tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post3680470474751880377..comments2024-02-14T16:54:15.327-05:00Comments on PLAINFIELD TODAY: UCIA Solar Panel Plan: A gift horse to be looked over carefullyDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07867186465663386310noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-21977638971731617222010-08-11T22:49:02.915-04:002010-08-11T22:49:02.915-04:00The only way that solar panels make sense economic...The only way that solar panels make sense economically is when there are tax benefits to offset the high cost of installation and maintenance. It is hard to see how a town gets tax benefits so you have to question how the installation costs are being paid for. If a private enterprise gets a tax credit from the state to steal our tax money on inefficient technology fine, but the local towns need to understand that there is no way current solar technology stands up to standard ROI paybacks. Local towns should not be spending taxpayer money on anything that fails to properly benefit the people who supply the funds!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-21298701145601053322010-08-11T19:41:05.848-04:002010-08-11T19:41:05.848-04:00Larry Bashe come out and remind us all of how the ...Larry Bashe come out and remind us all of how the City got FREE electric at City Hall until the 70's. Hay he even made it on TV !!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-24630660481465838632010-08-11T18:23:25.315-04:002010-08-11T18:23:25.315-04:00We have no actual concerns. Just questions that ar...We have no actual concerns. Just questions that are unanswered. And we won't even tell you what these questions are. <br /><br />Until these concerns are addressed, a through review is given, the new council takes seat, A CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE is created to review this, bids from 5 others are obtained, hell has frozen over, pigs are flying, and there is a blue moon,this must be put on hold.<br /><br />Otherwise, I am all for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-38380226802280935692010-08-11T14:29:53.394-04:002010-08-11T14:29:53.394-04:00If "asking questions" is thought of as a...If "asking questions" is thought of as a Republican trait that might explain why our children do so poorly in the Plainfield schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-31615528380129435302010-08-11T14:26:01.078-04:002010-08-11T14:26:01.078-04:00If it makes economic sense then maybe we should ju...If it makes economic sense then maybe we should just have them installed and reap the benefits without any 'operator' extracting a profit.<br /><br />My friend Dave in Cokesbury set up solar panels at his house and gets solar credits from selling excess electricity back into the grid. He also saved money because of substantial tax credits that reduced the out-of-pocket cost of installation, without which the system would not make economic sense. What guarantees are there that we will save any money, and that what savings we could generate won't be swallowed up by 'operator' profits?<br /><br />What's the likelihood that 10 or 15years down the road new and improved technology makes this system obsolete and other sources and methods become cheaper?<br /><br />Why, if there is profit to be made, aren't these private operators just getting bank financing or venture capital to fund the project, and be content with selling us a good product cheaper?<br /><br />There are an awful lot of whats and whys. Too many in fact. The City Council should withhold its approval pending receipt of real answers. The Administration should have come prepared with answers before bringing its resolution. Our first 'green' step should be one of fiscal responsibility.Alan Goldsteinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-18514994669643923682010-08-11T14:09:34.120-04:002010-08-11T14:09:34.120-04:00I notice that all the towns that are saying yes ar...I notice that all the towns that are saying yes are democrat towns. That too could be a knee-jerk reaction, although I don't think getting more information could in any way be described as knee-jerk. It could be that there are more lucrative options. The UCIA leaves a lot to be desired. So far, we've only heard from the salesman/attorney whose firm makes millions of dollars off UCIA projects. Anyone comfortable with that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-29515942626124531342010-08-11T13:37:21.102-04:002010-08-11T13:37:21.102-04:00Do all municipal buildings continue to get FREE Li...Do all municipal buildings continue to get FREE Lighting from PSE&G? All other electric consumption is paid for but I thought any electric for lighting was FREE.<br /><br />If this is still the case, and if the City does go green, that they not include the lighting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-79476227588027407612010-08-11T12:58:27.538-04:002010-08-11T12:58:27.538-04:00I read the UCIA sales brochure. That's the onl...I read the UCIA sales brochure. That's the only way to describe it. Less like they are proposing a service to the taxpayers through their representative governments and more like they're selling land in the Ozarks to semi-informed council members. I get the broad outline but not the details, but then again I'm neither an attorney nor an investment banker. Oh wait, neither is anyone on the council nor on the Board of Ed, who are also considering signing on.<br /><br />The best advice comes from the linked-to Governing article: hire a serious, independent, perhaps expensive consultant. This would be a perfect opportunity for municipalities to share services by sharing the same consultant. The issues appear to be similar if not identical for Union County cities, whether rich or poor, black or white, run by republicans or democrats. It might also lead to municipalities sharing consultants in another critical long-term arena: union contract negotiations, the state and municipal battleground of the next decade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1909246571366789334.post-91021529506609733892010-08-11T12:38:57.389-04:002010-08-11T12:38:57.389-04:00Of course you would oppose it. Just because the co...Of course you would oppose it. Just because the county is behind this - that is all the reason you need. This is a standard knee-jerk reaction from New Dems. Note that all the opposing towns are Republicans and not a single town has given any good reasons. Mumbo-jumbo like "unanswered questions" is all they can come up with. It is this same Republican call you and Mapp are dancing to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com