Solar energy, often portrayed as the most saintly form of
power generation, is getting painted in a new light. Americans for Prosperity,
an advocacy group lead by the Koch brothers, are spearheading the effort to
overturn policies favorable to green energy.
The brothers, Charles and David Koch, are the heads of Koch
Industries, the second largest privately held company in the US. Koch
Industries is in the business of oil production and refinement, and is
headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.
A recent attack ad aired in Arizona depicts solar energy
users as parasites, freeloading off the system and forcing traditional energy
users to foot the bill. The battle is spreading quickly to other states, as
well. Americans for Prosperity is fighting to repeal green laws in Kansas, with
additional campaigns in Ohio, Washington, and North Carolina.
The basis for the attack stems from primarily two policies.
One policy requires utilities to draw a certain percentage of their power from
renewable resources. The second policy, known as net metering, allows homes and
businesses with solar panels on their roofs to sell excess energy produced back
into the power grid.
Net metering specifically has gained the ire of power
companies, who argue that net metering is unfair because it allows solar users
access to the power grid without having to pay maintenance. The burden of the
costs would fall directly onto the power companies and traditional power users.
On the other side of the debate, solar companies argue that
without net metering, solar energy would be exorbitantly expensive. In a recent
study by regulators in Vermont, they concluded that the benefits of solar
energy to power grids far outweigh the costs of net metering.
Utility companies deny the claim, and are spending millions
to overturn the policies.
No comments:
Post a Comment