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Green Energy May Yet Survive Poison of Cheap Gas

Slate -- The cheapest natural gas price for a decade is a boon for American homeowners. At less than $2 per million British thermal units, though, it looks toxic for its already troubled rival, the solar energy sector. But gas isn’t close to chocking the life out of it just yet.

There’s certainly enough bad news to go round. Energy bigwigs at a conference this week identified the rock-bottom gas price as the biggest short-term obstacle to developing greener fuel sources. As if to underline the point, the benchmark gas price dipped to its lowest level since January 2002 as they were talking. Meanwhile, solar plant developer BrightSource Energy pulled its initial public offering on Wednesday, citing poor market conditions. On top of last year’s controversial bankruptcy of Solyndra and the 85

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Submitted Apr 14, 2012 By: angel4me

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jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,758 Points:591,745 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:01:41 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse ok
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,074 Points:1,448,325 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:08:04 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Ahking: The genie's out of the bottle. Green energy will continue maybe with some hiccups but will continue. You're far more optimistic then I. As soon as green energy technology begins to make headway, the price of gas will drop and green energy will be yesterday's news. This is a cycle that has been repeated since the late 1970s.
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,507 Points:603,450 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 8:18:08 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse The genie's out of the bottle. Green energy will continue maybe with some hiccups but will continue.
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:3,355 Points:917,340 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 7:39:08 PM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse funny, green becomes such a popular word
36_ACRES_4_SALE All-Star Author Appleton Posts:999 Points:338,815 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 6:23:05 PM Ignore 36_ACRES_4_SALE Report Abuse blame it on obama
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,945 Points:752,210 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 4:47:41 PM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse "The cheapest natural gas price for a decade is a boon for American homeowners." Yeah, the first line kinda gives it away.
SycamoreISU Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,040 Points:259,685 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 4:36:25 PM Ignore SycamoreISU Report Abuse I agree with Johntxx that they are likely talking about natural gas, not gasoline.
Tehbob Champion Author California Posts:2,296 Points:457,605 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 4:33:55 PM Ignore Tehbob Report Abuse hmmm
md11capt Champion Author Denver Posts:3,558 Points:710,730 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 4:04:58 PM Ignore md11capt Report Abuse Chocking the life...??!!
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,784 Points:616,320 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 3:41:58 PM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse northeast2, I believe that his article was talking about natural gas, not oil. In the US, oil is 3.3% of our mix of producing electricity, as evidenced in the chart Fuel Mix for U.S. Electricity Generation. As for natural gas: “We estimate that the national inventory of gas reserves is approximately 300 trillion cubic feet,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of AGA. “This ‘on-the-shelf’ inventory is the foundation along with growing national resource estimates that may point to as much as a 100 year natural gas supply in America. This abundance is helping to reduce prices and increase stability for our customers and also ensuring that that natural gas is America’s domestic, clean foundation fuel for now and into the future.” I think 100 years is a good start. [Edited by: johntxx at 4/14/2012 4:45:48 PM EST]
Venzadriver Champion Author Florida Posts:1,325 Points:360,865 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 3:28:01 PM Ignore Venzadriver Report Abuse You call THIS cheap gas? I don't think so!
kag2010 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:5,259 Points:1,020,735 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 3:25:17 PM Ignore kag2010 Report Abuse Ok
ktbaeohana Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:2,306 Points:422,000 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 3:25:01 PM Ignore ktbaeohana Report Abuse Watch and see.
joseph000 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,161 Points:218,075 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 2:39:35 PM Ignore joseph000 Report Abuse The religious beliefs of market based economics is a recipe for societal suicide, the fact no fossil fuel's price fully reflects all it's costs, most notably pollution, destruction of water tables, etc.
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,849 Points:1,007,200 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 2:34:21 PM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse johntxx "The article fails to mention one of solars biggest disadvantages, we only have 12 hours of daylight per day." Does it mention that one of oil's biggest disadvantages is that our consumption of it far outstrips domestic supplies and reserves?
TableTalk Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,184 Points:557,200 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 2:06:51 PM Ignore TableTalk Report Abuse It will survive only if the market allows it and/or the Gov't messes up the market and subsides, mandates, etc.
gizbo123 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,514 Points:1,751,985 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 12:55:56 PM Ignore gizbo123 Report Abuse Gov will see to it the nat gas price will go up.
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:13,717 Points:1,691,880 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 12:33:41 PM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse ""But gas isn’t close to chocking the life out of it just yet. "" SPELL CHEKKER choked up?
BUSMAN1105 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,160 Points:1,170,980 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:19:16 AM Ignore BUSMAN1105 Report Abuse WE NEED GREEN ENERGY ALSO UNTIL WE MAKE OMPLETE CHANGE OVER.
EricBrazil Champion Author Miami Posts:2,127 Points:471,275 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:18:18 AM Ignore EricBrazil Report Abuse Ahead of its time still.
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,784 Points:616,320 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:08:06 AM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse The article fails to mention one of solars biggest disadvantages, we only have 12 hours of daylight per day. So unless large scale energy storage evolves along with solar becoming cost competitive (w/o subsidies), solar will never provide a reliable 24/7 energy source.
dgerst Champion Author South Carolina Posts:2,708 Points:556,025 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 11:06:21 AM Ignore dgerst Report Abuse Natural gas is just a lower emission fossil fuel stepping stone to clean energy.
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,372 Points:1,979,960 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:55:18 AM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse The headline may well be correct. We really have no idea of what poisons are being introduced with the fracking processes.
MN1 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,359 Points:650,590 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:53:06 AM Ignore MN1 Report Abuse Ok
PatAZ Champion Author Tucson Posts:9,249 Points:122,380 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:30:09 AM Ignore PatAZ Report Abuse Even the headline is stupid.
savannahoaks Champion Author Rockford Posts:2,697 Points:635,235 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:28:44 AM Ignore savannahoaks Report Abuse Green energy has no future without subsidies, cheap gas or not.
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,016 Points:1,188,800 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:26:08 AM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse The cheapest natural gas will never be cheap. Everyone wants to rip profits.
Rehorsehay All-Star Author California Posts:871 Points:45,925 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:22:16 AM Ignore Rehorsehay Report Abuse Well see!
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,945 Points:752,210 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:16:13 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Good question dhdiesel.
dhdiesel Veteran Author Riverside Posts:400 Points:44,800 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:08:11 AM Ignore dhdiesel Report Abuse And what about "clean" hydrogen fuel, drpepperTX? Not much talk about that anymore. Makes one wonder why all the emphasis on old PV and wind technology. (Japan, Korea, China and the EU are "aggressively" investing in hydrogen cars with plans to commercialize them in 2015 but Obama invests our money in solar)? Oh wait, campaign kick-backs; I forgot...
fedupMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,954 Points:573,455 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:03:22 AM Ignore fedupMN Report Abuse Not according to my natural gas bill at home, rates just keep rising up, up and away....
fracknsave Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,666 Points:58,000 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:03:05 AM Ignore fracknsave Report Abuse Poison? ROFLOLWTIME Nothing political or bloggy about this opinion piece.
200porter Champion Author Toronto Posts:2,065 Points:542,135 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:02:09 AM Ignore 200porter Report Abuse We'll see.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,945 Points:752,210 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:00:54 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse LMAO, need any further proof that the 'green' enthusiasts cannot tolerate an inexpensive hydrocarbon fuel source???
gbs1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,996 Points:742,375 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:49:53 AM Ignore gbs1 Report Abuse Keep the government out of the picture and the green projects will do fine as they have to survive on their own merits.
mightyace Champion Author Tennessee Posts:4,269 Points:845,055 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:49:39 AM Ignore mightyace Report Abuse Only environmentalists would consider cheap natural gas a bad thing!
dhdiesel Veteran Author Riverside Posts:400 Points:44,800 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:43:58 AM Ignore dhdiesel Report Abuse The Ivanpah solar plant in California requires 5.5 square miles to set up 392 megawatts worth of generating capacity. A natural gas plant in the same state can produce almost twice that on just 25 acres. Discovery of the photovoltaic effect dates back to 1839. William J. Bailley invented the first solar collector in 1908, and Bell Labs scientists built the first solar cell able to power everyday electrical equipment in 1954. A half century later, PV panels still can't compete, even after our govt threw billions of our tax money at it... [Edited by: dhdiesel at 4/14/2012 10:46:07 AM EST]
dave27johnson Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,787 Points:408,325 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:41:51 AM Ignore dave27johnson Report Abuse As the article states, "The wholesale price of panels halved last year, as have solar generation prices: a typical long-term contract in California, a sweet spot for the industry, has plummeted from about 17 cents per kilowatt hour in 2010 to as low as 8 cents, according to Green Tech Media. That brings some solar capacity within striking distance of natural gas at around 6 cents." [Edited by: dave27johnson at 4/14/2012 10:42:30 AM EST]
vtroger Veteran Author Vermont Posts:284 Points:561,220 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:15:49 AM Ignore vtroger Report Abuse I'd switch to NG tomorrow if I could.