CA to tax solar power

[shanek]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/5357000.htm

"California is a leader in renewable technology, and now it's the first state to install a solar tax,'' said Doug Linney, president of the Next Generation, a solar trade group in Oakland. "If you're part of the energy solution, you're going to get dinged.''

Only government can think this way...

[Crossbow]

Well so far it is just a proposal, not an actual tax.

I think when they take a close look at it, they will realize that it would be a very difficult tax to raise.

They are talking about taxing the energy that is collected by home solar units on a per kilowatt-hour basis. However, that would mean the home owners would have to know just how much solar energy they have collected, then record that figure, then calculate their tax bill, then actually send their money in. In other words, the fox will be gaurding the henhouse!

If one is running a system based on PV cells that directly convert light to electricty, then one could install a simple watt-hour meter to monitor and record the amount of solar energy captured. However, if one is using a convective system that heats water and/or is used to assist the heating then measuring the amount of solar energy captured will be a good bit more difficult.

Ugh!

I really do not see it working out.

[Aoidoi]

Well, California has managed to pretty much shoot itself in both feet on the energy front, so I'm not too surprised. Doubt it will get passed though as California is also militantly pro-green energy.

[arcticpenguin]

Perhaps they should tax people whose property receives sunlight, but who fail to take advantage of it with solar panels.


Next up: a tax on air.

[Crossbow]

Maybe they will tax trees for giving shade on sunny days!

[Agammamon]

And they can tax you to raise funds for the mandatory meters the gov will provide. And tax you to maintain the infrastructure needed to write the regs covering proper installation of the meters and the enforcement arm that checks to make sure you have the meter installed. Let's not forget that the meter will be made cheaply, sold at high price, and draw as much power of you r cells as its possible to get away with to raise your energy taxes even higher.

[Occasional Chemist]

Originally posted by shanek
Only government can think this way...

Come now, shanek. If you think that only government thinks this way, you have no industry experience. :)

Having said that, this sounds like a monumentally stupid thing to do if you're trying to push solar power.

I have a solar calculator. If I go to California, how much do I owe?

[Plutarck]

Great idea! "Hey guys, lets fight global warming and The Evil Oil Companies by making it more expensive to take advantage of alternative energy sources, so that using things like oil and gas are even more relatively desirable than they would otherwise be!"

"Ooo...bad idea. Hm...guess we had better tax oil and gas, too!"

If this comes true I demand I be awarded the $1,000,000 prize :D

[shanek]

Originally posted by Occasional Chemist
Come now, shanek. If you think that only government thinks this way, you have no industry experience. :)

Okay, you got me on this one. Your average MBA is every bit as scary as government. Fortunately, most of these people are in subordinate management positions where they can do little harm. :D

[fishbob]

Fortunately, most of these people are in subordinate management positions where they can do little harm. Maybe most of them can't do much harm but there are so &*&%*$ many of them that even the small percentage getting into lead positions is way too many. Weren't many of the Enron bigwigs MBA types? See what happens when the guy that watches the fuel gauge decides how to fly the plane.

[shanek]

Originally posted by fishbob
Maybe most of them can't do much harm but there are so &*&%*$ many of them that even the small percentage getting into lead positions is way too many. Weren't many of the Enron bigwigs MBA types? See what happens when the guy that watches the fuel gauge decides how to fly the plane.

Probably true, but I think in the free market these people are the exception, whereas in the government they're the rule.

[Richard G]

The commies out there would tax the air we breath if they could get away with it. Idiots one and all.

I only beg that the last American to leave the state take down the flag before they leave.