Saturday, December 6, 2014

Walker agencies, WI utilities attack alternative power savings

Take a few minutes to read this fascinating story about cutting-edge Tesla Motors' energy-saving batteries that the company is adapting to residential solar power storage:
The [new Nevada car battery manufacturing] facility will also churn out stationary battery packs that can be paired with rooftop solar panels to store power. Already, a second company led by Musk, SolarCity Corp. (SCTY), is packaging solar panels and batteries to power California homes and companies including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT)
Thereby threatening the profits and clout of the traditional monopoly utility model - - which is precisely why the Wisconsin Public Service Commission has begun granting utilities increased charges for customers using solar collectors.

Talk about a negative message sent to Wisconsin electricity consumers. You invest in solar technology, you reduce the amount of fossil or nuclear fuels used to generate power, you contribute to a cleaner environment, and the utilities get the PSC to punish you with higher fees.

Another state agency, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is further discouraging the use of these green technologies by proposing a new $50 annual registration charge on energy-saving electric and gas/electric batter hybrid cars.

WisDOT says battery-assisted or electric cars are not bearing their fair share of highway construction and operating costs partially paid through gasoline taxes - - but thus giving their owners no credit for their conservation contributions.

Passenger car registration fees in Wisconsin are not determined by weight - - so under the plan a light-weight Toyota Prius hybrid would cost the owner more per year in registration costs than a heavier pickup truck or SUV. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Isn't it amazing when for profit companies buy a political party and its office holders; that years of conservation policy designed to insure the life of the only planet we have are thrown out the window. Greed now dominates the Republican party along with wealth and survival for the richest among us while the rest of us are on our own. When will people realize government is not the problem it is those that are trying to keep government from doing its job [protecting and serving people] that are the cause of our social and economic inequality!