🚀 go-pugleaf

[New thread since References line becoming too long for my news mailer]

Murray Love wrote in message I0%_4.7705$F9.266005@news1.gvcl1.bc.home.com...
<snip>
> 
> Thoughtful post, ant.  Thank you for being civil.  As an aside, I don't see
> the attraction of decentralized power.  I like my huge utility; it never
> goes out on me, it's cheap, and if there's a problem I know who's
> responsible.  This is a genuine question:  what is the attraction of
> decentralization?

Possibly it's too cheap, in that people can use unnecessary electricity
without realizing the hidden consequences. Particularly in the workplace when
they don't see the electric bill. I've known people using electric heaters
under their desk because the air conditioning was set too cold! You'd probably
reduce consumption if you had to do your own maintenance, or if your local
plant made less noise and smelly emissions whenever you switched off a load.
In my experience most of this reduction is effortless - turning off lights,
replacing most-used lights with fluorescents, using battery-powered or wind-up
clocks, plugging wall warts and always-on appliances into switchable outlets, etc.

A substantial tax on grid power might also lead to usage reductions. Here in
the US half the pump price of gasoline goes to tax monies which typically by
law can only be used for transportation. If something similar were done with
an electricity tax the revenue could stimulate all forms of energy research.

There is also the self-sufficiency factor; where I live a major hurricane or
ice storm will will pass through every few years and typically cut grid power
for 1-2 weeks. For me, having power during those times more than makes up for
several years of PV system maintenance.