Kochs and Walmart Fight to Stop Solar Panels

originally posted by: pl3bscheese
a reply to: Azdraik

You do realize without demand there is little R & D to push that innovation in the sector, right? So no, it's not just something people do to feel green, they're playing their part in a process that takes a while to really kick off.

Exactly. The consumer wants to expand the market in solar panels and the Corporate Fascists in Bed with Big Government are putting a stop to it.

originally posted by: Jamie1
a reply to: soficrow

Lobbyist don't pass laws.

Elected representatives do.

Why not blame them?

Just one more step to the TPP when Corp. can sue Govt. for loss of profits.

All coming together.

Peace

a reply to: Jamie1

I can blame the representative cause they are the extension of the lobbist power.
The lobbyist is powerless without a rep, the rep is not powerless with out the lobbyist.

When reps lie their way in the it is on them not the people.

originally posted by: TheArrow


Lobbyists are just Representatives on the other side of the cycle.

You are correct

Lobbyists and Politicians exist on the same coin.

A couple examples

www.opensecrets.org...

REVOLVING DOOR
37 out of 42 Goldman Sachs lobbyists in 2013-2014 have previously held government jobs.

REVOLVING DOOR
36 out of 48 Koch Industries lobbyists in 2013-2014 have previously held government jobs

I don't get it...

Electric companies claim we cause stress to an already aging electrical grid during certain times of the year. This excuse has let smart meters and invasive monitoring creep slowly into our lives. I don't see the benefit yet. Go away.

If they let people invest in solar power, it would help take stress off the grid and put money back into peoples pockets over time. Less stress equals less money the electric companies have to spend repairing or upgrading the current system. Of course that means less profit and less dependency in the long run.

If they won't let us take stress off the grid using our own money, then all the smart monitoring and billions of dollars spent upgrading is proof that their solution was designed to be self serving.

Their biggest fear is when we start producing more than we're using and they have to send everybody checks at the end of the month.

Taxing people for installing solar panels is the most disgusting thing that I have heard this week (apart from the terrorist attack). I hope this does not happen in Australia. It is like taxing you for the air you breathe or or the rain that falls from the sky, which I should be getting a rebate for in this drought! Shame on whoever brought in this tax you are a disgrace.

Behind the lobbyists are the megarich Walton family. The majority owners of the Walmart retail chain also own several energy interests, including a 30% stake in First Solar, which makes the parts for huge commerical installations of solar panels that operate like power plants. A recent report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shows that the Waltons are giving lobbyist organizations millions to attack renewable energy laws at the state level. Their prime targets are the homeowners and businesses that opt for solar panels to provide their own electricity.

sounds like Walmart is a friend to solar power.

originally posted by: SpaDe_

brīb/

verb

1. persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.

Pretty sure that's a bribe.....

The blame is placed where it should be.

Money backed lobbying is legalized bribery. There is no other way to put it.

I was watching a youtube video when Karen Carpenter died and had to laugh at the other tidbits that made that news segment that gets a pass these days.

Here is Ted Koppel from 1983 and his brief mention of Karen and then goes into political corruption

a reply to: soficrow

I had solar on my old house it was great especially after a hurricane knocked out power for a week. That house I bought with solar already installed from the previous owners and at this point I wish I had never moved. This year I plan on selling the house I have now within the next 6 months and I am certain to either instal solar myself or contract it out. Taxing for installing solar is complete BS. It doesn't surprise me because of how corrupt the government is though so if it passes here I think I will make a stink about it and become a thorn in the sides of those who vote for it.

I have already looked into the systems and have figured it would take about 5 years for one to pay itself off so after that I will start going into the positive. I have already decided that my next home I will probably keep the rest of my life I am done with moving around so it is completely worth it. On top of solar I will probably invest in metal roofing so I never have to worry about replacing shingles again.

We really need to get money out of politics hell the governor seat was definitely bought this last election here by a casino mogul. I expect the laws will be changing soon here to allow more gambling I know the mogul has been pushing for it.

originally posted by: Sremmos80
a reply to: Jamie1

I can blame the representative cause they are the extension of the lobbist power.
The lobbyist is powerless without a rep, the rep is not powerless with out the lobbyist.

When reps lie their way in the it is on them not the people.

Blaming Politicians or Lobbyists is really the same thing when you look at the revolving door between DC and Lobbyists

originally posted by: xuenchen

Behind the lobbyists are the megarich Walton family. The majority owners of the Walmart retail chain also own several energy interests, including a 30% stake in First Solar, which makes the parts for huge commerical installations of solar panels that operate like power plants. A recent report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shows that the Waltons are giving lobbyist organizations millions to attack renewable energy laws at the state level. Their prime targets are the homeowners and businesses that opt for solar panels to provide their own electricity.

sounds like Walmart is a friend to solar power.

I hope you are being sarcastic.

A new study by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) finds that the Waltons are funding nearly two dozen anti-solar groups — such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and Americans for Prosperity, which are waging state and national fights to roll back clean energy policies — while a Walton-owned energy company is pushing for regulations that hinder the growth of rooftop solar power.

Rooftop solar has been cited as a tremendous opportunity to accelerate the transition to renewable power, save money for homeowners, and create tens of thousands of new jobs, but, as the report details, the Waltons’ interventions and spending are a very real threat to this future.[37]

Last year, ILSR found that since Walmart launched its environmental campaign in 2005, the company’s self-reported greenhouse gas emissions have grown by 14 percent. Instead of investing in efforts to reduce carbon pollution, Walmart continues to support lawmakers who deny global warming. ILSR’s 2013 report finds that both Walmart’s and the Walton family’s political donations heavily favor lawmakers who voted to keep subsidies for oil companies and prevent the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. [38]

“In June 2013, Walton-owned First Solar sent shock waves through the solar industry when its CEO, James Hughes, published an op-ed in the Arizona Republic endorsing a proposal by the state’s biggest utility to impose a new fee on households with rooftop solar. Averaging about $50 to $100 a month, the proposed fee would be large enough to completely destroy the economics of household energy production, halting the spread of residential rooftop solar in Arizona. As the rest of the solar industry closed ranks and joined with environmental and consumer groups in opposing the plan, First Solar backed the utility, insisting that it was right to maximize its financial position. Bryan Miller, a vice president at Sunrun and president of the Alliance for Solar Choice, put First Solar’s actions in perspective: “No solar company has publicly advocated against solar until First Solar.

en.wikipedia.org...

It looks to me like they bought a stake in the company for smokescreen purposes and so they can be able to destroy the market from the inside.

BTW it says manufacturing has been able to get costs down to $0.67 a watt. That is impressive so I can see why energy companies are afraid.

a reply to: Grimpachi

What is comes down to ironically, is the Big Corporate Conglomerates in bed with Big Government want to keep their foot down on citizens necks when they try and become more independent and get off the grid.

Come on guys, use your heads not you're hearts here. Blame anyone you want, it doesn't matter. No matter who it is you decide to blame you're still going to be blaming one group of people over another. My point is you're blaming "People". Well, I have some news for ya. Some "People" are always going to valid targets for blame but that hasn't fixed anything they do yet has it. So what's the solution???

Create a system that already adjusts and corrects for the inherent weak and shi**y side of humanity that makes them corruptible in the first place. Think about it, people are always going to be taking bribes and fall to coercion and pressure. Everyone. EVERYONE has a price. That should be anticipated rather than something that shocks us when it happens. How lame are we to get f*cked in the ass repeatedly only to act surprised when it happens again tomorrow???

We should expect people to be lying bastards and cheats especially those people in certain positions of power rather than the opposite. Once we are honest about the weak and evil nature in man we can correct for it. Create a system that doesn't allow for it so it doesn't matter if weak people get in those positions. We need to create a system that not only expects people to be naturally corrupt but is self correcting against it by procedure, law, checks, etc.

a reply to: Grimpachi

Sure it's possible that Walmart is playing both sides.

btw, how much does it cost to install solar on a house?

I recall an article that Wal-Mart is or will be the largest solar owner in the country.



Wal Mart Solar

originally posted by: SkepticOverlord
a reply to: soficrow

Yeah, it worked here in Arizona. In the sate with the most sun, beginning soon there will be a annual tax on home solar panels. Their astro-turf efforts were very aggressive.

Now you can see what has happened, their is no longer a free capitalist economy that self regulates. We now have a Cleptocracy, that will kick anything that threatens their profits, back into the dark ages. The same goes for Pharmaceuticals, the robber barons are back, and well entrenched. With their feelings that they and their offspring are entitled. "The rich make laws to protect their wealth" Not the Country.

Since they now effectively control the Government, lets hope they have the wit to understand that in the end its a numbers game.

a reply to: eisegesis

my thoughts exactly, my electric company is always calling and sending me pamphlets reminding me to conserve electric and sign up to have them install a computer controlled thermostat in my house so that THEY can control it.
I just ignore them because the way I see it is if I and other people use less electric then the electric company will have to raise their rates to continue making a profit from the lower amount of electric they sell.
It`s a lose/lose situation for the consumer.

Couldn't you create a closed system? How would it be monitored and taxed? I'm a little new to how large systems work so go easy. Wouldn't any incentives from the government, as ironic as that sounds, offset the proposed tax if we had no choice to pay it? If anyone could give a short explanation, I am interested in learning.

a reply to: soficrow

Dont the Cock brothers have enough money? Off with their heads!

originally posted by: ImaFungi
a reply to: soficrow

Dont the Cock brothers have enough money? Off with their heads!

Do they have it all yet?