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Author	Topic: Solar Power Prices Cheaper Than Coal In El Paso	Post a Reply Back to Topics

LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,609 Points:1,206,455 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 9:23:52 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse On the heels of our blog post last week, showing how competitive wind and solar power have become in recent years, is news of possibly the cheapest solar deal yet in the U.S. (that we know of publicly, at least). Even more interesting is the fact that the deal was made between Texas-based El Paso Electric and First Solar, an Arizona-based solar manufacturer. While it’s a little sad that a Texas-based company has to go to New Mexico to build solar, it’s at least heartening that they could partner with a U.S. company to get the project done. First Solar has been one of the leading solar manufacturers for several years, and last year their suite of projects made them the #2 solar panel supplier in the world (up from #4.) Marty Howell, the City of El Paso’s Director of Economic Development Visit EarthTechling for full article

LetemEatCake

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Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 9:23:52 AM

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On the heels of our blog post last week, showing how competitive wind and solar power have become in recent years, is news of possibly the cheapest solar deal yet in the U.S. (that we know of publicly, at least). Even more interesting is the fact that the deal was made between Texas-based El Paso Electric and First Solar, an Arizona-based solar manufacturer. While it’s a little sad that a Texas-based company has to go to New Mexico to build solar, it’s at least heartening that they could partner with a U.S. company to get the project done. First Solar has been one of the leading solar manufacturers for several years, and last year their suite of projects made them the #2 solar panel supplier in the world (up from #4.)

Marty Howell, the City of El Paso’s Director of Economic Development
Visit EarthTechling for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,609 Points:1,206,455 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 12:06:57 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Thanks all for your great comments!
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,079 Points:1,449,300 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 3:49:14 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Solar power production makes a lot of sense (and cents) in the South Wes. Lots of sun all year, just waiting to be tapped.
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,512 Points:604,425 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 3:13:23 AM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse good. maybe energy prices will now go down.
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,549 Points:767,755 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 12:31:11 AM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse Anyone who accepts as fact any economic figures posted in an Environmental Defense Fund article needs to put in a bid on some beach front property we have for sale in Arizona. It is also amazing that the extent that taxpayer supplied subsidies not available to other forms of electricity production have in reducing the cost of the projects solar electricity production. All this article really says is that with enough free taxpayer subsidies, gold can be sold for the same price per pound as corn.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,609 Points:1,206,455 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 12:20:33 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Bar1035 and Van_Halen....And how did you boys figure that this is a BLOG post...please enlighten me...it is a reprint from the Environmental Defense Fund. Are you PO'd because I have called you out before? [Edited by: LetemEatCake at 2/10/2013 12:24:38 AM EST]
mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,249 Points:494,800 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 11:54:19 PM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse good
andy1024 Champion Author Allentown Posts:1,707 Points:449,125 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 11:43:36 PM Ignore andy1024 Report Abuse Solar power should be cheaper everywhere.
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,342 Points:162,925 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 11:27:34 PM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse I guess it all depends on what the government decides to subsidize with tax payer money. I wonder if they have thought of converting coal generation to natural gas and actually saving some money!
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,435 Points:518,075 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 7:53:01 PM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Need to build a lot more of these in the US
knutzAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,248 Points:372,680 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 7:47:39 PM Ignore knutzAL Report Abuse yup....with subsudies it will always be so.
EnviroChemist All-Star Author Oklahoma Posts:729 Points:210,835 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 5:46:28 PM Ignore EnviroChemist Report Abuse Good for El Paso!
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 5:15:23 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Actually Vandamme... he said he'd support it.... when it exists..... sounds like common sense and not really buying the baloney..... But still giving them a chance to clean up their act....
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,559 Points:1,173,100 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 4:40:22 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse It's cleaner too.
Double_Golden Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,570 Points:606,585 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 3:39:56 PM Ignore Double_Golden Report Abuse b/c solar panel is not that expense anymore...
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,105 Points:1,624,380 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 3:08:22 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Thank goodness for one more major milestone being hit for solar energy in the USA! The steady technology advancements for clean renewable energy have resulted in hitting this new and very competitive price point. Like all technology advances, the prices keep dropping. How many of you now have a 50" or larger flat screen HDTV in your home now? How many have two?? Will surprises never cease. V..H.. can count to three!
bullfrog42 All-Star Author Texas Posts:847 Points:171,085 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:47:26 PM Ignore bullfrog42 Report Abuse Solar power is green and cheaper to use.Go Texas
vandamme Champion Author New York Posts:1,158 Points:132,480 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:31:53 PM Ignore vandamme Report Abuse "Clean coal" is an oxymoron. So is Obama, for supporting it.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:28:47 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse BTW Vanny.... land where most solar panel projects are located is actually extremely cheap... [Edited by: Gnusman53 at 2/9/2013 2:30:29 PM EST]
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:26:42 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Actually peachy... solar works on any daylight..... it is just the amount generated is related to the amount of sunlight.... People in Seattle and Canada are using solar arrays to charge their EVs.... and have been doing it for years.... Yet they don't have as much sunlight as El Paso or Hawaii....
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:22:32 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Ahhhh Che Listerone keeps fantasizing....... He forgets Obama has publicly said he supports clean coal. Only problem is ....... coal companies have been marketing something that does not exist... So coalies need to tell the industry to actually clean up their act.... now.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:19:11 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse humblepie.... buffalo chips as a source of power.... that means the Congress GOP caucus is the ultimate mother lode
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:17:18 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Van Halen... the oil companies are tax subsidized and protected.... so the point was what exactly???
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:16:05 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Darn Bar.....after you guys keep lowering the bar -- so to speak -- with clips from every tom, dick and blog.......like Townhall and world nutball daily...etc... especially the fake news blog
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,019 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:13:52 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Yep... those darn drivers with their agendas.... (grin)
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,660 Points:1,118,875 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 1:18:49 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse whew! all kinds of agenda going on within this posting.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,493 Points:734,300 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 1:13:02 PM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Now, are they charging electric cars. [Edited by: fuel2use at 2/9/2013 1:14:15 PM EST]
CrackedLCD Champion Author Alabama Posts:9,036 Points:1,755,800 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 1:06:21 PM Ignore CrackedLCD Report Abuse What does this have to do with gas prices?
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,167 Points:1,299,195 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 12:15:14 PM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse Well well well. the blog critic cakes posts a blog . Anything to push a point - even if it breaks the rules he accuses others of breaking
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,271 Points:2,372,345 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 11:31:29 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse why not use buffalo chips for power, solar is far from perfect
pilotmass Champion Author Boston Posts:1,831 Points:503,585 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 11:29:41 AM Ignore pilotmass Report Abuse There was a blogger who love Solar Energy
MrDeath666 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,621 Points:245,165 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 11:18:25 AM Ignore MrDeath666 Report Abuse This fairy tale should have started with "Once upon a time".
FortVancouver01 Champion Author Washington Posts:1,170 Points:288,795 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:44:01 AM Ignore FortVancouver01 Report Abuse Beats coal in the PNW too. We need many alternatives for national security though.
Seamus4513 Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,588 Points:387,555 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:33:39 AM Ignore Seamus4513 Report Abuse Nothing unique about El Paso in this regard
GingoutMD Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,495 Points:713,305 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:31:02 AM Ignore GingoutMD Report Abuse If it works for them and they can afford it, then go for it. The more we can reduce the use of coal the better.
Pramodsharma Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,974 Points:388,140 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:20:29 AM Ignore Pramodsharma Report Abuse Solar power should come free, sunlight is free and government has not taxed it so far!
skempton Champion Author Vermont Posts:1,149 Points:840,135 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:13:03 AM Ignore skempton Report Abuse How many acres did it take?
mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,249 Points:494,800 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:10:27 AM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse Going in th right direction
listerone Champion Author Boston Posts:3,385 Points:879,765 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:09:01 AM Ignore listerone Report Abuse Osama Obama's declared war on coal....he's on record as promising to bankrupt the coal industry.This country is the Saudi Arabia of coal...we have hundredes of years of reserves yet our Community Organizer-In-Chief doesn't want it touched.Wind and solar may have a valid place in our energy policy...but SO DOES COAL...and oil...and gas...and hydroelectric.
200porter Champion Author Toronto Posts:2,070 Points:543,110 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:06:53 AM Ignore 200porter Report Abuse They should be cheaper.
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,007 Points:1,742,810 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:06:15 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse get out!!! Really??? Someday El Paso may see clear skies again.... like when the desperadoes used to ride thru....
yardslave Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:2,560 Points:597,780 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:06:01 AM Ignore yardslave Report Abuse Bring it on...
Skunk63 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,559 Points:559,310 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:04:59 AM Ignore Skunk63 Report Abuse If it's so great go build it without the massive subsidy like every other industry.
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:3,355 Points:918,090 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 10:03:01 AM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse should be, right?
bills299 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,371 Points:905,465 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 9:47:37 AM Ignore bills299 Report Abuse ok!
Peachy1 All-Star Author St. Louis Posts:780 Points:1,652,190 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 9:43:57 AM Ignore Peachy1 Report Abuse That may work in El Paso, but how does this work on days like yesterday, today and probably the next several days for places like the Northeast, getting the blizzard they are getting?