U.S. senators debate alternative energy tax breaks

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN2748002920090127

U.S. senators debate alternative energy tax breaks

Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:46pm GMT

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday debated some $31 billion in tax credits and financial incentives to boost alternative energy supplies and promote energy-savings steps as part of the Obama administration's much bigger U.S. economic recovery plan.

The tax breaks would, in part, help wind power and solar energy companies that are having a difficult time getting financing because of tight credit conditions. The incentives also come at time that sharply lower petroleum prices have made alternative energy projects less cost competitive.

The Senate tax package includes most of the $20 billion in energy tax breaks cleared last week by the House Ways and Means Committee, but the Senate measure adds more incentives to help alternative energy companies.

Like the House's legislation, the Senate measure would help the wind and solar energy industries, promote energy-efficiency improvements to existing homes and help service stations recoup their costs for installing alternative energy pumps.

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[HillbillyBob]

1. Tax breaks are fine and all but how bout a bit more pressure toward

getting us some low cost loans. Just because fuel prices are lower today, it won't make a damn bit of difference if there is NO oil or air to breath or steady enough weather because we have dumped all that co2 that nature sequestered millions of years ago that we can't grow crops. The cost for fuel will go up the cost of sunshine will not.
What people don't seem to understand yet is that if you put in solar that is fthe uel you don't have to buy over the next 20 or 30 years, it is powered by that big yella ball in the sky that is free energy.
Yea you have to buy the technology to make use of it.
Solar panels take very little maintenance, if you have battery back up and do the little maintenance that is needed the batteries will last 10 years or more, and that consists of making sure the water is topped up from time to time.
The batteries do cost to replace, but you can recycle them and get a break on the new batteries on a buyback basis.
Return on investment on a solar set up is about 10 years, they last for about 30 so far that we know of as there are solar set ups that are 30 years old and going strong. We really don't know what the longevity is because they have not worn out.