Alternative Energy For Electric Vehicles

GOOD

We need a job stimulus program that provides high quality, long term middle class jobs

BETTER

The jobs should benefit America’s unemployed while leaving a better world for our children

BEST

The cost of these programs will not impact our deficit.

Photo voltaic systems:

• 100% carbon free in operation- reduce carbon emissions world wide

• Scale able-federal, state, municipal/corporate/residential

• Grid less-power is produced where needed

• Hybrid- electricity/ thermal

• Needed world wide

• Cost reduction via scale of production-government contracts, both federal and state plus foreign aid converting and foreign purchases

Manufacturing:

• Top 3 companies chosen by the National Renewable Resource Laboratory in Colorado-contracts to be reviewed every 3 years with an eye on advances in the field

• To be produced in previously vacant government facilities if found agreeable and beneficial-to save money/reduce costs

• Keeping in mind environmental factors such as durability and resource allocations

• Using only American workers and American sourced raw materials

Financing:

• Reallocate oil industry subsidies as originating seed $

• Convert foreign aid $ to American made products- keeps our cash at home helping our economy

• Renewable Energy Savings Bond program similar to World War II bond drives-public’s savings rates are up, corporations are hoarding their cash and younger generations need a safe place to put retirement funds. Repayment would be realized through savings on government utility bills

Results:

• Increase in employment rates stability in the economy >income and payroll tax revenues >greater family harmony <divorce rates likelihood

• Smaller carbon footprint < global warming <disruption of food supplies < global conflicts <relocation of populations <realigning of infrastructure health < medical insurance rates (supposedly)

• Balance of trade <$ going overseas

• Oil sheiks <blackmail

• Corrupt officials< less opportunities to divert American aid program $

• Any number of other things I haven’t thought of yet

If you’ve seen some things here that have piqued your interest, please read on to an expanded interpretation of my ideas. Thank you for your kind attention.

Synergy: The working together of two or more people, organizations, or things, especially when the result is greater than the sum of their individual effects or capabilities.

AKA: A perfect storm of opportunities/ Bang for the Buck

Money, or the lack of, seems to monopolize Washington’s mindset these days while jobs, or the lack of their lack proliferation, should be center stage. That is why I will begin here. People are in desperate need for new, middle class jobs, but their creation must not occur by immediately affecting the deficit.

We could “prime the pump” of the programs I will be suggesting, by reallocating the oil industry subsidies, as seed money, while creating a “Renewable Resource Savings Bond” initiative. The savings rate for the private citizen is at a new high and I hear that corporations are awash in untapped funds waiting for an economic turnaround. Even foreign investors should be welcome, as long as only American manufacturers and jobs are involved. By offering a one percent greater yield than bank rates to Joe Public and whatever minimal rate you believe to be alluring enough for purchases of over one million dollars’ worth, for corporate investors, plus a public relations push the likes of which we haven’t seen since the World War II bond sales, we might be able to fund a stimulus package that has a chance of making its way through Congress.

I will confine my remarks to the field of photo voltaic, though you could substitute other forms of renewables, whatever floats your boat. I like photo voltaic systems for their downsizing capabilities and thus their eventual adoption for the common good. It is also technology that can be used at the point of energy production, eliminating costly transmission lines. By embracing 12 volt DC power fully we could also eliminate power hungry inverters. Lighting and appliances already exist, that run on this type of power, in the RV, boating, aviation and trucking industries.

The problem of cost per watt is a barrier to more wide spread adoption of this technology, and increasing the scale of production is the quickest way around this impediment. I would suggest that the federal government could contract for a huge number of systems to be installed on all, appropriate, government buildings and installations. No interest loans could be granted to state governments for the same purpose. Payback for the systems would occur during the life of the bond through savings on utility costs. Additionally, the outcome of this would be to lower the cost of government and the greater savings realized should be funneled into paying the cost of principle and interest on the bonds. This funding method could be tracked, in real time, on the internet, to further stimulate the public’s interest and trust.

A hybrid system that not only converts sunlight into electricity, but also scavenges the system for thermal energy would be highly desirable. Still greater savings could be realized by using this cast off energy for hot water or radiant heating systems. In other words, synergy.

The public’s concerns that this not become a special interest or political favoritism issue could be handled by the awarding of contracts to the top three cost per watt technologies as determined by the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado. Obviously other factors, such as durability and resource allocations would need to enter the equation. If we reexamine the choices, say every three years, we could adapt to advances in the field

There are reports of vacant buildings and facilities that the government owns, wasting money on upkeep and security. Why not offer sweetheart deals to these manufacturers and put unproductive or inactive plants back into use and thereby increasing the tax base. Unemployed factory, office, construction workers, project managers, service personnel and marketing people should be put back to work, reducing unemployment payouts while further widening our tax base.

Even greater scales of production could be realized by reallocating foreign aid dollars to this project. Instead of sending cash to other countries and having corrupt government officials syphon off the good will that our aid might engender, we should consider sending American made products to people in need. This idea need not be limited to renewable resources, but concentration here would help get the ball rolling. This would keep our cash at home, boost our manufacturing segment, lower our trade deficit and unemployment rate while also increasing our taxes receivable. Stamp every panel with the American flag, so there won’t be any doubt where the aid came from and ship them on American flagged vessels.

Synergy would teach us to get multiple benefits from the same effort. Why not reap economic rewards here at home, while sending valuable goods to those in need outside our country? With the clean energy provided by photo voltaic systems, people of the third world could pump water for irrigation, treat water for drinking, power up a medical clinic or manufacture goods for themselves and for export. The only moral way to raise up the standard of living in poor countries is to provide them with a way to manufacture and export goods and services and to do any of these things, they need power. When they think of power and goodness, I want them thinking of the U.S. of A., even if is only subliminally.

Low interest loans should be offered to municipalities, shopping centers, sports venues and medium to large size employers specifically to cover their parking facilities with photo voltaic cell topped carports and integral charging stations, to help promote EV car adoption. The quickest way to get the foreign oil monkey off our back would be to convert our transportation to electricity, weather from renewables or from natural gas.

All these efforts at increasing the scale of production should lower the cost of systems to the point where small businesses and homeowners could reap the rewards by installing their own systems. Another incentive for the public would be a bill that would require public utilities to purchase excess electricity, produced at the local level, at a 5% discount of what the billing rate, not the wholesale rate.

This project should, if fully implemented, eliminate our need to import oil while cleaning our atmosphere and even lowering our medical expenses. Synergy indeed!

We need to initiate this program as soon as possible to take advantage of the decision by Germany, Japan, Italy and Switzerland to back away from nuclear power plants. America’s unemployed deserve no less than everything we’ve got. Desperate citizens of the third world need power to more quickly pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Our physical and financial health cry out for attention. The next generation is worth its due, of a clean environment, a plentitude of good, solid middle class jobs and a country that is able to lead the world, not standing by on the sidelines.

Please feel free to share any or all of this letter with anyone that you feel could benefit from my ideas, though I’m sure others have contributed to this argument.

Please contact me at : bbmg2000@yahoo.com with your insights and concerns. I’ll be looking forward to at least an acknowledgement of your considering my remarks.

Sincerely, Bruce M. Grauer

P.S. Please remind everyone of the benefits of simply, and cheaply, painting their roofs white.