Why doesn't the goverment use solar energy?

Question

For example: Street Lights.

Wouldn't that save a lot of energy?

Answer 1

Because the world is already set in its ways and it would cost the government loads of money to change it.

Answer 2

solar energy is very expensive to use, especially on a small scale, like a street light.

It is used in remote places where the cost of bringing electricity to the spot is very high.

Answer 3

Because solar energy is still very expensive and inefficient. A large area must be covered with solar cells to get a little electrical power. Also, solar energy must be stored for when the sun isn't shining. Rechargeable batteries are still expensive and don't last that long.

Wind energy is more practical now (more energy can be generated in a smaller space at a lesser cost than solar), but it requires many large "wind farms" that nobody wants to live by.

Wind or solar energy can be used to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can be stored, transported and used as fuel instead of storing the wind or solar energy in batteries. Hydrogen could replace fossil fuels, but would require A LOT of wind and solar "farms". There has been talk of making the hydrogen using nuclear power. Personally, I think that would be a BIG mistake...

Answer 4

as certain companies would lose out on money

Answer 5

Because oil companies have too much influence on government. And all our gov think about is the economy, not the earth.

Answer 6

There's a lot of reluctant to try newer technologies since part of the total cost would be training people to fix them. So you have to show that it would save money in the long run and be a worthwhile investment in both training and the cost of the item.

There are a couple of things you could do. Look up manufacturers of solar street lights, figure out how much it would cost initially vs. how much it could save long-term, write it up nicely and give it to your city council. And/or collect signatures to get it on the ballot. Seems like a town like Aspen could be open to it!

Answer 7

when your energy policy was written by the big oil companies i think you will see the answer

Answer 8

This has been discussed extensively.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

The main reason it is not used is that the efficiency is low and the installation cost is high.  There is nothing preventing the city of Aspen (or anyone else) from installing banks of panels though.  You also have to maintain a backup/aux power system incase it gets cloudy for days on end, or just for night time in general.

Solar has plenty of applications for remote areas, or as supplemental power.  You won't see it become the primary energy source any time soon though.

Answer 9

They're stupid and only care about money. -_-

Answer 10

Actually Bush has had some solar panels installed at the white house and his ranch in Crawford is solar.

Answer 11

I am not sure about other places, but I know Texas is starting to use solar power where it is economical to do so.  Most of the new school zone speed limit signs in Houston with the flashing amber lights have solar panels powering them.  I noticed that the Texas Department of Transportation has been using them for certain applications as well.  

And the Coast Guard uses solar power to light beacons for ships in ship channels and rivers.  And Dania, Florida spent $1 million on solar powered street lamps.  So for certain applications, the government is already using them.

The biggest problems to widespread adoption include:

1. Solar power panels take up a lot of space, so there has to be space for them in an installation.  This is not always the case, especially at existing facilities.  They are ideal for street lights and such, but powering a building would require a lot of panels.

2. There is a cost associated with it, and the government tends to replace things only when it really really really needs replacing.  Existing facilities typically will not be converted.  Typically, the facilities' budget is already too small as it is.  New facilities may get solar power if it is feasible for that facility.

3. Solar power is not as reliable as other forms of power generation, due to the weather.  This makes it not suitable for certain applications.  However, it makes it more reliable in other applications.  For example, Dania, Florida is installing them, in part, because they would operate even after a power outage caused by a hurricane.

So, despite the oil lobby, the government, in many places, IS making changes to make it more energy efficient.  Sometimes solar is the answer, sometimes it is not.  Sometimes it is switching to compact fluorescents, sometimes it is building new "green" power plants, sometimes it is converting the city's fleet of vehicles to hybrids and more alternative energy vehicles.

I think you will see more projects using solar, but most of them will be new installations.

Answer 12

I heard that DuPont is working on 2 different kinds of paint that can put on in 2 layers that you can paint onto metal panels on your roof and hook up rechargeable batteries to it.  If it's cheap enough, I'll do it and sell power back to the power company monopoly.