/4 to 1/2 of what electricity costs from conventional coal or natural gas generation plants. And energy efficiency reduces summer peak demand for electricity, saves water, creates jobs, and doesn't harm the environment. Shouldn't Arizona invest more in cost-effective energy efficiency? Are there public and utility policies to encourage increased energy efficiency?
A few weeks ago the CEO of Exxon was on NBC's Today Show where he was asked many questions about rising gas prices, yet nobody as the most logical question: since oil prices have shot up, has the net profit of the big gas companies risen in proportion to the increase of oil prices, or is their net profit significantly higher than the increase in oil price? The latter would indicate, of course, that the gas companies are taking advantage of the increase in oil prices.
I don't think that much is being done by the state and federal government in partnership with utilities to energize conservation, maybe in the way of Public Service announcements such as encouraging use of compact flourescent bulbs, etc. The utilites have sought to do this in partnership with businesses.
Also, why has the solar incentives for solar been allowed by the corporation commision to be decreased?
What are the cheapest or easiest ways to get the biggest conservation return in a typical house?
Solar power?
Solar water heaters?
Newer appliances?
What can we do if we don't have $30K to invest in solar power for our houses, yet still want to be green and reduce our energy consumption?
